Announcements
Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-773-4340
Office address: 102 Park Office Rd., McLeansboro, IL 62859
Site coordinates: 38.04022 -88.40115
County: Hamilton
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 1,530
Habitat: Area has gently rolling topography. Most of the hunting area is small, open fields bordered by heavy fencerows, border plantings of shrubs, small trees, pines, and small patches of brush and timber.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
Hunters may leave stands unattended. Stands must be legibly marked with owner’s name, address and telephone number or site assigned identification number. No permanent tree stands may be constructed nor may any hunting be done from a permanent stand. Any tree stand or ground blind must be portable. No stands or steps that pierce the bark of a tree are allowed.
When hunting or scouting, ALL VEHICLES MUST BE PARKED AT DESIGNATED AREAS (no ATV access)
No hunting may be done in restricted areas, developed recreation areas, or within 100 yards of construction sites or residences.
It is unlawful for any person to consume, possess, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs while on site property for the purpose of hunting or trapping. Any person who violates site-specific regulations shall be guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Note the tree stand rule for the site.
- Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder.
- No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of archery deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Must possess a County Permit to hunt this site.
- Note the tree stand rule for the site.
- Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder.
- No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of firearm deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunters must possess a County Permit to hunt the site.
- Note the tree stand rule for the site.
- Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder.
- No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of muzzleloading deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunter must have county youth permit, available here.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires site-specific permit issued via the statewide lottery, are site-specific, are nontransferable.
- Permit holders will also need to obtain a windshield card/harvest report form from windshield card and return to the website to record harvest information prior to February 15th each year.
- Springfield issued permits are not Hamilton County permits, but site specific permits issued for Hamilton County State Conservation Area only.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Six (6) permit hunters will be allowed to hunt the site.
- Requires site-specific permit issued via the statewide lottery, are site-specific, are nontransferable.
- Permit holders will also need to obtain a windshield card/harvest report form from windshield card and return to the website to record harvest information prior to February 15th each year.
- Springfield issued permits are not Hamilton County permits, but site specific permits issued for Hamilton County State Conservation Area only.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Six (6) permit hunters per season will be allowed.
- Requires site-specific permit issued via the statewide lottery, are site-specific, are nontransferable.
- Permit holders will also need to obtain a windshield card/harvest report form from windshield card and return to the website to record harvest information prior to February 15th each year.
- Springfield issued permits are not Hamilton County permits, site-specific permits issued for Hamilton County State Conservation Area only.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
Hunter must have county youth permit, available here.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Not available at this site.
Goose
Not available at this site.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset until rabbit season, then 8:00am to 4:00pm.
- It shall be unlawful while attempting to take snipe or rail to have in possession any shotgun shell not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations.
Youth Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland & Small Game
Crow
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Season is October 28-February 28.
- Hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise-sunset.
- All harvested crows must be removed from State property and disposed of properly.
- There is no shot size restrictions or non-toxic shot requirement. No centerfire rifles allowed.
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting hours are Noon to 5 p.m. daily, September 1st through 30th.
- A drawing will be held at 11 a.m. if more hunters show up than can be accommodated.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting with shotguns and/or bow and arrow are the only methods of take permitted.
Upland Birds
Not available at this site.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset until rabbit season, then 8:00am to 4:00pm.
- It shall be unlawful while attempting to take snipe or rail to have in possession any shotgun shell not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
- Season is open only during the statewide fox season.
Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Closed during the firearm deer season
- Only Egg traps, D-P(Dog-proof) Traps, Lil Grizz Get’rz, box traps, cage traps and traps of similar design may be used for land sets; only body gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4 1/2 inches or less and square body gripping traps with a 10 jaw spread may be used for water sets; snares may be used for water sets
- Trappers must stay in their assigned areas. All traps must be tagged with the trappers name or IDNR customer number.
Amenities
Camping