Cache River State Natural Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-634-9678
Office address: 930 Sunflower Lane, Belkap, IL 62908
Site coordinates: 37.31176 -89.01792
County: Johnson, Pulaski, and Massac
Site Maps
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 15,425
Habitat: Cache River SNA is characterized by great diversity, both in habitat types and wildlife. The Cache River area is one of only six places in the country where four or more physiographic ecological units overlap. Also, two major rivers, the Ohio and Mississippi, join together just south of Cache River SNA. Habitat types in the area include limited upland forest, mature and young bottomland hardwood forest, early successional tree plantings, cypress-tupelo swamps, and limited open areas and native warm season grasslands.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Please note: The invasive plant species, Japanese Chaff Flower (Achyranthes japonica), was identified at Cache River SNA. To prevent its spread, please try to avoid infested areas and clean your clothes and boots of any seed. To learn more about Japanese Chaff flower and how to identify it, please visit this link. You can report observations of the plant to the District Natural Heritage Biologist.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Hunters may leave stands unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31. Stands must be legibly labeled with the owner’s name, address and telephone number.
Hunting is allowed only in Natural Areas. No hunting is allowed in restricted areas and in the three Nature Preserve Areas.
Persons may not enter the Nature Preserve Areas with a weapon in possession. No weapons are allowed in the restricted area at the Cache River Wetland Center from Rt. 37, east to the Tunnel Hill State Trail, and 3/4 mile north of Section 8 Woods Nature Preserve to private property.
Hunting is on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no quotas or drawings.
All hunters are required to sign-in and sign-out at the hunter registration boxes provided at the hunter access areas.
Hunters are required to report harvest before leaving the site.
All motorized vehicles must remain on roads or in access areas. No ATV’s, bicycles, horses, or mules are permitted in the Natural Area.
Hunting areas can be accessed by hiking or biking on the Tunnel Hill State Trail.
All weapons must be cased or bow and arrows locked while traveling along the trails right-of-way corridor. Tunnel Hill State Trail is a restricted area closed to hunting; it is unlawful to hunt, trap or discharge a gun or bow or arrow device along, upon or across the right-of-way of the trail.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Spring
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- Hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out and report their harvest at the end of each day.
- Hunting is permitted until sunset.
- No permanent blinds or pits may be dug or constructed. All blinds must be portable or established with natural vegetation and must be removed or dismantled at the end of each day’s hunt. Cutting live vegetation on these areas is illegal.
- Non-toxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and migratory birds.
- Teal hunting is allowed.
Goose
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Site is open to all goose hunting seasons and follows the same regulations as ducks. See section above for more information.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Waterfowl
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except non-toxic shot is required.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except rabbit hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment containing at least 400 square inches of solid and vivid blaze orange.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Upland Birds
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except upland bird hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment containing at least 400 square inches of solid and vivid blaze orange.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller must be used from sunset to sunrise.
- Closed during Firearm Deer Seasons.
- 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.
Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:
- Permission to trap must be obtained by contacting the site office.
- No snares are allowed.
- Only Egg Traps, D-P (Dog-Proof) traps, box traps, cage traps and traps of similar design may be used for land sets.
Amenities
Boat access
Canoeing
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting