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Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Site Contact Info

Office phone: 309-759-4484

Office address: 647 N IL 100 Highway, Astoria, IL 61501 

Site coordinates: 40.196523 -90.203369

County: Fulton

Site Superintendent

District Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Police

Site Closures List

Site Map

Digital Map

Printable Map

Site Characteristics

Huntable acres: 1,900

Habitat: A bottomland setting with timber species dominated by towering silver maple, cottonwood and willow. Anderson Lake is a 1,134 acre floodplain lake that frequently receives overflow waters from the Illinois River. Carlson Lake is a waterfowl management area of 230 acres. Area is drained in early summer, planted to feed waterfowl, and flooded in the fall to attract waterfowl to the area. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Site Specific Regulations

Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.

Severe weather and safety conditions can result in closing all or part of the site.

All hunters are required to check-in and out at the sign-in box located at the check station

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Deer hunters are prohibited from lake access during the waterfowl season, but can use the river or walk-in.
  • Archery hunting is open during firearm deer season.
  • Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31, but must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.
  • Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder.
  • It is prohibited to construct or use any tree stand using nails, screws or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed.
  • Check-in, check-out, and reporting of harvest is required at the hunter check station sign in box.
  • It is prohibited to use or occupy a ground blind during any firearm deer season, unless at least 400 square inches of solid, vivid blaze orange material is securely attached to the uppermost portion of the blind and a substantial amount of orange is visible for 360 degrees.

Firearm

Not available at this site.

Late Winter Antlerless

Not available at this site.

Muzzleloader

Not available at this site.

Special CWD

Not available at this site.

Youth Firearm

Not available at this site.

Turkey

Fall Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply. Does not close for firearm deer season.

Fall Shotgun

Not available at this site.

Spring

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Must have a valid Spring Turkey Permit for the county in which the site is located. Please note that high water may result in closing the area to all hunting, especially during the spring season.

Youth Spring

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Must have a valid Youth Spring Turkey Permit for the county in which the site is located.

Waterfowl

Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply. Please read the following site-specific regulations:

  • Blinds allocated by annual draw held on the last Sunday in July.
  • All hunters using this area must report to the check station to complete information cards and/or participate in draw for blind before proceeding to sites.
  • All hunting will be from registered blinds and staked sites. Hunters must occupy sites within 1 hour after registering at the check station. All hunting will cease at 1 pm.
  • Registered builders (or partners desiring to claim their blinds) must report to the check station at least 1 hour prior to shooting time each day. Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check station for reassignment.
  • Upon vacating the blind sites, hunters must report to the check station within 1 hour. Hunters are required to check self out and record harvest at the box located outside of office.
  • During duck season, blinds not claimed by the builder or partners or West Point Waterfowl Unit Walk-In stakes by one hour before hunting time shall be assigned by a drawing at this time and during the hours from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.
  • Once 4 hunters have occupied a blind, all original occupants of the blind must check out at the check station before any additional hunters may occupy that blind. Blinds may be reallocated on a first-come, first-served basis or, if multiple parties arrive at the check station at 8:00 a.m., there will be a second drawing, after which time the area shall be closed to additional hunters.
  • No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except during statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting, 5 persons may occupy a blind at one time only if the party is comprised of 2 youth hunters, their non-hunting parents and one non-hunting guide.
  • All parties must hunt over a minimum of 12 decoys of at least standard size.
  • The lake will be closed to boating and boat fishing 7 days prior to and including the regular waterfowl season, except for legal waterfowl hunting.
  • Open to the early teal hunting season, where posted.
  • Teal hunters are not restricted to blind sites.
  • No permanent blinds may be constructed for the sole purpose of teal season.

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Open to all goose hunting seasons, where posted.

Hunting from a completed blind is waived during seasons held before the regular duck season or for seasons held after the regular Canada goose season. 

Snipe & Rail 

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Open from legal opening to 7 days before waterfowl season

Youth Waterfowl

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

Subject to special dates for youth waterfowl hunting made by Department public announcement.

No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except during statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting, 5 persons may occupy a blind at one time only if the party is comprised of 2 youth hunters, their non-hunting parents and one non-hunting guide.

Upland & Small Game

Crow

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Dove

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Non-toxic shot only.
  • Shooting hours are noon until 5 pm, September 1-5.
  • A drawing will be held at 11 a.m. if more hunters show up than can be accommodated.
  • Statewide hours after September 5th.

Rabbits

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except non-toxic shot only.

Squirrels

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Upland Birds

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Woodcock

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Open from legal opening to 7 days before waterfowl season.

Furbearer

Hunting

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Open from close of waterfowl duck season to statewide ending
  • Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
  • Furbearer hunting closed during Firearm Deer Season
  • Hunters with a valid, unfilled firearm deer permit for the hunt area may take coyotes during legal hours of the firearm deer season. Otherwise, the use of shotgun slugs to take furbearing mammals is prohibited on state sites.
  • Coyote and striped skunk season coincides with the statewide fox season.
  • No woodchuck (groundhog) hunting allowed.

Trapping

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Open from close of waterfowl duck season to statewide ending
  • A site permit is required and must be in possession while trapping on the area. A drawing shall be held prior to the opening of the season.
  • The date of the drawing shall be announced by the Department by public announcement (publicly announced means that the information referred to will be included on the IDNR website, provided to outdoor writers for newspapers) and the drawing shall be held at the site.
  • Persons participating in the drawing must have either a current or previous year trapping license. The number of permits per site shall be determined pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.20.
  • Permit applicants must submit name and address to the site prior to drawing.
  • Only Egg Traps®, D-P (Dog-Proof) Traps®, Lil Grizz Get’rz®, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets
  • Only body-gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4½ inches or less and square body-gripping traps with a 10-inch jaw spread may be used for water sets.
  • Snares may be used for water sets.

Amenities