Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area

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Current: Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area

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Atterbury FWA Alerts (1)
- During waterfowl season, Beaver Bottom ADA pier opens for fishing at noon.

Address
7970 S. Rowe Street
Edinburgh, IN 46124-1456

Link to this page
on.IN.gov/atterburyfwa

Email
AtterburyFWA@dnr.IN.gov

Admission
Free

Time Zone
Eastern

Hours
Office: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Property: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless engaged in authorized activity. Some activities may have specific open times, especially if there is a draw. Please call property for questions.

Description

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area is dedicated to providing quality outdoor recreational opportunities while maintaining 4,950 acres of upland game habitat, marsh, running creeks, and shallow impoundments. Learn more and see the property.

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area was purchased by the state from Camp Atterbury, an Army training installation established in 1942. In 1969, wildlife management efforts began on more than 5,400 acres. In October 2010, 1,250 acres were released to the Indiana National Guard in exchange for 1,990 acres of surplus land from the Indiana Department of Corrections in Putnam County. Presently the property totals 4,950 acres.

Most revenues used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area 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 fishermen are proud to provide this property for the enjoyment of all people.

Amenities
Public restrooms are at the following locations:
Modern:
- Atterbury FWA office
Portable:
- Beaver Bottom
- Pisgah North
- Pisgah South
- Stone Arch

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.

Camping and fires are prohibited.

Fishing
- Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area provides 270 acres of available water, and 10 impoundments, including the 75-acre Pisgah Lake. View the Where to Fish map for locations on the property.
- Channel catfish, bluegill, redear, and largemouth bass are the major species present.
- Stone Arch Lake, Beaver Bottom, and Pisgah Lake have concrete boat ramps, and Teal Marsh and Mallard Marsh have gravel boat ramps.
- All lakes are limited to a maximum 24-volt electric motor.
- Beaver Bottom (pier is open after noon), Teal Marsh, Mallard Marsh, Mink Meadow, Coyote Marsh, Honker Haven, Gopher Hole, Mauxferry Marsh, Furnah’s Fen, Cottonwood Marsh, and Possum Puddle are closed to fishing during waterfowl season, not including light goose season.
- There is a 14-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass. All other size and bag limits apply. See Fishing Regulations for details.
- Sugar Creek, Pisgah Lake and Stone Arch Lake are open to fishing year-round.
- A fishing pier accessible to persons with disabilities is available at Beaver Bottom.
Hunting
- Hunting for deer, rabbit, squirrel, dove, woodcock, ducks, and geese are common at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area.
- All hunting seasons and bag limits apply. See Hunting Regulations for details.
- Hunting areas accessible to people with disabilities are available. Ask for details at property headquarters.
- Public hunting is prohibited on the adjacent Camp Atterbury JMTC facility.
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 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 (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 Atterbury FWA.
Dove
- Dove hunting opportunities on the first two days of the season are allocated through a pre-season online draw.
- Dove drawings are held at the office location at 11 a.m. Sept. 1 and 2 only. The property is self-check-in from Sept. 3 through the end of the season.
- Dove hunting on the first two days starts at noon. Normal legal hours are observed for the rest of the season. View Atterbury FWA Dove Fields map.
- The shell limit for dove hunting is 50 and hunters must use non-toxic shot.
Pheasant
- Put-and-take pheasant hunting starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving, with online sign-up starting in September. Doors open at 8 a.m. at the office location and close at 2:30 p.m. for the reserved put-and-take pheasant hunt.
- During the put-and-take, only reserved pheasant hunters are allowed to pheasant hunt put-and-take fields (Atterbury Put and Take Map). Other hunting activities that are in season are allowed in some units, so please be aware that other hunters could be in these units.
- Put-and-take hunters are only allowed to hunt pheasants while hunting. The shooting of woodcock, rabbits, etc. while pheasant hunting during the put-and-take is prohibited.
- Put-and-take hunters may enter the field at 9 a.m. ET and can change fields after 2 p.m.
Turkey Hunting
- Spring Season
  - Advance registration is required for the first five days of the wild turkey hunting season.
  - Reserve hunters and standby hunters must be signed in before the assigned draw time of 5:30 a.m. ET.
  - A total of seven hunters are allowed in the field at Atterbury FWA.
  - Hunters must stop hunting at 1 p.m. ET and be out of the field by 2 p.m. ET.
  - No-show drawings for spring turkey hunting are held at the office at 5:30 a.m.
  - After the first five days, hunting is permitted by daily draw at 5:30 a.m. for allocated areas.
- Fall season: Hunting is permitted by daily self-service check-in.
Waterfowl
- Drawings for waterfowl hunting will be held on weekends at 6 a.m. ET.
- During the week, hunters will use the self-service check-in.
- The number of hunters per area is restricted. Please see Atterbury Waterfowl for more information.
Shooting range
- Please visit atterburyshootingcomplex.com for information on hours and pricing.
- The archery range at Atterbury FWA was designed for archers to practice shooting bows/arrows at stationary targets. Targets are provided for the public to use. Longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows are permitted. The following restrictions, which promote safety and address maintenance concerns, are in place due to the design features of this range.
  - Discharging firearms on the archery range is prohibited.
  - Incendiary or exploding projectiles or targets are prohibited.
  - Shooting broad heads at provided targets is prohibited.
  - The archery range is open from sunrise to sunset. Shooting after hours is prohibited.
Trapping
- Wetland trapping is available through a drawing held on the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m.
- Atterbury FWA is split into three areas for trapping.
- Each area’s season is divided into two periods.
- View statewide trapping regulations in the Hunting & Trapping Guide.
Wildlife watching & birding
- 4,950 acres of upland and woodland game habitat along with marsh and shallow impoundments attract more than 200 species, providing excellent wildlife watching opportunities.
- Atterbury is an excellent year-round songbird viewing area.

More activities

Biking
Dog running
- Dog training areas are provided in sections 13-A, 13-B and 13-D. (See map)
- Dogs must always be leashed outside of the dog running and training area unless being used by a registered hunter in the pursuit of game.
- A valid hunting license is required for running dogs in the pursuit of wild game.
Foraging
- Mushrooms, berries, greens, and nuts may be gathered; however, a written permit is required to remove plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
- Greens are the above ground portion of asparagus, dandelion, mustard, plantain, and poke.
- Please note that during the 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.
- During hunting seasons, it is recommended that foraging be done only when wearing orange or another bright color.
Hiking & walking
- Hiking and walking are allowed on the property.
- While there are no designated trails, there are mowed lanes that can be used to explore the property.
- Access lanes are mowed a few times a year and are available for a more backcountry hiking experience.
- During hunting seasons, it is recommended that hiking and walking be done only when wearing orange or another bright color.
Water recreation
- Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area provides 270 acres of available water, and 10 impoundments, including 75-acre Pisgah Lake. Sugar Creek also runs though Atterbury FWA and Driftwood PFA
- Swimming is prohibited.
- Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding are allowed.
- Anyone in a boat, canoe, kayak, or on a paddleboard must have a wearable personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water.
- Beaver Bottom, Teal Marsh, Mallard Marsh, Mink Meadow, Coyote Marsh, Honker Haven, Gopher Hole, Mauxferry Marsh, Furnah’s Fen, Cottonwood Marsh, and Possum Puddle are closed to boating during waterfowl season. This does not include Light Goose Conservation season. See property signage for when they reopen.
- Pisgah Lake, Stone Arch Lake, Sugar Creek, and Driftwood are open to boating year-round.
- All lakes are limited to a maximum 24-volt electric motor.
- For information about our boat ramps please see our Where to Fish map.
Volunteering
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at this property. Some activities include litter pick-up, basic gardening, painting, and more. Call the property office for details.
- Several of the areas on Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area are available for adoption.
- While you’re at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area, have fun and fill a bucket with trash.
  - Check out a bucket at the Atterbury FWA office during open hours, take it with you to fill with trash, and dump the trash at the property dumpster.
  - You can also bring your own 5-gallon bucket and pack out the trash with you. Your small act of kindness helps to keep our public lands healthy and beautiful. For additional details, stop in the property office.

Map

Other properties managed by this office

Westercamp Wildlife Management Area is a 102-acre public property managed by Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area. The property is in Decatur County, 3.5 miles south of Greensburg. This area is mostly upland grass habitat with some mixed hardwood forest and offers opportunities for deer and small game hunting. A parking area is in the southwest corner of the property. No check-in is required.

For more information on this property, view the Where to Hunt map.

Neighboring lands

Driftwood State Fishing Area is a 260-acre property ideal for bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, and tiger muskellunge. Plover Pit has two concrete boat ramps, and Meadowlark and Sandpiper pits have gravel access ramps. An ADA accessible fishing pier is located at the Plover Pit ramp.
Johnson County Park and Recreation Area offers camping, fishing, equestrian events, and other recreational activities.

Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area

812-526-2051

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