Wildlife Illinois

Hunt Planner

Announcements

Apply for your Deer Firearm/Muzzeloader Permit beginning March 8, 2022!

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area

Site Contact Info

Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 4,508
  • Habitat: Area is dominated by large tracts of forestland which are interspersed with cropland, lakes, wetlands, shrubland and grasslands.
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map

Site Specific Regulations

  • All statewide hunting 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.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • Hunters must remove tree stands from the area at the end of each day’s hunt.
  • The area will be closed to fishing Nov 1 through the last day of Feb.
  • Hunters should not park in such a way to block a gate or access point.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations
  • Youth
    • Statewide regulations
  • Firearm and Muzzleloader
    • Site specific permit issued through the statewide lottery

Turkey

  • Spring
    • Statewide regulations
    • Site specific permit issued through statewide lottery

Waterfowl

  • Teal, Rail, Snipe
    • Statewide regulations

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations
    • Hunting with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifle, or muzzleloading black powder rifles.
  • Rabbits
    • No rabbit hunting offered

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • Statewide regulations
    • Non-toxic shot required, size 6 or smaller
  • Crow
    • Statewide regulations
    • Hunting hours are 30 minutes prior to sunrise to sunset
  • Woodcock
    • Statewide regulations

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Statewide regulations
    • No trapping on Island Lake Waterfowl Rest Area Nov 1 – Feb 28
  • 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.
    • Site closed to furbearer hunting until after 1pm each day during spring turkey season, unless hunting with a valid site turkey permit.
    • Coyote and striped skunk season coincides with the statewide fox season.
    • Windshield Card required

Amenities

  • None