Property Maps
Description
The Game Bird Habitat Area (GBA) program began in 1985 with the first parcel purchased in Benton County. In the early years, the program consisted primarily of leased farm ground. Throughout the years, the program has transitioned away from land leases and is now 100% state-owned property. There are 33 GBAs that make up the traditional program. These properties are in Benton, Jasper, Newton, Warren, and White counties and total approximately 3,850 acres.
These parcels focus primarily on game birds. They are managed for Northern bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasants, and mourning doves. Although these species are the primary species in the area, countless other species call these properties home, including badgers, Kirtland’s snakes and Franklin’s ground squirrels, as well as other rare and unusual bird species.
Due to their small size, these parcels are all closed to the public, except for Goose Creek and Pine Creek GBAs. Written permission is needed to access these parcels and is only given for hunting, trapping, volunteering, or research purposes. Goose Creek GBA and Pine Creek GBA are seasonally open to the public for some activities, including bird watching, shed hunting, fishing, and nature hikes.
All hunting rights are administered through preseason draws as outlined below.
Hunting & Trapping Draws
All hunting efforts are awarded through preseason drawings. All hunt draw applications (excluding upland) require a self-addressed stamped envelope being sent to Willow Slough FWA.Hunt information will be returned in the envelope, so please send a standard size (8.5 inch) envelope.
- Deer
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 beginning Aug. 1 each year. All entries must be received by 2 p.m. on Aug. 31.
- Hunters should indicate which property they are interested in hunting, which season they are interested in, and their phone number.
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- Hunting periods are archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader. Archery hunters are not allowed on the GBAs during the firearms seasons but can hunt any time firearms or muzzleloader season is closed.
- The bonus antlerless season will not be honored on GBA properties, and bonus antlerless tags are not allowed to be used.
- The drawing will be held on the first normal business day after Labor Day at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any properties not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first- served basis.
- Hunters are only allowed one property per hunting season (archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader).
- Dove
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 beginning July 15 each year. All entries must be received by 2 p.m. on Aug. 15.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Hunting days fall on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays. Hunt dates fall between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30.
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- Any hunts not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Hunters are allowed up to two hunts per season.
- Properties will be randomly assigned to chosen hunters.
- Furbearer
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 each year. Hunters should indicate which zone they are interested in hunting. Zones are listed below.
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any properties not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Zone 1: Newton County and Jasper County GBAs
Zone 2: White County GBAs
Zone 3: Benton County East GBAs (Deno, Falwell, Greenwood Ditch, Hawkins, McGinnis-Lauerman, Metro-60, Nickle Plate, and Pine Creek)
Zone 4: Warren County and Benton County West GBAs (Geswein, Goose Creek, Hawkins, Jefvert, Kirsch, Knobview, Mud Pine, Pointer Ridge, Raub, Vinegar Hill, and Watland) - Turkey
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 between March 1 and March 31 each year.
- Hunters should indicate which property they are interested in hunting during which season (youth or regular).
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after March 31 at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any GBAs not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Upland
- Upland hunting is administered by online drawings through the Division of Fish & Wildlife reserved hunt system.
- Properties will be randomly assigned to chosen hunters.
- The application periods are typically late summer/early fall.
- Early Season Waterfowl
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 between Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 each year.
- Hunters should indicate which property they are interested in hunting and which date.
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- Hunting dates begin on the first day of either the teal or Canada goose season (whichever starts first in years when they do not align) and then follow an every-other-day rotation. There are times when neither goose nor teal season may be open.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after Aug. 20 at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any hunt dates not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Hunters are allowed up to two hunts per season.
- Regular Season Waterfowl
- Interested hunters must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 each year.
- Hunters should indicate which property they are interested in hunting and which date.
- One entry per hunter is allowed in the draw.
- Waterfowl hunting days are Thursday and Sunday (excluding Nov. 1) through the end of the goose season.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after Oct 1. at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any hunt dates not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Hunters are allowed up to two hunts per season.
- Trapping
- Trapper parties can consist of 1 to 3 individuals. A trapper can only be part of one trapping party.
- Interested trappers/trapper parties must send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Willow Slough FWA, 6312 W. 100 N., Morocco, IN, 47963 between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 each year. Trappers should indicate which zone they are interested in trapping. Zones are listed below.
- One entry per trapper/trapping party is allowed in the draw.
- The drawing will be held on the first business day after Oct 1. at 9 a.m. CT at Willow Slough FWA headquarters. The public is welcome to attend.
- Any property not claimed through the draw will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Zone 1: Newton County and Jasper County GBAs
Zone 2: White County GBAs
Zone 3: Benton County East GBAs (Deno, Falwell, Greenwood Ditch, Hawkins, McGinnis-Lauerman, Metro-60, Nickle Plate, and Pine Creek)
Zone 4: Warren County and Benton County West GBAs (Geswein, Goose Creek, Hawkins, Jefvert, Kirsch, Knobview, Mud Pine, Pointer Ridge, Raub, Vinegar Hill, and Watland)
More Activities
The activities listed below are allowed at Pine Creek and Goose Creek GBAs only. Please note that during spring turkey season, no other visitors are allowed on the property until after 1 p.m. ET. Please call the office for dates and any questions.
- Fishing
At Pine Creek GBA, a small pond is located on the north side of the property.
- Access to the pond is on foot only.
- Fishing is allowed March-September.
- Property users must park in the designated parking lots.
At Goose Creek GBA, fishing is allowed in Mud Pine Creek and Goose Creek.
- Access to the streams is on foot only.
- Fishing is allowed March-September.
- Property users must park in the designated parking lots.
- Wildlife Viewing & Birding
- Wildlife viewing and birding is allowed from county roads at all the GBAs.
- Foot traffic is allowed on Pine Creek and Goose Creek GBAs. Please stay on mowed trails and access lanes. Foot traffic is allowed March-September.
- Pine Creek GBA is on the Indiana Birding Trail and offers wonderful opportunities to see a wide variety of grassland- and wetland-dependent bird species. An elevated parking lot overlooks a large marsh complex where more than 200 different bird species have been documented.
- Dog Running
- Dogs are not allowed on any of the GBAs unless being used in the pursuit of game by a registered hunter.
- Foraging
- Foraging is allowed at Pine Creek and Goose Creek GBAs. Mushrooms, berries, shed antlers, and nuts may be gathered; however, a written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
- Access is allowed March-September.
- Hiking & Walking
- Hiking or walking on mowed paths is allowed at Pine Creek and Goose Creek GBAs from March—September each year.
- Dogs are not allowed to accompany you on your walk through these properties. This helps minimize the impacts to wildlife on these small properties.
- Volunteering
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at these properties. Some possible opportunities are listed below:
- Wildlife survey support: Assist staff with fall quail covey counts, pheasant crowing and marsh bird surveys, bird observations, etc.
- Property Photographer: Help document what makes our game bird areas unique, from their plants and animals to the people who use them.
- Land Stewards: Help maintain a portion of the property that you recreate in. Projects could include invasive species treatment/removal, seeding wildflowers, maintenance of trails, mowing, maintaining signage, etc.
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at these properties. Some possible opportunities are listed below:
- Prohibited Activities
- Campfires
- Collecting Artifacts
- Flying Drones
- Horseback Riding
- Metal Detecting
- Riding ATVs and Snowmobiles