Announcements
Apple River Canyon State Park (Salem and Thompson Units)
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 815-745-3302
Office address: 8763 E. Canyon Rd., Apple River, IL 61001
Site coordinates: 42.400346 -90.141193
County: JoDaviess
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 1,052
Habitat: Limestone bluffs, deep ravines, springs and streams characterize this area. Vegetation is predominantly a mix of wooded slopes and grassland, row crops and hayfields dominant on ridge tops. Habitat restoration consisting of hardwood and prairie plantings will be ongoing and should enhance future wildlife populations.
Site Specific Regulations
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Statewide and associated Species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Site is closed to all non-hunting activities during firearm, youth, CWD, and muzzleloader deer seasons
Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February. This site requires a windshield card for the hunting of all game species.
Hunting is allowed in the Salem Unit on either side of Salem Road within IDNR boundaries. Only deer hunting is allowed in the Thompson Unit, which is a nature preserve.
No hunting is allowed within Thompson Cemetery boundaries and within the Apple River Canyon State Park.
It shall be unlawful to construct or to use any tree stand that utilizes nails, screws, or wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed.
Any tree stand must be portable and removed from the tree at the end of each day’s hunt.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or to consume beer, wine, or intoxicating liquors while hunting on the area.
No ground fires or camping allowed.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except closed during firearm deer seasons.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunters must obtain a site-specific (special-hunt-area) permit issued through the statewide lottery system. Site-specific permits are not valid anywhere else in the county.
- County permits are not valid for the special hunt area.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Muzzleloader hunting is allowed during the second portion of muzzleloader season.
- Muzzleloader permit is invalid during second portion of firearm deer season.
Special CWD
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Firearm
During youth deer hunting seasons, only Jo Daviess County permit holders who contact the site office will be issued a youth season.
A non-hunter may not enter the hunting area during deer firearm seasons (youth, firearm, CWD, and muzzleloader), except a supervising non-hunting adult who is accompanying a youth hunter during youth deer hunting season.
Only 1 portable tree stand is allowed per hunter and must be removed from the area at the end of each day’s hunt.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except turkey hunting is closed during all firearm deer hunting seasons.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- All turkey hunters must obtain a site-specific (special-hunt-area) permit issued through the Springfield lottery system. Site-specific permits are not valid anywhere else in the county. County permits are not valid for this area.
- Turkey hunting is closed during all firearm deer seasons.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- All turkey hunters must obtain a site-specific (special-hunt-area) permit issued through the statewide lottery system.
- Site-specific permits are not valid anywhere else in the county. County permits are not valid for this area.
- Shotgun and archery equipment permitted.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- Youth hunters who hold Jo Daviess County permit and who contact the site office will be issued a youth season windshield card, until quotas are reached.
- Non-hunters must not enter the hunt area during the time preceding 1 pm daily during turkey shotgun seasons (youth and spring seasons), except a supervising adult who is required to accompany a youth during youth turkey hunting.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- Land based waterfowl hunting only. Hunting in grain crop fields can only be done after crops are harvested. Hunting in forage crops (hay, alfalfa) can be done at any time.
- All hunter items must be removed daily.
- Hunting parties must hunt with a minimum of 6 decoys.
Goose
Available at this site. Same regulations as Ducks/Coots/Mergansers. See above.
Snipe & Rail
Not available at this site.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply. Follows the same regulations as Ducks/Coots/Mergansers. See above.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Not available at this site.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting must be done with a shotgun or archery equipment.
- Closed during firearm deer seasons.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is with shotguns or bow and arrow only.
- Closed during firearm deer seasons.
Upland Birds
Not available at this site.
Woodcock
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- 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.
- Windshield Card required
Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
Camping
Fishing
Hiking Trails
Hunting