ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Eldon Hazlet State Park

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1699
  • Habitat: This site consists of agricultural fields interspersed with woodlands, brushy areas, restored native grassland fields and savanna habitats. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
  • 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 daily.
  • No hunting will be permitted in posted areas and within a distance less than 300 feet from developed recreation areas, construction sites or residences. Waterfowl hunting must be done beyond 500 feet from the aforementioned areas.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

Youth Firearm

  • Only open in the North Allen unit

Archery

  • North Allen unit is closed to archery hunting during the youth firearm deer season.
  • Archery deer hunting may take place east of Fisher Road and north of Hazlet Park road to the Allen Branch boat ramp in the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Area until the opening of the controlled pheasant hunting season.
    • After the opening of controlled pheasant hunting season, archery deer hunting may occur only on Mondays and Tuesdays during the controlled pheasant season and after the 5 day clean-up pheasant season within the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Area.
  • Archery deer hunting is closed in the North Allen Branch Waterfowl Management Area upon the opening of the regular South-Central Zone Waterfowl season.
    • Disabled hunting is available in the designated blind locations within Eldon Hazlet State Park upon request and reservation.
      • Disabled hunters may have a non-disabled companion, who may hunt from the same blind location. The non-disabled partner is restricted to harvest of antlerless deer only.

Disabled Hunting

  • Disabled hunting is available in the designated blind locations within Eldon Hazlet State Park upon request and reservation.
  • Disabled hunters may have a non-disabled companion, who may hunt from the same blind location. The non-disabled partner is restricted to harvest of antlerless deer only.

Turkey

Fall Archery

  • North Allen Unit is closed to archery hunting during the Youth Firearm deer season.
  • Open east of Fisher Road and north of Hazlet Park road to the Allen Branch boat ramp in the Controlled Pheasant Hunting area until the opening of the Controlled Pheasant season. Subsequently open only on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Controlled Pheasant season and after the 5 day clean-up pheasant season.
  • Closed in the North Allen Branch Waterfowl Management Area upon opening of the regular South-Central Zone Waterfowl season.
  • Statewide regulations apply

Spring Turkey (Youth and Regular Seasons)

  • Spring turkey hunters must apply to Springfield Permit Office and list Eldon Hazlet SP to be allocated a site-specific permit.
  • 3 permits will be allocated per season
  • Open only in the North Allen unit
  • Statewide regulations apply

Disabled Turkey Hunting

  • Regular season disabled hunting is available in the designated blind locations at Eldon Hazlet State Park only and with the Site Specific Disabled Permit. One (1) permit per season will be allocated and the permit application lists EHSPD for the disabled site-specific permit. Disabled hunters are required to be accompanied by a non-disabled companion.
  • Disabled hunting is available for Fall Archery Turkey Hunting Season in the designated blind locations upon request and reservation within Eldon Hazlet State Park. Disabled hunters may have a non-disabled partner, who may hunt from the same blind location.

Waterfowl

  • Open only in the designated North Allen Branch Waterfowl Management Area
  • Walk-in hunting only is permitted on a first-come, first-serve basis
  • Three designated blinds are available with a maximum of 4 hunters per site.
  • All hunting must occur between identically numbered stakes.
  • Decoys shall not be left unattended.
  • When the lake floods and the designated blind sites are inaccessible for walk-in, hunting the area will open to hunting from boats in conjunction with the Carlyle Lake Projects Lands and Waters Regulations.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Hunting is open in the North Allen and West Peppenhorst Branch units only.

Upland Birds

  • Quail, Cock Pheasant, Woodcock, Snipe and Rail
    • Open in the North Allen and West Peppenhorst Branch units only
  • Youth Controlled Pheasant Hunting
    • Must have permit from the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Areas Permit Reservation System. Each permit holder must be accompanied by a non-hunting supervisory adult.
    • Hunting hours are from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
    • Daily limit is 2 pheasants of either sex. No other game may be harvested
    • Young hunter days are also held during the controlled pheasant season. Youth may hunt for free with paid adult. Dates are announced at www.dnr.illinois.org
  • Controlled Pheasant Hunting
    • Hunting hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
    • Season is closed Monday, Tuesday and Christmas day
    • Daily limit is 2 pheasants of either sex. No other game may be taken
    • A free 5 day pheasant only hunt follows the regular Controlled Pheasant Hunting season
    • Handicap hunting is available upon request.

Furbearers

  • Hunting
    • North of Allen Branch and west of Peppenhorst Branch
    • 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.
    • Statewide regulations
  • Trapping
    • Valid site permit is required. Permits are issued via a public drawing held at the site office on the last Tuesday of October at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Must have a current trapping license. Trappers may trap with a partner provided both names are on the registration card
    • Trappers must stay in their assigned area
    • Body gripping traps with a 10 inch jaw spread or larger must be totally submerged in the water. Only Egg Traps, D-P (Dop Proof) Traps, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets
    • Land sets only are permitted in the Controlled Pheasant Hunting areas
    • All types of traps are permitted in the North Allen and West Peppenhorst Branch units
    • Trappers must submit a harvest report to the site office within 10 days following the close of the site trapping program

Amenities

  • Archery range (bring own target)
  • Campground
  • Boat ramps
  • Fish cleaning stations
  • Hiking trails
  • More information