Wabash River Conservation Area: hunting and access
Wabash River Conservation Area is 1,698 acres open to public hunting in Vermillion and Vigo counties, next to Montezuma, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 1,000 deer in Vermillion 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 landWabash River Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,698 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Vermillion County and Vigo County |
| Deer harvest unit | Vermillion County, Vigo County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Quail, Turkey, Rabbit, Deer, Woodcock, Duck, Goose, Raccoon and Fox |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | Deer Creek FWA 765-653-0453 |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required: self-serve |
| Nearest towns | Montezuma (next to it), Hillsdale (next to it) and Shepardsville (next to it) |
What can you hunt on Wabash River Conservation Area?
In the DNR's words: Quail, turkey, rabbit, deer, woodcock. Duck and goose hunting from non-blind areas along riverfront. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
What are the rules on Wabash River Conservation 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 Wabash River Conservation Area?
Wabash River Conservation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 1,000 deer in Vermillion County in 2025, against 1,005 in 2024.
| County | Wabash River Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermillion County | 1,061 | 1,000 | 1,005 | 996 |
| Vigo County | 637 | 1,685 | 1,608 | 1,470 |
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 Wabash River Conservation Area?
Nearest towns: Montezuma (next to it), Hillsdale (next to it), Shepardsville (next to it) and Lyford (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 41, US 36, US 150, I-70 and US 40.
What other public land is near Wabash River Conservation Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area: 3,710 acres, 0.5 miles away
- HRI Wabash River: 564 acres, 1 mile away
- Fairbanks Landing Fish and Wildlife Area: 8,788 acres, 3.5 miles away
- Covered Bridge State Forest: 157 acres, 7.9 miles away
- Sugar Creek Conservation Area: 1,338 acres, 7.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wabash River Conservation Area
Counting Wabash River Conservation Area itself, 2,921 of the 81,884 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3.6%), 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) | 2,880 |
| County, city and regional land | 36 |
| Other DNR land | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wabash River Conservation Area?
In Vermillion and Vigo counties, next to Montezuma.
What can you hunt on Wabash River Conservation Area?
The DNR lists: Quail, turkey, rabbit, deer, woodcock. Duck and goose hunting from non-blind areas along riverfront. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
How much public land is around Wabash River Conservation Area?
2,921 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wabash River Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area (0.5 miles).
Get a Indiana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Indiana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Wabash River Conservation 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.