Big Oaks
Madison, IN 47250-9700
Plan Your Visit
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings.
Big Oaks National Wildlife Region has some of the finest deer and turkey hunting opportunities in Indiana. Please contact the refuge in advance for specific information about drawings and special regulations. Fishing is excellent in Old Timbers Lake. The diverse habitat at the refuge provides great birding, wildlife viewing and opportunities for wildlife photography.
For your first visit to the refuge, please allow at least an hour to stop at the east end gatehouse to get the safety briefing and obtain a daily pass. Refuge staff can give you current information about wildlife sightings. Be sure to pick up a refuge map before you leave the gatehouse. Take the half hour drive north to the public use area around Old Timbers Lake. At the public use area, you can go fishing, walk a hiking trail, view an eagle nest, birdwatch or just relax in nature. On the return drive to the gatehouse, you are welcome to stop and check out the one of the historic stone bridges found on the refuge.
Please note the limited public use hours before you make your trip to visit the refuge.
For your first visit to the refuge, please allow at least an hour to stop at the east end gatehouse, take the safety briefing and obtain a daily pass. The refuge only accepts cash or checks made payable to USFWS.
Daily pass: $3
Annual pass: $15
Exceptions to the $3 daily or $15 annual permit include:
Holders of an Interagency Senior pass for those 62 years old or older
Holders of an Interagency Access pass for those permanently disabled
Active-duty military personel or holders of an Interagency Military pass
The entrance to the refuge is on U.S. Highway 421, at the former Jefferson Proving Ground, five miles north of Madison, Indiana. Enter at the main entrance of the former Jefferson Proving Ground.
From US Highway 421, turn west onto W JPG Ordnance Drive. Just past the brick gate house, turn north onto N Jpg East Perimeter Road. Follow this road for a 1/2 miles until you see the east end gatehouse. All visitors must check in and out here.
Please note, the Big Oaks office is no longer open to the public.
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Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge provides many opportunities for you to help wildlife and improve habitat.
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About
Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 50,000 acres in Indiana and is situated on the site of the former Jefferson Proving Ground, a munitions testing facility. Established in 2000, the refuge is designated as a Globally Important Bird Area and protects habitat for diverse species, including one of the world's largest populations of Henslow’s sparrows. It features significant wetlands, grasslands, forests, and unique geological features like caves and stone bridges.