Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge consists of more than 10,000 acres of various habitats – including upland and bottomland forest, diverse wetlands and prairie – along 20 miles of the Patoka River in southwestern Indiana. The refuge is known for abundant waterfowl hunting opportunities along the oxbows of the river and in its floodwaters. White-tailed deer, squirrel and turkey are also popular with hunters. Portions of the refuge are marshy and often flood, but hunters willing to put in the effort can find excellent populations of game species. The refuge has furbearer hunting opportunities for species including fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk and opossum. In some areas, the refuge land is not contiguous, and some areas have poor access because of adjacent private land. The refuge continually updates maps detailing open hunting areas. The refuge also manages the Columbia Mine Preserve (through a conservation easement conservation easement
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a government agency or qualified conservation organization that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on a property in the future. Conservation easements aim to protect habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife by limiting residential, industrial or commercial development. Contracts may prohibit alteration of the natural topography, conversion of native grassland to cropland, drainage of wetland and establishment of game farms. Easement land remains in private ownership.

Learn more about conservation easement ) and two satellite units, the White River Bottoms Wildlife Management Area (open to hunting) and the Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area (closed to hunting). The refuge is actively expanding through its land acquisition program.

For more information on refuge and hunting regulations