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Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

Address
5822 Fish and Wildlife Lane, Medaryville, IN 47957

Crane Observation Area: From CR 550 N, turn north on CR 1650 W to general and accessible parking areas on the west side and an overflow lot on the east side.

Jasper Pulaski Tree Nursery: 15508 West 700 North, Medaryville, IN 47957 (Hwy. 421; 5 miles north of Medaryville).

Link to this page
on.IN.gov/jasperpulaskifwa

Email
JasperPulaskiFWA@dnr.IN.gov

Admission
Free

Time zone
Eastern and Central.

Office hours
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET / 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT

Property hours
24/7 Although some activities (such as spring turkey hunting, dove hunting, in-person or standby draws, etc.) have specific hours. Please call property with questions.


Description

Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area provides quality outdoor recreational opportunities while maintaining 8,179 acres of wetland, upland, and woodland game habitat. It provides an ideal stopover for migratory birds. More than 15,000 sandhill cranes stop during fall migration. Learn more about the fall sandhill crane migration at Jasper-Pulaski FWA.

Acquisition of the land for Jasper-Pulaski began in 1929. During the 1930s, Jasper-Pulaski was designated as a game farm and preserve. Hunting started at the property in 1958, and in 1965 the area was designated as a fish and game area. In 1972 the name was changed to fish & wildlife area.

Most revenues used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of Jasper-Pulaski FWA are derived from the sale of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. Funds are also received from the federal Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson programs to aid fish and wildlife restoration. These funds are from taxes on sport hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment. Indiana hunters and anglers are proud to provide this property for the enjoyment of all people.

  • Amenities

    Public restrooms:

    • HQ area restrooms are open 24 hours and have flushing toilets. Use the main entrance and turn right where the road meets the parking lot.
    • Shooting range portable toilets (open during range hours).
    • Crane observation area portable toilets (approximately October – December).

Popular activities

All hunters, range users, and dog runners are required to sign in and obtain the appropriate one-day access permit before entering the field at this property. The one-day permit card must be completed and returned to a self-service booth, drop box, or property office before you leave.

All other visitors are encouraged to obtain a miscellaneous one-day access permit before entering the field. The one-day access permit should be kept with you while visiting, then completed and returned to a self-service booth, drop box, or office before you leave. The information you provide will help us identify ways to improve Indiana’s FWAs for all users. We appreciate your patience in taking the extra time to complete the permit. Your feedback and comments are valuable to us.

  • Fishing
    • Jasper-Pulaski FWA provides fishing areas along the Ryan Ditch, as well as two gravel pits with boat ramps and several 1-acre ponds.
    • Some areas are restricted or closed during waterfowl seasons; please obey property signage.
    • Primary species include catfish, bluegill, and largemouth bass.
    • Both gravel pits have gravel boat ramps. A maximum 12-volt electric motor is allowed.
    • There is a 14-inch minimum size limit for largemouth bass and 10-inch minimum for channel catfish. All other state sizes and bag limits apply.
    • See current fishing regulations for details.
    • You can find additional fishing locations on the Where to Fish map.
  • Hunting
    • Deer, quail, rabbit, squirrel, snipe, dove, sora rails, woodcock, waterfowl, and wild turkey hunting are common.
    • All state hunting seasons and bag limits apply.
    • All in-person hunting draws are held at the property check-station.
    • Special hunts include dove and waterfowl hunts by drawing.
    • Area 12 is designated for dog training.
    • See current hunting regulations for details.

    Deer

    • Deer tree stands and ground blinds may be used and left unattended from noon, Sept. 15 through Jan. 10. No unattended tree stands are permitted in Area 16 (waterfowl resting area) or on TNC property. Tree stands and ground blinds must be legibly marked in English with either the owner's DNR customer identification number or the owner’s name, address, and telephone number. A fastener used in conjunction with a tree stand and a tree or pole climber that penetrates a tree more than ½ inch is prohibited (i.e., anything that penetrates a tree more than a ½ inch is prohibited, e.g., screw-in steps and screw-in bow and gun hangers).

    Dove

    • Advance registration is required for the first two days of the dove season, with field selection and standby draws at 11 a.m. CT, noon ET.
    • Depending on hunter interest, in-person draws may be conducted for the first five days of season to allocate hunting locations.
    • In-person dove drawings are held in the check station.
    • Dove hunting on the property is self-check-in after the first five days of the season.
    • 2023 Dove Hunting Procedures & Map

    Turkey

    • Advance registration is required for wild turkey hunting.
    • Standby drawings for spring wild turkey are held at 4:30 a.m. CT, 5:30 a.m. ET.
    • Turkey hunting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to Noon CT, 1 p.m. ET.

    Waterfowl

  • Shooting range
    • A firearm range and a separate archery range are both available to the public free of charge.

    Firearm range

    • Firearm range is located at 4106 E. 850 N., Wheatfield, IN 46392
    • General parking is on the south side of firearm range only.
    • Firearm range days & hours:
      • Hours of operation: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT / 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
      • Final cease fire called at 3:45 p.m. CT / 4:45 p.m. ET
      • January & February: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
      • March to December: Wednesday through Sunday
      • Holiday closures: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
    • Shooting benches are provided but are not under cover.
    • Only paper targets, properly posted on cardboard are permitted. Users must provide paper targets, cardboard (minimum 18 inches wide), and fasteners (staples, tape, etc.) for provided target holders.
    • The firearm range provides open sky shooting stations at 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, and 200 yards, and an attached shotgun range at the east end. The 10- and 15-yard ranges are for handgun shooting only.
    • The shotgun range has a designated area for clay target shooting. Users must provide clay targets and throwers.

    Archery range

    • The archery range is on C.R.1650 W., ¼ mile north of the crane observation area.
    • Open year-round, from sunrise to sundown. There are shooting stations at 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards.
  • Trapping
    • Wetland trapping is available through drawing only.
    • The drawing is held at the property check-station on the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. CT /11 a.m. ET.
    • View statewide trapping regulations in the Hunting & Trapping Guide.
  • Wildlife watching & birding
    • The 8,179 acres of Jasper-Pulaski FWA offer a unique opportunity to observe large numbers of sandhill cranes during the fall migration.
    • An observation platform provides great viewing points to see thousands of sandhill cranes.
    • Some mounted spotting scopes are available, but bringing your own scope or binoculars can help provide the best view of cranes.
    • Sandhill cranes are best seen near sunrise and sunset in October, November, and December.
    • Learn more about sandhill cranes.

    This property is a stop on the
    Indiana Birding Trail Logo

More activities

  • Dog running
    • Area 12 is designated for dog running and training.
    • Dogs must be always leashed outside of the dog running and training area unless being used by a registered hunter in the pursuit of game.
  • Foraging
    • Mushrooms, berries, and nuts may be gathered after signing in and obtaining a miscellaneous card.
    • Please note that during spring turkey season, other visitors are not allowed in the field until after noon CT / 1 p.m. ET.
    • A written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
  • Hiking & walking
    • Visitors are welcome to explore and enjoy Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area.
    • There is a ¼-mile shaded asphalt walking path between the main parking lot of the crane observation area and the viewing platform.
    • While there are no designated trails, fire lanes may be used to explore the property.
    • Property signage is routinely updated to inform visitors of closures or seasonal access.
  • Water recreation
    • There are several 1-acre ponds in Areas 1 – 12 and Wallace Pond (near the office) that are available for fishing or practicing kayaking and canoeing year-round.
    • The gravel pits and ponds in Area 16 are open in the spring and summer. They are closed to water recreation during waterfowl hunting seasons in the fall and winter. Signage indicates whether the area is open or closed.
    • The gravel pits have two gravel boat launches.
    • A maximum 12-volt electric motor is permitted.
    • Life jackets/personal flotation devices are required per state law.
  • Volunteering
    • Need a reason to get outside and move? Volunteers are welcome at this property. Some possible opportunities are listed below:
      • Wildlife survey support: Assist staff with fall quail covey counts, pheasant crowing surveys, marsh bird surveys, bird observations, and more.
      • Property photography: Help document what makes Jasper-Pulaski FWA unique, from plants and animals to the people that use it.
      • Skilled labor: If you are a farmer, mechanic, carpenter, electrician, plumber, welder, or have other specialized skills, there is likely an opportunity for you to assist us with projects.
      • Land stewards: Help maintain a portion of the property that you enjoy. Projects could include trash pick-up, invasive species treatment/removal, maintenance of fire lanes, mowing, maintaining signage, etc.

Map

Other properties managed by this office

  • Aukiki Wetland Conservation Area

    Aukiki WCA, in combination with The Nature Conservancy’s NIPSCO Savanna property, provides 600 acres of land open to visitors. The land borders the Kankakee River and consists of both river bottoms and oak savanna uplands.

    Activities:

    • Deer hunting is allowed with archery equipment only. Tree stands and blinds may not be left unattended and must be removed at the end of each hunt.
    • Waterfowl hunting may be available if conditions allow. Hunts will be allocated by daily drawings at Jasper-Pulaski FWA.
    • Spring turkey hunting is available by online reserve hunts only.
    • No night hunting or dog running is allowed.
    • Small game and furbearer hunting follow state seasons, laws, and regulations.
    • Sign-in is not required.
    • Open for all other uses per normal Fish & Wildlife area rules and regulations.
    • Park in designated lots only.
    • No trapping, camping, fires, target shooting, or off-road travel is allowed.
    • For questions, contact Jasper-Pulaski FWA:
    • Property map
    • View the Where to Hunt map for more information.
  • Howat 80 Wildlife Management Area

    Howat 80 WMA consists of 80 wooded acres in Pulaski County, located east of S.R. 421 on C.R. 300 South. The most common species on the property are squirrel, deer, and turkey.

    Activities:

    • Hunting for all legal game species is allowed.
    • Tree stands and blinds may not be left unattended and must be removed at the end of each hunt.
    • All hunting follows normal state seasons, laws, and regulations.
    • Open for all other uses per normal Fish & Wildlife area rules and regulations.
    • Park in the designated lot only.
    • Sign-in is not required.
    • No trapping, camping, fires, target shooting, or off-road travel is allowed.
    • For questions, contact Jasper-Pulaski FWA:
    • Property map
    • View the Where to Hunt map for more information.

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