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Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1,100
  • Habitat: The rolling landscape is bisected by Hutson Creek. This area represents a southern bottomland forest community near the northern limits of its occurrence in the state. Some open land is farmed to insure abundant grain foods for wildlife species. Wetlands and ponds augment the area. The forested areas are high quality mature oak-hickory type.
Photo of wetland with wood duck boxes at Crawford State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois.
Photo of woodlands in the fall with the leaves turning orange at Crawford State Fish and Wildlife Area.

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.
  • Hunters must park in designated lots and must not use of off-road vehicles.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle except on a roadway designated for vehicular use, parking lot, or posted bicycle trail or in a direction opposite of a posted one-way trail.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery Deer Hunting
    • All hunters must sign-in prior to hunting and sign-out and record harvest at a box in the parking lot or at the site office.
    • Hunters must report their harvest according to statewide regulations.
    • Archery hunting is not permitted during firearm deer seasons.
  • Firearm, Muzzleloader, and Late Winter Deer Hunting
    • Crawford County deer permit is required for hunting deer at this site.
    • All hunters must sign-in prior to hunting and sign-out and record harvest at a box in the parking lot or at the site office.
    • Hunters must report their harvest according to statewide regulations.
    • One non-piercing tree stand is allowed per hunter.
  • Tree stands may be left unattended from September 15 – January 31 and must be labeled with hunter’s name, address, and telephone number.
  • Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)

Turkey

  • Fall Archery Turkey Hunting
    • Archery hunting is closed during firearm deer hunting seasons.
  • Fall Shotgun and Spring Turkey Hunting
    • A site-specific permit for Crawford Co. SFWA, allocated through statewide lottery, is required during spring turkey season and fall shotgun turkey season.
    • Hunting is to be done with shotguns or bow and arrow.

Waterfowl

  • Snipe
    • Statewide regulations prevail.
  • Other waterfowl species (duck or goose) may not be hunted on this site.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrel hunting is allowed with shotgun, bow and arrow, .22 caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or muzzleloader.
  • Rabbit hunting is allowed with shotgun loaded with non-toxic shot.

Upland Birds

  • Woodcock and Quail
    • Statewide regulations prevail.
    • Non-toxic shot is required.
  • Dove
    • Dove hunting is allowed from 12:00 PM noon to 5:00 PM.
    • Dove hunters are required to use size 7 1/2, 8, or 9 bismuth shot, or size 6 or smaller steel shot.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Trapping permits are allocated through a drawing held during a meeting at the site office. Trappers should call Sam Parr SFWA (618) 783-2661.
  • 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

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