ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

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Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Franklin Creek SNA

Site Contact Info

Site Characteristics

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.
  • The site is sectioned into zones A, B, and C. Hunters should hunt in the zone or area designated according to the season they are hunting.
  • May not possess weapons in the field except while engaged in hunting during hunting hours which are daytime hours at this site.
  • Must park at designated parking areas. Unauthorized vehicles may not enter upon any trail or be in any “off road” area.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)
  • Zone C: archery deer hunters may not hunt within 50 yards of a designated day-use area or developed area or within 30 yards of any trail.
  • One non-piercing, portable tree stand is allowed per hunter and must be removed at the end of the day’s hunt.
  • All harvested deer must be reported to the site when checking out and must be checked-in/reported as outlined in the statewide regulations for reporting harvest.
  • Submission of ALL harvested deer heads, along with corresponding harvest information, is required within 48 hours of harvest to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease.
  • Deer may not be field dressed within 100 ft from any road, trail or developed area. Hunters should not drag a harvested deer on trails being used by non-hunters.
  • Hunters should note that the hunting area on this site is open to other park users- hikers, equestrian riders, picnickers.
  • Hunters must not engage in “driving” deer.

Archery

  • Closed during 1st and 2nd firearm deer seasons. Allowed during the late winter firearm deer season.
  • Archers must comply with blaze orange requirements during late winter deer season.
  • Archery deer hunting during the late winter season is antlerless only.  
  • Hunters required to sign-in
  • A limitation as to the number of hunters allowed to hunt per day is mandated. Eligibility to hunt is determined by the posted quota, by the number of hunters who have previously signed the sign-in sheet, and on a first-come, first-served basis. (Generally only 23 fall archery (deer/turkey) hunters may hunt.)
  • Hunters should sign-out, and report all deer harvested on check station sheets. Harvested deer must also be reported using the statewide phone-in deer check system as having been harvested on Franklin Creek SNA, not in Lee County.

Firearm

  • Hunters must possess a site-specific permit. May apply by selecting Franklin Creek SNA as choice of hunting area on firearm deer permit application submitted to the Springfield Permit Office. Permits will be issued as either sex.
  • Must check in at the site office each day by 5 am or lose permit-holder preference for that day
  • Hunting is permitted in zones A & C only. 
  • All hunters (unless exempt) must have a valid FOID card, current year hunting license & habitat stamp in their possession when checking in.
  • There is a limit on number of hunters allowed to hunt per day. Stand-by permits may be allocated by drawing if any unfilled permits are remaining at 5 am. Stand-by permits are issued as valid for one day only; are site specific; are for either sex; and are $5.00 each. No other deer permits are required.
  • Non-resident stand-by hunters must have a non-resident hunting license and a current habitat stamp.

CWD Season

  • Apply for permits for Franklin Creek SNA as issued by Springfield. Stand-by late winter permits will not be allocated. 
  • Late winter deer hunters are required to register themselves at the hunter sign-in kiosk near the mill for available parking lots.

Turkey

  • Fall Archery
    • Archery hunting is closed during 1st and 2nd firearm deer seasons.
    • Archery turkey hunting is allowed during the late winter season.
    • Must comply with statewide blaze orange requirements when hunting during the late winter season.
    • Hunters are required to sign-in.
    • There is a limit on the number of hunters allowed to hunt per day. Eligibility to hunt is determined by the posted quota, the number of hunters who have previously signed the sign-in sheet, and on a first- come, first-served basis. (Generally only 23 fall archery deer & turkey hunters may hunt.)
    • Archery turkey hunting is allowed only in Zone A (see map).
    • Required to sign-out and report the turkeys harvested on sign-out sheets at the check station.
  • The site is also open to other park users- hikers, equestrian riders, and picnickers.
  • Spring
    • Spring turkey hunting not permitted

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted
  • Rabbits
    • Rabbit hunting not permitted

Upland Birds

  • Upland bird hunting not permitted

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping not permitted
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities

  • Picnic area
  • Trail

Franklin Creek Nachusa Prairie

Site Contact Info

  • Office phone: 815-456-2878
  • Office address:
    • c/o Franklin Creek SNA, 1872 Twist Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031 
  • Site coordinates: 41.89568 -89.32364
  • County: Ogle
  • Site Superintendent
  • District Wildlife Biologist
  • Conservation Police: 815-218-4165

Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 72
  • Habitat: The Nature Conservancy is in the process of removing and controlling exotic, invasive woody and herbaceous species and restoring the area to native prairie and wetland.
  • 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.
  • Persons must not possess weapons in the field except while engaged in hunting during hunting hours which are daytime hours at this site.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Deer hunting not permitted

Turkey

  • Turkey hunting not permitted

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted
  • Rabbits
    • Site-specific permit is required to hunt. Permits issued by the Springfield Permit Office by a drawing. Dates for application will be publicly announced. Information can be found in the Illinois Hunting Digest or by contacting 217-782-6384.
    • Each day, the one permit holder may be accompanied by 3 hunting partners.
    • Permit hunting days are generally the first weekend in November, then Wednesdays and Saturdays in November, and in December on Thursdays and Sundays.
    • All hunting must be with shotgun or bow and arrow; Flu-flu arrows only, no broadheads
    • Hunters must wear a solid blaze orange cap and upper outer garment of at least 400 square inches.
    • Each permit holder must complete and return a hunter harvest survey report to the IDNR by Feb 15.

Upland Birds

  • Pheasant, Quail, and Hungarian Partridge
    • Site-specific permit is required to hunt. Permits issued by the Springfield Permit Office by a drawing. Dates for application will be publicly announced. Information can be found in the Illinois Hunting Digest or by contacting 217-782-6384.
    • Each day, the one permit holder may be accompanied by 3 hunting partners.
    • Permit hunting days are generally the first weekend in November, then Wednesdays and Saturdays in November, and in December on Thursdays and Sundays.
    • All hunting must be with shotgun or bow and arrow; Flu-flu arrows only, no broadheads
    • Hunters must wear a solid blaze orange cap and upper outer garment of at least 400 square inches.
    • Each permit holder must complete and return a hunter harvest survey report to the IDNR by Feb 15.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping not permitted
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities