Wildlife Illinois

Hunt Planner

Announcements

Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area

Site Contact Info

Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1,150
  • Habitat: wooded area with upland prairie openings, and a rocky creek running through a drawl bisecting the park. The diversity of habitats makes this a great location for deer and turkey hunting with plenty of areas to spread out and try new locations.
  • 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.
  • The hunting area will be closed to all other activities during firearm deer season, muzzleloader deer season, and spring turkey season.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations.
  • Firearm and Muzzleloader
  • No youth firearm season.

Turkey

  • Spring
  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations.
  • No Fall gun season.
  • Youth

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations.
  • Rabbits
    • Requires a Free Upland Game Permit via statewide lottery. Permits are issued for the first and second day of the statewide upland game season and on each subsequent Wednesday and Saturday in November and on each Thursday and Sunday in December, through December 24, except during the firearm deer season and open December 27 and 29.
    • Hunting hours are 8 am-4 pm.

Upland Birds

  • Pheasant & Quail
    • Requires a Free Upland Game Permit via statewide lottery. Permits are issued for the first and second day of the statewide upland game season and on each subsequent Wednesday and Saturday in November and on each Thursday and Sunday in December, through December 24, except during the firearm deer season and open December 27 and 29.
    • Hunting hours are 8 am-4 pm.
  • Dove
    • Lottery held for first 5 days of dove season at 11 am. During September 1-5 hunting hours are 12-5 pm.
    • Statewide hours apply during the remainder of the dove season.
    • Non-toxic shot is required, shot size 6 or smaller.
  • Woodcock
    • Season open from the statewide opener-October 31.

Furbearers

  • Hunting
    • Statewide regulations
    • 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.
    • Windshield Card required
  • Trapping
    • Requires site-specific permit issued through a site drawing. Contact site for information.
    • Only Egg traps, D-P (Dog-proof) traps, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design are allowed.

Amenities