Indiana publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 82 public hunting areas. Salamonie Lake is highest at 142.0 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Potato Creek has 67.0 in 2024 and Brookville Lake has 46.0 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Salamonie Lake has the highest harvest per square mile at 142.0. The agency reported 156 deer on 703 acres in 2025.
- 82 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2024 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 6 federal areas are ranked on their own. Hoosier has the highest harvest per square mile at 5.1 in 2025.
Indiana public land rankings
Best public land in Indiana
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2024 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 82 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 82 areas shown
| 1 | Salamonie Lake | 703 | 2025 | 156 | 142.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Potato Creek | 1,280 | 2024 | 134 | 67.0 | |
| 3 | Brookville Lake | 3,397 | 2025 | 244 | 46.0 | |
| 4 | Monroe Lake | 1,209 | 2025 | 82 | 43.4 | |
| 5 | Tippecanoe River | 2,624 | 2024 | 142 | 34.6 | |
| 6 | Summit Lake | 1,344 | 2024 | 72 | 34.3 | |
| 7 | Versailles | 2,368 | 2024 | 112 | 30.3 | |
| 8 | Pokagon | 1,088 | 2024 | 51 | 30.0 | |
| 9 | Shades | 1,984 | 2024 | 83 | 26.8 | |
| 10 | Chain O'Lakes | 2,688 | 2024 | 98 | 23.3 | |
| 11 | Cedar Swamp | 982 | 2025 | 35 | 22.8 | |
| 12 | Salamonie River | 950 | 2025 | 30 | 20.2 | |
| 13 | Mississinewa Lake | 11,200 | 2025 | 338 | 19.3 | |
| 14 | Ouabache | 2,304 | 2024 | 67 | 18.6 | |
| 15 | Whitewater Memorial | 1,728 | 2024 | 50 | 18.5 |
Federal areas
Top 6 of 6 ranked federal areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
6 of 6 federal areas shown
| 1 | Hoosier | 202,245 | 2025 | 1,606 | 5.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Patoka River | 9,034 | 2025 | 59 | 4.2 |
| 3 | Camp Atterbury | 33,485 | 2025 | 216 | 4.1 |
| 4 | Big Oaks | 49,889 | 2025 | 116 | 1.5 |
| 5 | Crane | 64,461 | 2025 | 123 | 1.2 |
| 6 | Muscatatuck | 7,707 | 2025 | 10 | 0.8 |
01Public hunting areas
82 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Salamonie Lake has the most deer harvested per square mile at 142.0 in 2025. Potato Creek has 67.0 in 2024 and Brookville Lake has 46.0 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 142.0 down to 18.5 deer harvested per square mile.
02Federal areas
6 federal areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Hoosier has the most deer harvested per square mile at 5.1 in 2025. Patoka River has 4.2 in 2025 and Camp Atterbury has 4.1 in 2025.
03Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2024 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2024 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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