Announcements
Big River State Forest
Office phone: 309-374-2496
Office address: 1337 Township Road 2850 N, Keithsburg, IL 61442
Site coordinates: 41.04798 -90.3015
County: Henderson
Site Maps
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 2,970
Habitat: Area is a remnant of a vast prairie woodland border area that once covered much of Illinois and contains the area’s oldest pine plantation. Much of the forest has been converted from scrub hardwood to pine trees which grow upon the area’s sandy soil. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated Species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Site requires use of windshield card displayed on vehicle dashboard to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
Park in designated lots only.
Portable tree stands may be used but must be removed at the end of the day’s hunt.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A site-specific permit is allocated through the statewide lottery.
- Permit holders must register at the check station by 5 am.
- Standby one-day site-specific deer permits may be issued at the check station for $5.00 each.
- Firearm deer hunters are required to check in and check out at the check station.
Late Winter Antlerless
Available at this site if Henderson county is open to late winter antlerless season. Check public announcement in the fall to confirm if site is open. If so, then statewide regulations apply.
Please note: Late-winter deer hunters can use late-winter permits, or unfilled BRSF firearm or Henderson county firearm permits.
Muzzleloader
Not available at this site.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Turkey
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that all turkey hunters must check in and out at the check station. Sign-in must be after 4 am each day.
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
A county permit is required.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
A county permit is required.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit required.
- Only a certain number of permits will be allocated; no standby permits.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Not available at this site.
Goose
Not available at this site.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland & Small Game
Crow
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Crow carcasses must be removed from the site
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A drawing will be held at site office at 11:00AM if there are more hunters than site can accommodate.
- Sept 1-5, Dove season times will be 12 pm -5 pm
- Beginning Sept 6, dove hunting hours are dictated by statewide regulation
- Only steel shot, size #6 or smaller, or non-toxic equivalent may be used.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except hunting is not permitted during deer firearm season.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that rabbit hunting is not permitted during firearm deer hunting.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except hunting with shotguns and bow and arrow are the only methods of take permitted.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
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
Campground
Picnic area
Boat ramp
Trail