The hunting program at J. Edward Roush Lake is administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Details of the program are listed below. All Indiana hunting and trapping laws apply to the entire lake project.

Sign-in Stations There are six self-serve hunter sign-in stations located throughout the property along access routes. Instructions and other hunter information are provided in each station. It is a property regulation that each hunter must obtain daily permission to hunt J. Edward Roush Lake property by signing in at a station and checking out at the hunt's or day's end. The information provided to wildlife biologists is invaluable towards improving the wildlife management program.

Management Units The entire property is divided into resource management units, both primary and supplementary. Primary units are the areas designated in the master plan as wildlife management areas while the supplementary units are designated as various types of other recreation areas. These supplemental units will be used for wildlife management until such time that other recreation facilities are developed. The hunter report cards turned in at the sign in stations are more valuable to wildlife biologists if the resource management unit is indicated.

Parking Stone lots are provided throughout the property for the convenience of hunters and other property users. Parking along the roadsides is not permitted where traffic may be interfered with or where damage to mowed roadsides may occur.

Trapping The entire property is divided into three trapping units. No one may trap at J. Edward Roush Lake without obtaining permission through a sealed bid auction. Anyone interested in trapping the land or water of any of the trapping units should contact the IDNR office to determine procedures. Deadlines for bids are normally in late summer of each season.

Tenant Farming Of the project’s 8,217 acres of land, about 1400 acres are planted with agricultural crops. These crops provide important supplements to the food and cover supplies of area wildlife. Tenant farmers rent about Il50 acres of this land. The farmer must plant crops as designated by IDNR biologists. The farmer must also leave 10 percent of most crops standing as winter food and cover supply. The IDNR wildlife crew plants the remaining 250 acres to a variety of wildlife foods each year.

Safety Zones Safety zones exist around residences, offices, houses, and service areas. These are clearly marked with white lettered red signs. Weapons are not allowed within. The area from State Road 5 east to Huntington County Road 200East and from U.S. 224 South to the seasonal water level is all safety zoned. This area includes Huntington Municipal Airport, Kilsoquah Boat Ramp, and Kilsoquah Campground.

Dove Hunting Preregistration is required for the first two days of the season. A Youth Dove Hunt, for youth 17 years of age and younger is also held. Contact the IDNR Lake Office, (260) 468-2165, to sign up for the Youth Dove Hunt. (Limited space is available). Most doves are harvested in early September; however, the late season can be fun if you hunt around food plots. Contact the IDNR office for maps.

Put-Take Pheasant Release The Annual Put-Take Pheasant Release runs the week of Thanksgiving. Daily registration at the Check Station, 1 1/2 miles south of Markle, off of State Road 3, runs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Clean up hunting starts after the release is over. Hunters are allowed to harvest either sex until Jan. 15. Hunter success during clean up usually lasts one to two weeks.

Hunting and fishing questions specific for J. Edward Roush Lake should be directed to:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources
J. Edward Roush Lake
517 North Warren Road
Huntington, IN 46750
(260) 468-2165
(260) 468-2166