ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

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Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

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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. 
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Site Specific Regulations

  • Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • 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 of check station
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • 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
    • No deer firearm hunting permitted.

Turkey

  • Spring Turkey
    • Open to Spring Turkey hunting.
    • Open to holders of a valid Youth Spring permit for the county in which the site is located.
    • High water may result in closing the area to all hunting, especially during the spring season.
  • Fall Turkey
    • Archery ONLY in fall without regard to firearm deer season.

Waterfowl

  • All registered blind builders will sign in per usual by one hour prior to shooting time for that day in a drive through fashion.  
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season as posted at the site
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season

Early Canada Goose

  • Open to the early Canada Goose hunting season, where posted. Closed for late goose season.
  • Hunters are not restricted to blind sites during early goose season.

Teal

  • 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.

Duck

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Blinds not claimed, West Point Waterfowl Unit Walk-In, or Boat Blind Sites will be assigned by daily draw until 11 am.
  • 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.

Youth Waterfowl

  • 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.

Duck Permit

  • Duck permits are allocated by drawing. Applicants must apply online.
  • Permits available Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday during the Central Zone duck season.
  • Permit holders will have first choice of West Point Walk-in area stakes (no blinds) or unclaimed yearly allocation blinds on Anderson or Carlson Lake that would otherwise go in the daily drawing.
  • Daily drawing for hunt location held at check station 1 hour prior to legal shooting hours; after that time, permits are void.
  • Permit holder may bring up to 3 guests.
  • 3 permits available per day.
  • All hunting will cease at 1 pm.
  • Boat recommended.

Snipe and Rail

  • Statewide hours and regulations
  • Legal opening to 7 days before waterfowl season.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations
  • Rabbits
    • Statewide regulations
    • Non-toxic shot only

Upland Birds

  • Quail and pheasant
    • Statewide hours and regulations
    • Non-toxic shot only
  • Woodcock
    • Statewide hours and regulations
    • Legal opening to 7 days before waterfowl season
  • Dove
    • Statewide regulations
    • 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.
  • Crow
    • Statewide hours and regulations

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Statewide regulations.
    • A site permit is required and must be in possession while trapping on the area.
    • From close of waterfowl season to statewide ending
    • 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.
  • Hunting
    • Statewide regulations.
    • 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.
    • Season is from close of waterfowl season to February 15th

Amenities