Hunting

Big Oaks has healthy deer and turkey populations, and holds well-managed hunts, issued by state or refuge lottery. Deer hunters can choose archery or firearms seasons. For both deer and turkey hunts, hunters are assigned a specific area and must enter the refuge with a partner. Hunters are encouraged to take the safety briefing ahead of time by visiting the gatehouse when the refuge is open for public use. 

Be sure to pick up a refuge map at the east end gatehouse located on the East Perimeter Road. Hunters may download a free GPS map for use on their smart phones from Avenza. (Avenza may not be ADA compliant.) 

General Refuge Rules and Policies

Public Use Days Information

Refuge Specific Hunting Regulations

• A mandatory safety briefing covering refuge regulations is held before each hunt. 
• A compass or GPS device is required of all hunters. 
• Only designated game species may be taken during designated hunting dates- all other wildlife may not be molested, harassed or taken in any manner.
• Weaponry is regulated by the state.
• All harvested game taken on the refuge must be reported both into the State portal AND at the refuge gate when leaving.
• We require all refuge hunters to hunt with a partner. We require hunting partners to know the location of their partner while hunting. An adult, age 18 or older, must directly supervise youth hunters age 17 or under.
• We prohibit flagging tape and reflective tacks
• We prohibit the cutting of trees or trimming branches for shooting lanes
• We prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting on the refuge
• No alcohol, fires, or ATV's are permitted on the refuge during the hunt. 

White Tailed Deer

Hunting of white-tailed deer is a lottery draw. Applications can be found on the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife website for archery (October) and firearm (November). 

• We allow the use of portable hunting stands and blinds. 
• We prohibit tree steps or screw-in steps
• There is a limit of 1 buck during each specific refuge hunt season (1 buck during refuge archery hunt; 1 buck during refuge primitive muzzleloader hunt; 1 buck during refuge firearm hunt). This is by refuge season and not by equipment. 
• Hunters may not exceed the daily bag limit of one deer per day
• Check out for archery hunters is 8 pm. Check out for firearm hunt is 7 pm. 
• A valid state deer license and/or the military/refuge deer license can be used
• The number of antlerless deer is only limited by the daily bag limit and the hunter's number of hunt days and if they have a military/refuge license. 

The youth deer hunt season will be in conjunction with the state youth season. To apply, applications are available online through the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife website. A total of 100 youth (age 17 and under) will be selected by lottery to hunt.  Each youth must be accompanied by an adult hunter as a guide, but only the youth may hunt. Both the youth and adult guide must attend a refuge safety briefing. There are no refuge fees for youth hunters. 

Turkey Hunting

Spring and fall turkey hunting is offered at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. Spring turkey hunting is a lottery draw.  Lottery applications can be found on the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife website. For information about fall turkey season, call the refuge.

• Turkey hunters may possess only approved non-toxic shot while in the field.
• The state bag limit is 1 bearded turkey per spring season.
• Hunters must check out by 2pm.

Squirrel Hunting

• Squirrel hunting is in the public use area during public use days with a hunt permit and state license.
• Hunting dogs may only be used during the squirrel hunting season. You must ensure that all hunting dogs wear a collar displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number.
• We allow the use of squirrel dogs only in the day use areas