ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

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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 be occurring throughout the year on the site.

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 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.
  • 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.
  • The sub-impoundment area is closed to hunting other species seven days prior to and during the waterfowl season
  • Hunters must remove tree stands from the area at the end of each day’s hunt.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations
  • Youth Firearm
    • Requires county specific permit
  • Firearm and Muzzleloader
    • Site-specific permit. Contact site for information.

Turkey

  • Spring
    • Requires site-specific permit. Contact site for information.
  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations

Waterfowl

  • Youth
    • Statewide regulations
  • Regular season
    • Only walk-in hunting and hunting with boats without motors shall be permitted in the sub-impoundment area.
    • 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 and goose season that occur after Canada goose season.
    • Hunters may not possess more than 25 shotshells
  • Teal and Early Goose
    • Statewide regulations
  • Waterfowl hunters must hunt over a minimum of 12 decoys and maintain a 200 yard distance between hunting parties

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations
  • Rabbits
    • Statewide regulations

Upland Birds

  • Pheasant & Quail
    • Statewide regulations.
    • Pheasants are rare.
  • Dove
    • Statewide regulations.
    • Non-toxic shot required.
    • 25 shotshell limit.

Furbearers

  • 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.
    • Coyote and striped skunk season coincides with the statewide fox season.
    • Windshield Card required
    • Sub-impoundment area closed 7 days prior to and during the waterfowl season
  • Trapping
    • Site-specific permit. Contact site office.
    • No trapping in the sub-impoundment areas until after the close of the regular duck season.

Amenities