Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area is 11,503 acres open to public hunting in LaGrange and Steuben counties, next to Mongo, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 3,079 deer in LaGrange County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property open to hunting data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Indiana DNR deer reports, 2021 to 2025.
Properties open to public hunting (DNR map)Other DNR landCounty, city and regional landLand trusts and other open landPigeon River Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 11,503 acres in 7 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | LaGrange County and Steuben County |
| Deer harvest unit | LaGrange County, Steuben County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer, Dove, Turkey, Pheasant, Woodcock, Duck, Goose, Raccoon and Fox |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | Pigeon River FWA 260-367-2164 |
| On the property (DNR) | shooting range and archery range |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | Mongo (next to it), Ontario (next to it) and Otter Lake (next to it) |
What can you hunt on Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
In the DNR's words: Furbearers, rabbit, squirrel, deer, dove, turkey, pheasant, snipe, woodcock. Put-and-take pheasant hunting (fee is charged). Duck hunting from water sites and jump shooting. Goose hunting from designated areas. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
What are the rules on Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
Antlerless deer may not be taken with a firearm during the firearms season on DNR Fish and Wildlife properties and at Mississinewa, Patoka and Salamonie lakes (DNR).
Hunters must check in at the property; the DNR's property page says how.
Indiana's statewide bag limit is 1 antlered and 6 antlerless deer, within each county's antlerless limit (DNR).
How many deer are taken around Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 3,079 deer in LaGrange County in 2025, against 2,871 in 2024.
| County | Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaGrange County | 9,144 | 3,079 | 2,871 | 2,952 |
| Steuben County | 2,359 | 3,571 | 3,261 | 3,451 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the property alone: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
How do you get to Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Mongo (next to it), Ontario (next to it), Otter Lake (next to it) and Wall Lake (next to it). Highways within 5 miles: I-80, I-90 and US 20.
What other public land is near Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Jimmerson Lake Wetland Conservation Area: 83 acres, 5.3 miles away
- Scott Mill Public Fishing Area: 114 acres, 8.3 miles away
- Marsh Lake Wetland Conservation Area: 678 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 12,260 of the 93,549 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (13.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Properties open to public hunting (DNR map) | 11,510 |
| Other DNR land | 572 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 178 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
In LaGrange and Steuben counties, next to Mongo.
What can you hunt on Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
The DNR lists: Furbearers, rabbit, squirrel, deer, dove, turkey, pheasant, snipe, woodcock. Put-and-take pheasant hunting (fee is charged). Duck hunting from water sites and jump shooting. Goose hunting from designated areas. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
How much public land is around Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area?
12,260 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Jimmerson Lake Wetland Conservation Area (5.3 miles).
Get a Indiana hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Indiana included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area; Indiana DNR properties with public hunting (managed lands layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
FilledTag is not part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.