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FNG
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2026
- Messages
- 15
The fate Big Oaks NWR in Indiana is currently up in the air. Big Oaks is 50,000 acres of woods and grasslands owned by the Army, but managed by USFWS as a NWR. The USFWS has allowed big game hunting through a draw for as long as I can remember. There is also a small portion open to small game hunting on certain days of the month.
Big Oaks was imment domained by the army during WW2 to be used as a munitions testing ground. Today there are still unexploded ordinances on the site. To hunt there, you must attend a 30ish minute class on how to be safe around unexploded ordinances. This class costs $20. This is some of the best turkey hunting I've found in Indiana and the deer hunting is known to be very good.
The current administration has hinted that they no longer have the budget to manage Big Oaks. While they haven't officially canceled the public access agreement, it is expected they will. This is 50,000 acres of prime hunting access that is going to be taken from everyone. DOGE reduced the staff at Big Oaks from 5 to 1. Imagine 1 person trying to manage 50,000 acres and thousands of public hunters a year.
I come to beg everyone in every state to write their congress rep and ask for support for Big Oaks NWR.
Big Oaks was imment domained by the army during WW2 to be used as a munitions testing ground. Today there are still unexploded ordinances on the site. To hunt there, you must attend a 30ish minute class on how to be safe around unexploded ordinances. This class costs $20. This is some of the best turkey hunting I've found in Indiana and the deer hunting is known to be very good.
The current administration has hinted that they no longer have the budget to manage Big Oaks. While they haven't officially canceled the public access agreement, it is expected they will. This is 50,000 acres of prime hunting access that is going to be taken from everyone. DOGE reduced the staff at Big Oaks from 5 to 1. Imagine 1 person trying to manage 50,000 acres and thousands of public hunters a year.
I come to beg everyone in every state to write their congress rep and ask for support for Big Oaks NWR.
Hoosier Hunters & Anglers Stand to Lose 50,000 Acres of Access
Federal property managers have faced a number of challenges over the last year as cuts to federal agencies have reduced staffing and funding. Cuts to USFS staff have been well-publicized, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) properties, including National Wildlife Refuges, are experiencing the...
www.backcountryhunters.org
