(PATOKA LAKE) – Patoka Lake is hosting two in-person drawings for controlled dove hunts and a non-draw hunt opportunity, all on Sept. 1.
Both drawings will be at 6 a.m. and have hunting hours of 6:30 a.m. to noon.
The first dove hunt drawing will be at Jackson State Recreation Area in Orange County in the Wildcat Cove Hunter Check Station #17 parking area. Around 15 to 20 groups are expected to be drawn.
The second drawing is an age 17 or younger hunt at the former R.A. Walton Farm in Crawford County at the R.A. Walton Farm Hunter Check Station #11 parking area. Hunting hours will be the same as for Jackson SRA. Six to eight groups will be drawn for this hunt.
Both hunts will have a maximum of two hunters per stake. All fields surrounding the controlled sunflower fields at both locations will have the same hours.
There will be no “stand-by” or refilling of shooting stations if there are early departures at either property. All fields will be considered open hunting starting Sept. 2. Shooting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise until sunset.
Hunters need to purchase the proper licenses and stamps and have their Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Patoka Lake adult hunters will be limited to 50 shells, and youth hunters will be limited to 75 shells. Hunters must use size 6 or smaller non-toxic shot and are required to have their firearm plugged so it can only contain three shells at a time.
Hunters are strongly encouraged to wear blaze orange clothing for safety as other users may be in the fields and area.
Tillery Hill SRA will host a non-draw hunt opportunity on Sept. 1. There will be a 3-acre field at Hunter Check Station #6, and a two-acre field near Osborne Boat Ramp on W. Newton Stewart Road.
Patoka Lake (on.IN.gov/patokalake) is at 3084 N. Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.
