- Chinook FWA Alerts (1)
- Chinook Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) is currently undergoing a partial closure as DNR has discovered burning coal underground and is maintaining containment. View a map of the Safety Zone and road closure. The southeast region of tract E, including Chinook Mine Road, is closed beyond parking lot D-2. The boat ramp in tract E is still usable. These sections of Chinook FWA will remain closed until further notice. The public should refrain from entering these areas due to safety concerns of falling trees and sinkholes. Please call the office for more information at 765-653-0453.
Description
Chinook Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) is 2,141 acres of rolling grasslands and unreformed wooded parcels. Approximately 80 acres of the property is water (mostly strip pits).
Originally leased as a Public Fishing Area in 1982, Chinook FWA opened in 1997 and comprises 2,141 acres of surface mine land near Vigo County in western Clay County.
Most revenues used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of Chinook 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 derived from taxes levied on sport hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment. Indiana hunters and anglers are proud to provide this property for the enjoyment of all people.
- Amenities
- There is a portable toilet located in the parking lot by the check-in sign in at Worm Pit.
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 the 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
- Six boat ramps are on the property, located at Little George, Scheister, Worm, Daredevil, Stump Jumper, and Hawg pits.
- Shoreline fishing is available.
- Kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft are allowed with electric trolling motors only.
- Anglers must park in a designated parking lot.
- Fishing areas accessible to people with disabilities are available. Ask headquarters for details.
- For more information on where to fish in Indiana visit the Where to Fish map
- Hunting
- Deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, quail, dove, woodcock, furbearer, and waterfowl hunting are available.
- All hunting seasons and bag limits apply. See hunting regulations for details.
- Additional property specific rules may also apply.
Deer
- 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 owners’ name, address, and telephone number.
- A fastener used in conjunction with a tree stand or pole climber that penetrates a tree more than 1/2 inch is prohibited (e.g., screw-in steps and screw-in bow and gun hangers).
- Antlerless deer cannot be taken with a firearm during firearms season at Fish & Wildlife areas, including Chinook FWA.
- Hunting areas for people with disabilities are available. Ask headquarters for details.
- Rifles must have a bullet diameter of at least .357 inches and a case length between 1.16”-1.8”.
Migratory Birds (dove and waterfowl)
- Dove hunting is permitted by daily self-service check-in.
- Shooting hours for the first 3 days of dove season, Sept. 1-3, are 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET. Starting Sept. 4, shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Nontoxic shot is required. There is a 50 shell limit per hunter per day for dove hunting.
- Dove Season Map 2024.
Turkey
- Please note that during spring turkey season, besides turkey hunters and fishermen, no other visitors are allowed on the property until after 1 p.m. Please call the office for dates and any questions.
- Trapping
- The trapping draw is held the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. ET at the Deer Creek FWA office.
- Wildlife watching & birding
- Chinook FWA is a reclaimed coal mine that has diverse native grasses and rolling agriculture throughout the property to create an area for wildlife to thrive. This area attracts a wide variety of raptors, songbirds, shorebirds, and other wildlife.
- During the early spring, numerous kinds of waterfowl can be seen on the property.
- Other common sightings include white-tail deer, wild turkey, turtles, frogs, hawks, and other wildlife.
More activities
- Biking
- Bicycling is allowed on all paved and gravel roads that are open to vehicle travel.
- There are no mountain bike trails and off-road travel is prohibited.
- Dog running
- Dogs must be always leashed unless being used by a registered hunter in the pursuit of game.
- Foraging
- Mushrooms, berries, and nuts may be gathered; however, a written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
- Please note that during spring turkey season, no visitors are allowed on the property until after 1 p.m. Please call the office for dates and any questions.
- Hiking & walking
- Visitors are encouraged to hike, explore, and enjoy Chinook FWA.
- While there are no designated trails, there are mowed lanes that can be used to explore the property. Inquire with the Deer Creek office for what trails are available when you plan on visiting.
- Water recreation
- Six strip pits are available for water recreation.
- Swimming is prohibited.
- Six boat ramps are on the property, located at Little George, Scheister, Worm, Daredevil, Stump Jumper, and Hawg pits.
- Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are allowed.
- Anyone in a canoe, kayak, or on a paddleboard must be in possession of a wearable personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water.
- Volunteering
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at this property. Some possible opportunities are listed below.
- Wildlife survey support – assist staff with fall quail covey counts, songbird surveys, bird observations, and more.
- Property photographer – help document what makes Chinook FWA unique, from plants and animals to the people that use it.
- Skilled labor- If you are a carpenter, electrician, plumber, welder, or have other specialized skills, there is likely a time you could assist us with projects.
- Land stewards – help maintain a portion of the property that you enjoy. 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 this property. Some possible opportunities are listed below.
Other properties managed by Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area
- Deer Creek FWA is 2,175 acres in a mixture of mature oak/hickory woods and open rolling native grasses and agriculture in Putnam County. The land that compromises most of Deer Creek was originally transferred from the Putnamville Correctional Facility to the DNR in 2010 and several more parcels have been bought since then. It is open to the public and hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreational opportunities area available.
- Wabashiki FWA is composed of 3,652 acres of floodplain along the Wabash River. In 2010, Vigo County Parks Department and the Department of Natural Resources joined together in a cooperative effort to offer this bird viewing paradise to all its patrons. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreational opportunities are available.
- Green Valley Wildlife Management Area is 150 acres of wooded ground in Vigo County, Indiana. Green Valley Lake was originally constructed as a water supply reservoir for a coal mining operation. The property was purchased by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife in the mid-1960s and opened to the public. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreational opportunities are available.
- Sugar Creek Conservation Area begins along the tributary creek at Shades State Park and run south-southwest, stretching across four counties - Montgomery, Parke, Vermillion and Vigo - ending at Fairbanks Landing FWA, south of Terre Haute. It encompasses 1,321 acres of diverse terrain and is open to the public. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreational opportunities are available.
- Wabash River Conservation Area begins along the tributary creek at Shades State Park and run south-southwest, stretching across four counties - Montgomery, Parke, Vermillion and Vigo - ending at Fairbanks Landing FWA, south of Terre Haute. It encompasses 2,452 acres of primarily floodplain and is open to the public. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreational opportunities are available.
To learn more about the location and types of activities on these properties, view the Where To Hunt map.
