Hunt unit · Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge

Columbia Mine Preserve Hunt Unit Map & Access

Special regs

The Columbia Mine Preserve unit is one of 4 mapped hunt units on Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge in Pike County, IN. It covers approximately 1,074 acres and is listed as “open – special regulations apply” for 2026–2027. That means hunting is permitted, but refuge-specific rules — such as limited species, dates, weapon types, access methods or quota permits — apply on top of state regulations.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
1,074acres
Special regsstatus 2026–27
Norefuge permit
Pike Countycounty

Columbia Mine Preserve map

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open – special regulations apply

Hunting is allowed, but refuge-specific rules apply in addition to Indiana regulations. Typical special regulations include limited species or seasons, quota/lottery permits, weapon restrictions (e.g. archery or shotgun only), shooting-hour limits, blind or stand rules and restricted access.

Game at Patoka River NWR

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the Columbia Mine Preserve unit

Navigate

Destination: center of the Columbia Mine Preserve unit

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
38.36483, -87.31462
DMS
38°21′53.4″N 87°18′52.6″W

Nearest towns

  • Evansville, IN31 mi NE of town
  • Terre Haute, IN77 mi S of town
  • Louisville, KY85 mi W of town

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at Columbia Mine Preserve

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM7:21 PM13h 03m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM6:59 PM12h 30m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:13 AM6:43 AM6:33 PM11h 50m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM6:12 PM11h 16m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM4:51 PM10h 37m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:00 AM6:30 AM4:38 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM4:29 PM9h 43m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM4:29 PM9h 31m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM4:38 PM9h 32m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM4:50 PM9h 46m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:25 AM6:55 AM5:09 PM10h 15m

Computed for 38.365, -87.315 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Other units at Patoka River NWR

UnitStatusAcresPermit
Patoka UnitOpen11,527—
Cane RidgeClosed482—
Maxey MarshClosed62—

Back to Patoka River NWR →