Patoka Lake: hunting and access
Patoka Lake is 25,983 acres open to public hunting in Orange, Dubois and Crawford counties, next to Taswell, managed by the DNR's Division of State Parks. Hunters took 2,010 deer in Orange 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)National forestOther DNR landPatoka LakeCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 25,983 acres |
|---|---|
| Counties | Orange County, Dubois County and Crawford County |
| Deer harvest unit | Orange County, Dubois County, Crawford County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Quail, Rabbit, Dove, Squirrel, Deer, Turkey, Woodcock, Waterfowl, Raccoon, Fox and Coyote |
| Managed by | the DNR's Division of State Parks |
| DNR contact | Patoka Lake 812-685-2464 |
| On the property (DNR) | archery range and camping |
| Hunter check-in (DNR) | Required |
| Nearest towns | Taswell (next to it), Birdseye (2 mi) and Eckerty (2 mi) |
What can you hunt on Patoka Lake?
In the DNR's words: Quail, rabbit, dove, squirrel, deer, turkey, snipe,woodcock, waterfowl. Night hunting for raccoon, fox, and coyote. Trapping for furbearers.
What are the rules on Patoka Lake?
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 Patoka Lake?
Patoka Lake lies in 3 counties. Hunters took 2,010 deer in Orange County in 2025, against 1,967 in 2024.
| County | Patoka Lake acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | 14,895 | 2,010 | 1,967 | 1,865 |
| Dubois County | 6,032 | 2,018 | 2,067 | 1,823 |
| Crawford County | 5,056 | 2,118 | 2,001 | 1,756 |
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 Patoka Lake?
Nearest towns: Taswell (next to it), Birdseye (2 miles), Eckerty (2 miles) and Celestine (3 miles).
What other public land is near Patoka Lake?
Properties open to public hunting within 10 miles:
- Hoosier National Forest: 202,389 acres, next to it
- Ferdinand State Forest: 7,893 acres, 3 miles away
- Harrison-Crawford State Forest: 24,240 acres, 6.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Patoka Lake
Counting Patoka Lake itself, 39,660 of the 131,942 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (30.1%), 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) | 38,360 |
| Other DNR land | 1,078 |
| National forest | 222 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Patoka Lake?
In Orange, Dubois and Crawford counties, next to Taswell.
What can you hunt on Patoka Lake?
The DNR lists: Quail, rabbit, dove, squirrel, deer, turkey, snipe,woodcock, waterfowl. Night hunting for raccoon, fox, and coyote. Trapping for furbearers.
How much public land is around Patoka Lake?
39,660 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Patoka Lake included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting property boundaries. The closest other public hunting property is Hoosier National Forest (next to it).
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, Patoka 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.