Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-425-3533
Office address: RR2 Box 233, Vandalia, IL 62471
Site coordinates: 38.65669 -89.26755
Satellite: East Fork Management Unit (394 acres) – CR #3 – Boulder Road – northeast of Boulder in Clinton County.
County: Fayette, Clinton
Site Maps
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 9,868
Habitat: consists of about 400 acres of upland habitat and 9,500 acres of bottomland.
Active habitat management will occur throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Windshield Card required and can be obtained through the IDNR Windshield Card System. You must report your harvest and hunter trips via the system, even if you did not hunt, by February 15.
Hunters are required to sign-in and sign-out at the nearest registration box located at the access parking lots.
It is unlawful to trespass in the sub-impoundment area seven days prior to the waterfowl season, except for youth waterfowl hunting season participants. The sub-impoundment area is closed to hunting other species seven days prior to and during the waterfowl season.
It is unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas from two weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of Canada goose season.
Hunters must remove tree stands from the area at the end of each day’s hunt.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Please note: Some closures before and during waterfowl season. Check with the site for more details.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Please note: East Fork Unit in Clinton County requires a special permit allocated through the statewide lottery.
At Carlyle SFWA, some areas (subimpoundment areas and west of the Kaskaskia River) are closed to firearm deer hunting.
At Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters Corps of Engineers managed lands, some areas (Jim Hawn and East Spillway areas) are closed to firearm deer hunting.
Check with the site for more details.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Follows the same regulations as firearm deer hunting. See section above for more information.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Please note: Site is open to holders of a valid Firearm Deer Hunting Permit for the county the site is located in.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply at Carlyle SFWA, except that a windshield card is required.
Fall Shotgun
Not available at this site.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except a windshield card is required.
Please note: East Fork Unit in Clinton County requires a site specific permit allocated through the statewide lottery.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Please note: Site is open to holders of a valid Youth Turkey Hunt Permit for the county in which the site is located.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only walk-in hunting and hunting with boats without motors shall be permitted in the sub-impoundment area.
- When the water level in the sub-impoundment area is too high (due to flooding) to allow walk-in hunting, Department personnel shall post that the area is open to boats with motors (no airboats) operating at no wake speed and will designate boat launching locations.
- No one may enter the sub-impoundment area before 4:30 am or remain in the area after 3 pm each day of the waterfowl hunting season, exceptions during goose season apply. See below.
- Hunters may not possess more than 25 shotshells.
- All waterfowl hunters must register prior to hunting each day of the waterfowl hunting season at the nearest accessible registration box.
- Teal hunting is available at Carlyle SFWA and Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters – Corps of Engineers managed lands, but only at Peppenhorst Branch and Allen Branch north of the buoys.
Goose
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except waterfowl hunters must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys and maintain a 200 yard distance between hunting parties.
Please note: No one may enter the sub-impoundment area before 4:30 am or remain in the area after 3 pm each day of the waterfowl hunting season, except during the last 3 days of Canada goose season and during goose season that occurs after Canada goose season.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Non-toxic shot is required.
- 25 shotshell limit.
- Windshield card is required.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Upland Birds
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a windshield card is required.
Please note: Pheasants are rare.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Please note: The sub-impoundment area closes 7 days prior to the start of the waterfowl season for the zone in which Carlyle Lake is located.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A windshield card is required.
- Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
- Furbearer hunting 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.
- Sub-impoundment area closed 7 days prior to and during the waterfowl season.
Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A site-specific permit is required. Contact site office for more information.
- No trapping in the sub-impoundment areas until after the close of the regular duck season.
Amenities
- Boat ramps
- Hunting
- More information