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2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 812-273-0783 |
All Refuge Public Use is subject to Refuge Rules and Regulations and regulations within 50 CFR as well as state regulations.
Hunt Information
There are 2 avenues to hunt at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. The first is to enter state-drawn hunts, and these applications are available in the Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide and online through the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife. The second method is on every hunt day a no-show drawing is held at 7:00 AM (archery season) and 6:00 AM (gun season) to fill available slots. The refuge can accommodate 420 deer hunters. Once a hunter is drawn, a date and time are set when the hunter may call or stop-in to select an area in which to hunt (Map). The number of hunters allowed per area is based upon the size of the area hunted and can be found here. The average number of acres per hunter for deer hunting is approximately 60 acres and 120 acres for turkey hunting.
General Deer Hunt Information
You can participate in multiple state-drawn hunts if chosen as a partner in addition to being selected in a drawing. There isn't a limit on how many times you can participate as a partner or participate in local drawings. If you are chosen as a partner by more than one person, you can use the partner license request certificate from each selected hunter to obtain multiple licenses. You may not exceed the daily bag limit on Big Oaks NWR of 2 deer.
You will initially be issued 2 military/refuge license request certificates per hunt (1 or 2-day hunt). Hunters who harvest and check-in antlerless deer will receive additional license request certificates for each antlerless deer harvested. Purchase and use of this additional military/refuge license would be valid for a deer of either sex. There will be a limit of 2 bucks/hunter with the harvest and check-in of an antlerless deer for each type of hunt (2 for archery and 2 for gun). Without the check-in of an antlerless deer, the limit is 1 buck/hunter with all archery licenses and 1 buck/hunter with all firearms licenses. The number of antlerless deer is only limited by the daily bag limit and the hunter's availability of licenses.
If you were selected for an archery hunt you have the option of purchasing 2 military/refuge archery licenses. Archers can take deer of either sex using 1 or 2 of the following licenses: regular archery, extra archery, and/or military/refuge archery licenses.
See above for buck bag limits.
If you were selected for a firearm hunt you have the option of purchasing 2 military/refuge firearm licenses. You may use a firearm license, military/refuge firearm licenses or both to take deer of either sex on the special hunt area. See bold above for buck bag limits.
The day before your hunt (except when that day is a Federal Holiday), safety briefings will be held at 7:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 3:00 PM and $10/hunting Permits for Big Oaks NWR will be sold. It is strongly encouraged that you attend one of these early safety briefings, it will prevent long delays on the initial day of your hunt allowing you to arrive at your hunting area up to one hour earlier than would otherwise be possible. On your hunt date, please arrive at the Refuge office through Gate 1 of the former Jefferson Proving Ground, located North of Madison on US 421, on or before 5:30 AM during Archery Season or 4:30AM during Gun Season. If you have not previously attended the annual mandatory safety briefing one will be provided. A separate Hunting Fee ($10; $5 for holders of Senior Passports and Access Passports) is required for hunting. Fees are waived for those 15 or under.
The buddy system is required. Do not show up by yourself. You are responsible for knowing and abiding by all refuge and state regulations. Firearms must be unloaded and cased and/or dismantled while in a vehicle. Portable deer stands are allowed for both archery and firearm hunts. Intoxicants (including beer), handguns, fires, and ATVs are not permitted on the refuge during the hunt. You must return to the refuge office by 7:00 PM during Gun Season and 8:00 PM during Archery Season. Deer hunters must possess and carry a compass to hunt at Big Oaks NWR.
Hunters must check in on each hunt day by 6:00 AM during Gun Season or 7:00 AM during Archery Season or they will lose their reserved slot. If you fail to show up for your first hunt day, your reserved slot for the second day will be given away unless you have made prior arrangements with Big Oaks NWR to hunt only the second day. No show drawings will be held each day of the hunt at 6:00 AM during Gun Season and 7:00 AM during Archery Season to fill available slots.
Directions
The entrance to Big Oaks NWR is located on U.S. Highway 421 approximately five miles north of Madison, Indiana. The refuge office is in Building 125 in the southern portion of the former JPG (the old cantonment area). From Madison, drive north on Highway 421 to the Main Entrance of Jefferson Proving Ground, enter through this entrance and go west on Ordnance Drive. Then take the first right (Shun Pike) and then take a left on Niblo Road.
2002-2007 Harvest by Hunting Area
2002-2007 Success Rates
Hunting Area Acreages
Hunting Area Map
| INFORMATION ON LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS | |||
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