Announcements
Public Duck and Goose Hunting Area Permit First Lottery Begins August 16!
French Bluff Natural Area
Site Contact Info
- Office phone: 815-273-2731
- Office address: c/o Mississippi Palisades SP, 16327A IL Rt. 84, Savanna, IL 61074
- Site coordinates: 41.97164 -90.06639
- County: Carroll
- Site Superintendent (Mississippi Palisades SP parent site)
- District Wildlife Biologist
- Conservation Police
Site Map
Site Characteristics
- Huntable acres: 342
- Habitat: Mississippi River Bluff topography of steep hillsides, unglaciated ridges, and deep ravines populated by hardwood forest with cedar thickets and a small grassland.


Site Specific Regulations
- Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
- 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.
- Do not enter a restricted area or trespass on private land.
- Hunting allowed in those portions of the area posted as open for hunting, which excludes the hunter parking area.
- Be aware that hikers and other non-hunters may be using the area.
- Species-specific rules:
Deer
- Archery
- Statewide regulations
- Closed during firearm and muzzleloader deer seasons
- Firearm
- Must obtain a site-specific permit which is issued through the permit office in Springfield.
- Permits which are valid for Carroll Co. are not valid at French Bluff NA.
- Stand-by permits are not available.
- First and second firearm deer season permits are available separately.
- Muzzleloader
- Permitted only during the 2nd portion of muzzleloader season
- A French Bluff special-hunt permit for muzzleloader hunting is not valid for the second season of the regular firearm deer season.
- Special CWD Deer Hunting
- Standby permits will not be issued for special CWD season.
- Leftover permits from other deer seasons cannot be used.
- CWD deer hunters must obtain a Special Hunt Area permit.
- Deer hunting is allowed with any type of equipment that is legal for statewide deer hunting during the specific season the hunter is hunting.
- Only those hunters with permits are allowed in the area during deer firearm seasons.
- One non-piercing, portable tree stand or ground blind is allowed per hunter. Tree stands or blinds may be left unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31 if legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
- In addition to windshield card reporting, successful deer hunters are required to record their harvest as instructed on their permit.
Turkey
- Fall Archery
- Not permitted during firearm & muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Spring
- All spring turkey hunters must obtain a site-specific permit, which will be issued through the permit office in Springfield. Permits valid for Carroll Co. will not be valid at French Bluff.
- Only those hunters with permits are allowed in the area until 1pm during the spring turkey season.
- In addition to windshield card reporting, successful turkey hunters are required to record their harvest as instructed on their permit.
Waterfowl
- Waterfowl hunting not permitted
Squirrels/Rabbits
- Squirrels
- Closed during firearm deer season.
- Squirrel hunters may use shotguns with #3 or smaller in steel shot or #5 or smaller in lead, tungsten or bismuth shot.
- .22 rimfire rifles, .25 air rifle, muzzleloading rifles, and archery tackle using flu-flu arrows are permitted for taking squirrels.
- Rabbits
- Rabbit hunting not permitted
Upland Birds
- Upland bird hunting not permitted
Furbearers
- Trapping
- Furbearer trapping not permitted
- Hunting
- Furbearer hunting not permitted
Amenities
- None