Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge: hunting and access
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is 49,905 acres open to public hunting in Ripley, Jefferson and Jennings counties, next to New Marion, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hunters took 1,276 deer in Ripley 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 landLand trusts and other open landBig Oaks National Wildlife RefugeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 49,905 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Ripley County, Jefferson County and Jennings County |
| Deer harvest unit | Ripley County, Jefferson County, Jennings County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey and Squirrel |
| Managed by | the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| DNR contact | Big Oaks NWR 812-273-0783 |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required: For deer and turkey |
| Nearest towns | New Marion (next to it), Holton (next to it) and Butlerville (2 mi) |
What can you hunt on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
In the DNR's words: Deer and turkey by pre-season and daily drawings, and squirrel on public-use days. See the military/refuge hunt information in the hunting guide.
What are the rules on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
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).
Hunters must check in at the property; the DNR's property page says how.
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 Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge lies in 3 counties. Hunters took 1,276 deer in Ripley County in 2025, against 1,333 in 2024.
| County | Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley County | 25,787 | 1,276 | 1,333 | 1,463 |
| Jefferson County | 15,685 | 1,219 | 1,573 | 1,481 |
| Jennings County | 8,433 | 830 | 1,545 | 1,563 |
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 Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
Nearest towns: New Marion (next to it), Holton (next to it), Butlerville (2 miles) and Dupont (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 421 and US 50.
What other public land is near Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area: 4,202 acres, 5.7 miles away
- Selmier State Forest: 351 acres, 5.9 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
Counting Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge itself, 51,802 of the 149,419 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (34.7%), 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) | 49,905 |
| Other DNR land | 1,494 |
| County, city and regional land | 403 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
In Ripley, Jefferson and Jennings counties, next to New Marion.
What can you hunt on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
The DNR lists: Deer and turkey by pre-season and daily drawings, and squirrel on public-use days. See the military/refuge hunt information in the hunting guide.
How much public land is around Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge?
51,802 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Crosley Fish and Wildlife Area (5.7 miles).
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Indiana included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: DNR, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge; 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 Ripley County Jefferson County Jennings County