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Freeman Mine State Habitat Area

Site Contact Info

Office phone: 217-498-9208

Office address: 9898 Cascade Rd., Rochester, IL 62563

Main office is at Sangcrhris Lake SP

Site coordinates: 39.77337 -89.62637

County: Montgomery

Site Superintendent (Sangchris Lake SP parent site)

District Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Police

Site Closures List

Site Maps

Digital Map

Printable Map

Site Characteristics

Huntable acres: 24

Habitat: Freeman Mine SHA occupies a former strip mine site.  Old-field vegetation and restored native warm season grass and forbs cover flat-to-rolling topography.  The site also boasts a 14-acre lake on which the IDNR maintains a blind for waterfowl hunting. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Site Specific Regulations

Statewide and associated species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.

Upland permits are required to hunt upland game. Permits applications can be made online through Upland Game Hunting Site. The application period is from August 1 – 31.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Closed on Mondays in November and December
  • Sign-in/Sign-out harvest reporting at hunter parking lot 
  • Stands/blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31; any stands/blinds left unattended must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.

Firearm

Not available at this site.

Late Winter Antlerless

Not available at this site.

Muzzleloader

Not available at this site.

Special CWD

Not available at this site.

Youth Firearm

Not available at this site.

Turkey

Not available at this site.

Waterfowl

Ducks/Coots/Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Closes at 1 p.m. daily, except the last 3 days of the Canada Goose season have statewide hours.
  • Blind sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Closes at 1 p.m. daily, except the last 3 days of the Canada Goose season have statewide hours.
  • Blind sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Snipe/Rail

Not available at this site.

Youth Waterfowl

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Opens the weekend preceding the Central Zone opening day 
  • Closes at 1 p.m. 
  • Blind sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis 

Upland/Small Game

Controlled Pheasant Hunting

Not available at this site.

Crow

Not available at this site.

Dove

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Site specific permit required. Permits are available through the online permit application. Find more information here.
  • Hunting hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Upland permit holders may harvest doves during the statewide dove season.

Pheasant/Quail/Partridge

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Free upland permit is required.
  • Limit is 2 cock pheasant, 4 bobwhite quail
  • Open on Mondays starting with opening day of upland season until Christmas Day
  • Hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Rabbits

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except:

  • Free upland permit is required.
  • Limit is 2 rabbits per hunter.
  • Hunting hours are 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Squirrels

Not available at this site.

Woodcock

Not available at this site.

Furbearers

Furbearer Hunting

No furbearer hunting or trapping available at this site.

Amenities

None