Hardy Lake: hunting and access
Hardy Lake is 2,169 acres open to public hunting in Scott and Jefferson counties, next to Deputy, managed by the DNR's Division of State Parks. Hunters took 539 deer in Scott 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 parksHardy LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,169 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Scott County and Jefferson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Scott County, Jefferson County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Quail, Rabbit, Turkey, Squirrel, Deer, Woodcock, Duck, Raccoon and Fox |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of State Parks |
| DNR contact | Hardy Lake 812-794-3800 |
| On the property (DNR) | archery range and camping |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | Deputy (next to it), Blocher (2 mi) and Paris Crossing (3 mi) |
What can you hunt on Hardy Lake?
In the DNR's words: Quail, rabbit, turkey squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock. Duck hunting from blinds. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
What are the rules on Hardy Lake?
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 Hardy Lake?
Hardy Lake lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 539 deer in Scott County in 2025, against 765 in 2024.
| County | Hardy Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott County | 1,874 | 539 | 765 | 749 |
| Jefferson County | 295 | 1,219 | 1,573 | 1,481 |
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 Hardy Lake?
Nearest towns: Deputy (next to it), Blocher (2 miles), Paris Crossing (3 miles) and Commiskey (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 31.
What other public land is near Hardy Lake?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Austin Bottoms Conservation Area: 4,535 acres, 4.8 miles away
- Thomastown Bottoms Nature Preserve: 881 acres, 6.4 miles away
- Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge: 7,710 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Hardy Lake
Counting Hardy Lake itself, 2,507 of the 40,721 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.2%), 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) | 2,169 |
| State parks | 338 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Hardy Lake?
In Scott and Jefferson counties, next to Deputy.
What can you hunt on Hardy Lake?
The DNR lists: Quail, rabbit, turkey squirrel, deer, snipe, woodcock. Duck hunting from blinds. Night hunting for raccoon and fox.
How much public land is around Hardy Lake?
2,507 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Hardy Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Austin Bottoms Conservation Area (4.8 miles).
Get a Indiana hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Indiana are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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, Hardy Lake; 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.