Title 50
SECTION 32.33
32.33 Indiana.
§ 32.33 Indiana.The following refuge units are open for hunting and/or fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional refuge-specific regulations.
(a) Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge. (1) [Reserved]
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We require a signed acknowledgment of danger agreement and a refuge hunt permit.
(ii) Hunters must possess a valid daily gate pass at all times.
(iii) We allow the use of dogs for hunting only during the squirrel hunting season in the day use area, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times. You must ensure that all hunting dogs wear a collar displaying the owner's contact information.
(iv) You must hunt only in assigned areas. We prohibit trespass into an unassigned hunt area.
(v) We require that all hunters check all harvested game taken on the refuge at the refuge check station.
(vi) We require all refuge hunters to hunt with a partner. We require hunting partners to know the location of their partner while hunting. An adult, age 18 or older, must directly supervise youth hunters age 17 and younger.
(vii) Hunters must possess and carry a compass while hunting on the refuge.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(2)(i), (ii), and (iv) through (vii) of this section apply.
(ii) You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in the field (see § 32.2(k)).
(iii) We allow the use of portable hunting stands and blinds.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing on the Old Timbers Lake subject to the following conditions:
(i) We require a signed acknowledgment of danger agreement and a refuge access permit.
(ii) Anglers must possess a valid daily gate pass at all times.
(iii) We allow fishing only with a rod and reel or pole and line.
(iv) We prohibit the use of trotlines.
(v) We prohibit retaining black bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass between 12 and 15 inches (30 and 37.5 centimeters).
(b) Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, coot, merganser, woodcock, and dove on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) You must remove all boats, decoys, blinds, blind materials, stands, and platforms brought onto the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(ii) We allow the use of dogs when hunting, provided the dogs are under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(iii) We prohibit hunting and the discharge of a firearm within 100 yards (30 meters) of any dwelling or any other building that people, pets, or livestock may occupy.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of turkey, quail, squirrel, raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, skunk, and rabbit on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) For hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting wild turkey (see § 32.2(k)).
(ii) We allow the use of rimfire weapons for upland/small game hunting.
(iii) We prohibit the use of centerfire rifles for any hunts on refuge property.
(iv) During spring turkey hunting, hunters must possess a State-issued hunting permit during the first 6 days of the season.
(v) We prohibit turkey hunting after 1 p.m. each day.
(vi) We allow the incidental take of coyote only during other refuge hunting seasons.
(vii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iii) and (b)(2)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.
(iii) We prohibit the use or possession of tree spikes, plastic flagging, and reflective tacks.
(iv) We prohibit firearms deer hunting during the State deer firearm season (archery and muzzleloader only).
(v) We close archery deer hunting during the State muzzleloader season.
(vi) We prohibit the possession of game trail cameras on the refuge.
(vii) We require you to remove arrows from crossbows during transport in a vehicle.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit the use of any type of motor.
(ii) We allow the use of kayaks, canoes, belly boats, or float tubes in all designated fishing areas.
(iii) We allow fishing only with rod and reel, or pole and line.
(iv) We prohibit harvest of frog and turtle (see § 27.21 of this chapter).
(v) We prohibit the use of lead fishing tackle.
(vi) We allow only youth age 15 and younger to fish in the Discovery Pond.
(c) Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and Management Area - (1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, merganser, coot, woodcock, dove, snipe, rail, and crow on designated areas of the refuge and the White River Wildlife Management Area subject to the following conditions:
(i) You must remove all boats, decoys, blinds, and blind materials after each day's hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(ii) We prohibit hunting and the discharge of a weapon within 150 yards (137 meters) of any dwelling or any building that may be occupied by people, pets, or livestock.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of bobwhite quail, pheasant, cottontail rabbit, squirrel (gray and fox), red and gray fox, coyote, opossum, striped skunk, and raccoon subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow the use of dogs for hunting, provided the dog is under the immediate control of the hunter at all times.
(ii) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(iii) You may only use or possess approved nontoxic shot shells (see § 32.2(k)) while in the field.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and wild turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The condition set forth at paragraph (c)(2)(iii) applies while turkey hunting.
(ii) On the Columbia Mine Unit, you may only hunt white-tailed deer during the first week (7 days) of the following seasons, as governed by the State: archery, firearms, and muzzleloader.
(iii) On the Columbia Mine Unit, you may leave portable tree stands overnight only when the unit is open to hunting and for a 2-day grace period before and after the special season.
(iv) On the Columbia Mine Unit, if you use a rifle to hunt, you may use only rifles allowed by State regulations for hunting on public land.
(v) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
(ii) We allow fishing only with rod and reel, pole and line, bow and arrow, or crossbow.
(iii) The minimum size limit for largemouth bass on Snakey Point Marsh and on the Columbia Mine Unit is 14 inches (35.6 centimeters).
(iv) We prohibit the taking of any turtle, frog, leech, minnow, crayfish, and mussel (clam) species by any method on the refuge (see § 27.21 of this chapter).
(v) You must remove boats at the end of each day's fishing activity (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
[84 FR 47675, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54110, Aug. 31, 2020]