Austin Bottoms Conservation Area: hunting and access
Austin Bottoms Conservation Area is 4,535 acres open to public hunting in Jackson, Scott and Washington counties, next to Austin, managed by the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Hunters took 1,232 deer in Jackson County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's DNR property open to hunting data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Indiana DNR deer reports, 2021 to 2025.
Properties open to public hunting (DNR map)State parksOther DNR landCounty, city and regional landAustin Bottoms Conservation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 4,535 acres in 22 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Jackson County, Scott County and Washington County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jackson County, Scott County, Washington County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer, Woodcock, Turkey and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of Fish and Wildlife |
| DNR contact | Crosley FWA 812-346-5596 |
| Nearest towns | Austin (next to it), Scottsburg (2 mi) and Little York (2 mi) |
What can you hunt on Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
In the DNR's words: Rabbit, squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock, turkey. Waterfowl hunting on ponds and marshes. Night hunting.
What are the rules on Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
Antlerless deer may not be taken with a firearm during the firearms season on DNR Fish and Wildlife properties and at Mississinewa, Patoka and Salamonie lakes (DNR).
Indiana's statewide bag limit is 1 antlered and 6 antlerless deer, within each county's antlerless limit (DNR).
How many deer are taken around Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
Austin Bottoms Conservation Area lies in 3 counties. Hunters took 1,232 deer in Jackson County in 2025, against 1,719 in 2024.
| County | Austin Bottoms Conservation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 1,599 | 1,232 | 1,719 | 1,653 |
| Scott County | 1,536 | 539 | 765 | 749 |
| Washington County | 1,400 | 2,616 | 2,445 | 2,278 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the property alone: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
How do you get to Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
Nearest towns: Austin (next to it), Scottsburg (2 miles), Little York (2 miles) and Crothersville (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-65 and US 31.
What other public land is near Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Jackson-Washington State Forest: 18,488 acres, next to it
- Thomastown Bottoms Nature Preserve: 881 acres, next to it
- Clark State Forest: 24,804 acres, 3.8 miles away
- Hardy Lake: 2,169 acres, 4.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Austin Bottoms Conservation Area
Counting Austin Bottoms Conservation Area itself, 9,178 of the 86,004 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (10.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Properties open to public hunting (DNR map) | 9,079 |
| County, city and regional land | 88 |
| Other DNR land | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
In Jackson, Scott and Washington counties, next to Austin.
What can you hunt on Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
The DNR lists: Rabbit, squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock, turkey. Waterfowl hunting on ponds and marshes. Night hunting.
How much public land is around Austin Bottoms Conservation Area?
9,178 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Austin Bottoms Conservation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Jackson-Washington State Forest (next to it).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Austin Bottoms Conservation Area; Indiana DNR properties with public hunting (managed lands layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Indiana DNR White-tailed Deer Reports (2021 to 2025 seasons, Table 3-4).
FilledTag is not part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.
Indiana hunting Jackson County Scott County Washington County