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- Splinter Ridge FWA Alerts
- None at this time.
Description
Splinter Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) provides quality hunting opportunities while maintaining 3,014 acres of woodland and steep hills.
The Splinter Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area, named after the major ridge and historic logging road, was purchased by the state from Charles Perin in 1997. The DNR began looking at these contiguous acres of wooded hills and grassy pastures in the early 1980s. With direct contributions from the Indiana Bowhunter's Association, the Indiana Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Indiana Deer Hunter's Association, and the Indiana Sportsmen's Round Table, the DNR started the process to purchase the land.
Most revenues used in land acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of Splinter Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area are derived from the sale of Game Bird Habitat Stamps. Funds were also provided by the federal aid program of the Wildlife Restoration Project. This federal aid program provides reimbursement on federal taxes levied on the sales of hunting, shooting, and trapping equipment.
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.
- Hunting
Hunting
- The steep, wooded hills of Splinter Ridge FWA provide excellent white-tailed deer and wild turkey habitat. Squirrels are also abundant at Splinter Ridge FWA.
- Limited hunting opportunities are available for cottontail rabbit, quail, and woodcock.
- A self-service check-in station is located at parking lot 3 (see map). Daily permit cards must be in the possession of the hunter for the hunter to enter the field. The cards must be returned to a drop box at the end of the day. Drop boxes are in parking areas 1, 3, 6 and 7.
- All hunting seasons and bag limits apply.
- Steep terrain and limited vehicle access to the interior makes hunting accessible to people with disabilities difficult. Contact Crosley FWA for information on accessible sites.
Deer
- Tree stands may be left overnight from noon Sept. 15 through Jan. 10. All tree stands must be marked with the owner’s name, address, and phone number OR with their DNR Customer ID Number.
Turkey
- Wild turkeys may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m.
- Wildlife watching & birding
- 3,014 acres of rolling hayfields, steep, wooded hills, brushy tracts, and small creeks attract a wide variety of songbirds and woodpeckers.
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
- During dog running season, dogs can be used for active pursuit of game.
- Foraging
- Blackberries, raspberries, walnuts, morels, shaggymanes, puffballs, and shelf mushrooms may be gathered from Splinter Ridge FWA. A written permit is required to remove other plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.
- Please note that during spring turkey season, mushroom hunters are not allowed on the property until after 1 p.m. ET. Please call the office for dates and any questions.
- Hiking & walking
- While there are no designated trails, there are mowed lanes that can be used to explore the property. Inquire at the office for what trails are available when you plan on visiting. Trails are not mowed from early spring until mid-July to protect wildlife.
- Volunteering
- Need a reason to get outside and move? You can volunteer alone or in small groups at this property. Some activities include trash pick-up, basic gardening, painting, and more. Call the property office for details.
Other properties managed by Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area
- Crosley Fish & Wildlife Area provides 4,288 acres of steep to gently rolling hills and 7 miles of the Muscatatuck River for hunting and fishing. This FWA is in Jennings County south of North Vernon on State Road 3.
- Austin Bottoms Conservation Area is bounded by the intersection of the Muscatatuck with Interstate 65 and State Road 31 on the east side and flows westward to Jackson-Washington State Forest on the west side. Approximately 2,355 acres are now open for hunting and fishing. It consists of a variety of habitat types, dominated by bottomland forests and wetlands.
