Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area is dedicated to providing quality hunting and fishing opportunities while maintaining 7, 280 acres of grasslands, crop fields, thick brush, marsh areas and a 30 acre lake. The Kankakee River forms the south boundary. Kingsbury is located 4 miles east of U.S. 35 on Hupp Road east of the Kingsbury industrial park. It is 5.5 miles south of Laporte.
Kingsbury is a remnant of the old Kingsbury Ordnance Plant which produced shells, cartridges and mortar rounds for World War II and the Korean conflict. The land was deeded to the state of Indiana in 1965 by the federal government, and wildlife management began at that time.
ACTIVITIES
Fishing
Public fishing areas are found along the Kankakee River, drainage ditches and the 30-acre Tamarack Lake. The lake is stocked with channel catfish.
All size and bag limits apply.
Primary species include channel catfish, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and rough fish.
Boat ramps are located at parking area 5G for the Kankakee River and 5A for Tamarack Lake. A maximum 12-volt electric motor for lakes, gas motors allowed on the river.
Shoreline fishing is located along the drainage ditches and Kankakee River.
Kingsbury has a 30-acre lake that is stocked every other year with channel catfish.
You do not need to check in to fish.
Hunting
There is no cost to hunt.
Hunting registration is at the self-service kiosk at the check station. All hunters must register and take the appropriate hunt card. The self-service area is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The address of the check station is 5344 S. Hupp Road, LaPorte, IN 46350
Maps are located in the self-service area and online. Kingsbury has three refuges where hunting is prohibited. These refuges are clearly marked. Kingsbury is 7,280 acres of brush, crop fields, warm season grasses, wetlands and woods.
Deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, furbearers, dove, duck, goose and wild turkey are common.
Daily check-in is required or all species.
Advanced registration is required for wild turkey, dove hunting and some waterfowl hunting.
Reserve waterfowl hunters are required to claim their spot before 4:30 a.m. local time. Daily waterfowl drawings begin at 4:30 a.m. local time. Waterfowl hunting hours end at 1 p.m. local time during the regular season. Reserve days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area office operates a deer and turkey check station.
The use of hunting dogs is allowed.
Only male (****) pheasants may be taken. Put and take pheasant hunts are not offered.
Trapping draw is the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. at the property office. Kingsbury has five trapping units and the draw is for two-week periods. There is also a youth trapping unit. A valid trapping license is required for each participant.
Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area holds multiple events for new shooters and hunters throughout the year. For more information, call 219-393-3612.
There are a combination of blinds and stakes for waterfowl hunting. These spots are available seven days a week. Additional spots are available on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Kingsbury does not provide boats. The majority of hunting spots will require the use of a boat; however, there are a number of walk in spots to hunt waterfowl.
Registration for turkey hunting is typically in January with an online drawing. Kingsbury has 12 spots daily, and holds a no-show drawing at 4:30 a.m. local time.
Deer tree stands and ground blinds may be used and left unattended from noon, Sept. 15 through Jan. 10. 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 (anything that penetrates a tree more than a ½ inch is prohibited, i.e. screw-in steps and screw-in bow and gun hangers).
Fish & Wildlife managed lands do not allow the use of bonus county permits. The same is true of Wetland Conservation Areas, Gamebird Habitat Areas, and Fish & Wildlife Areas
All hunting at Reynolds Creek is by pre-season draw. As wildlife populations rebound, hunting opportunities will expand. There is an archery-only deer drawing for Reynolds Creek on the last Saturday of August. This drawing covers the entire archery season. Dove hunting is concurrent with the Kingsbury dove drawing and typically lasts the first five days of the season. Turkey hunting is by draw only. The turkey drawing is held on the second Saturday of April. All drawings are held at Kingsbury FWA check station unless otherwise stated.
Other Activities
Registration at the office to scout, fish, hike, berry pick, mushroom hunt and wildlife watch is not required. There is no camping available.
Shooting Range
See shooting range webpage for hours.
Fees for the range are $4 a day for age 18 and older, $2 a day for younger than 18 (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult), $10 a day for a family (ex: 2 adults and 2 children).
The shooting range is ADA compliant, safe, modern and staffed by qualified range officers.
Use of eye and ear protection is required of all participants and observers.
The range has 37 shooting positions: 10 positions at 50 yards, five positions at 100 yards, 18 positions at 10, 15 or 25 yards, and four shotgun stations.
The range includes a 25-yard pistol range, a 50-yard range, and a 100-yard range.
Bring your own targets and ammunition.
Indoor restrooms accessible to persons with disabilities are available.
Target practice is permitted only in established ranges.
Call (219) 393-1128.
Archery Range
The archery range is open to the public, 7 days a week, all daylight hours, first come, first served. Bring your own targets. Shooters must obey all range rules and regulations. Parking is permitted only in designated lot.
3-D deer targets are available for rent.
Wildlife Watching
7,280 acres of fallow land, crop fields, thick brush, grass lands, water ways and scattered stands of conifers and hardwoods attract hawks, owls, bald eagles, shorebirds, wading birds and a wide variety of resident and migrating songbirds.
Additional Opportunities
Spring mushrooms hunters cannot be in the field during turkey hunting hours. Mushroom hunters do not need to register.
Wetland trapping is available through drawing only. Drawing is held the first Saturday in October.
A dog training area is provided in area 6 (see map ).
Resident and non-resident licenses and stamps are sold at the headquarters.
Wild blackberries, raspberries, mushrooms, shed antlers and nuts may be gathered from the property.
Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery is located on Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area.
Fish Lake Wetland Conservation Area is 11 miles from the headquarters.
Galena Wetland Conservation Area is 18 miles from the headquarters.
Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area is 24 miles from the headquarters.
Place Trail Marsh Gamebird Habitat Area is 5 miles from the headquarters.
NO Camping and NO Swimming Allowed.