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Patoka Lake - Hunting and Trapping
3084 North Dillard Road
Birdseye, IN 47513
(812) 685-2464
Newton-Stewart SRA, Jackson SRA,Lick Fork SRA, Little Patoka SRA,Painter Creek SRA, Walls Lake SRA, South Lick Fork SRA
Hunting and Trapping
Patoka Lake offers hunting for deer, turkey, upland game, and furbearers, as well as migratory game birds. Each hunter is required to sign in at one of nineteen hunter sign in stations before accessing the property, and return their check station card before leaving. All hunting is first come first serve.
Bonus county antlerless deer permits are not allowed in the area west of highway 145, and north of highway 164.
Patoka is open to trapping without a bidding process. This regulation is subject to change annually, so please contact the property office for regulations and other details.
The waterfowl resting areas, east of Walls Ramp and the within the Allen Creek finger, are only open to waterfowl hunting and boat traffic on select days between November 1 of a given year to Feb 28th of the following year. Specific dates are determined prior to the season opening, and do not affect the early season waterfowl hunting dates. The Sycamore Creek portion of the lake is always closed to all waterfowl hunting. Furthermore, the Sycamore Creek portion of the lake does not allow boat traffic between November 1 of a given year to Feb 28th of the following year to allow the area to act as a temporary waterfowl refuge. Call, or stop in at the office for information on the Walls Ramp and Allen Creek waterfowl resting area open dates.
All hunters must register and sign the waiver of liability at one of the hunter sign-in stations on the property. Hunter sign-in is mandatory, and failure to sign in and out properly may result in a fine. All game taken must be recorded on a required one-day hunter permit card that is carried with you as you hunt and turned in at the end of the day. At some properties, the card must be returned to the same hunter sign-in station where the waiver of liability was signed; please look for that requirement when you check-in. Take and use only one card per day. This system provides valuable wildlife management information.
2020 Patoka Lake Controlled Dove Hunts
Wildlife Management staff at Patoka Lake will conduct two separate in-person drawings for two controlled mourning dove hunting opportunities on Sept. 1, 2020. The drawings will begin promptly at 6:00 a.m. (EST) at the Archery Range Shelterhouse in Newton-Stewart State Recreation Area.
The first drawing will be for a staked position in a controlled dove hunt field designated for Youth Hunters only. This drawing and hunt is intended for youth (ages 12 to 17) that are new to dove hunting, and are needing mentoring in the sport. Youth participating in this drawing will be required to show proof of their youth hunting license, and must have a parent or guardian with them while they hunt. Only youth will be allowed to hunt in this field, as parents / guardians are expected to mentor and teach their respective youth hunter. A maximum of two firearms will be allowed per staked position (i.e. one parent / guardian and two youth being mentored). Approximately seven (7) staked positions are expected to be drawn for this field on Sept. 1.
The second drawing will be for a staked position in a standard controlled dove hunt field. Approximately 15 to 20 staked positions are expected to be drawn, and there is a maximum of two firearms per stake allowed. Hunters are reminded to procure the proper licenses, stamps, and their federal HIP number. Hunters are also reminded that they are federally required to utilize non-toxic shot of size 6 or smaller, and have their firearm plugged so that the firearm can only contain three (3) shells at any time. Hunters participating in the controlled-hunt will be limited to 50 shells.
Shooting hours for both of the controlled hunts at Patoka Lake on Sept 1, will be from 6:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EST). Both controlled hunt fields will be closed after 1:00 p.m. (EST). All fields surrounding the controlled sunflower field will be subject to similar time restrictions. There will be no “stand-by” or refilling of shooting stations for early departures on Sept.1, 2020.
All sunflower and millet/sorghum fields will be considered open and subject to regular shooting hours starting Sept. 2, 2020. Regular shooting hours will be one half hour before sunrise to sunset through the legal season(s).
Hunters should contact the Indiana Conservation Officers at (812) 837-9536 regarding specific questions on federal or state laws, statutes, and rules. Interested persons may contact the Patoka Lake Main Office at (812) 685-2464 if they require further information.