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Deer Firearm & Muzzleloader Lottery opens 3/3! Spring Turkey Permits available OTC 3/10!
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Hidden Springs State Forest

Contact Info

Office phone: 217-644-3091

Office address: 2438 E 700 N Rd., Strasburg IL 62465

Site coordinates: 39.317189 -88.687092

County: Shelby

Site Superintendent

District Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Police

Site Closures List

Site Map

Digital Map

Printable Map

Site Characteristics

Huntable acres: 963

Habitat: mix of wooded ravines, conifer and hardwood stands, prairie openings and small ponds. Lies along Richland Creek.

Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning. 

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.

Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed. Stands must be removed at the end of each day with the exception that they may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31. Stands must be marked with the owner’s name, address and telephone number.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except the tree stand rule listed above applies.

Firearm

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Requires site-specific permit obtained through the statewide lottery 
  • The tree stand rule listed above applies.

Late Winter Antlerless

Available at this site only if county is included in late winter antlerless-only season which will be publicly announced by October 1st each year.

Muzzleloader

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Only open during the 3 day period. 
  • Requires site-specific permit obtained through the statewide lottery 
  • The tree stand rule listed above applies.

Special CWD

Not available at this site.  

Youth Firearm

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply. Contact site for more information.

Turkey

Spring

Available at this site. See further site-specific regulations below:

  • Requires site-specific permit obtained through the statewide lottery 
  • Hunting area is closed to all activities other than hunting during this season. 

Fall Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Fall Shotgun

Not available at this site.  

Youth Spring

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Waterfowl

Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations, except:

  • Closed during Firearm Deer Season. 
  • Hunting area is closed to all activities other than hunting during this season. 

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations, except:

  • Closed during Firearm Deer Season. 
  • Hunting area is closed to all activities other than hunting during this season. 

Snipe & Rail

Available at this site. Statewide regulations, except:

  • Closed during Firearm Deer Season. 
  • Hunting area is closed to all activities other than hunting during this season. 

Youth Waterfowl

Not available at this site.  

Upland & Small Game

Dove

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Rabbits

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Squirrels

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

  • Rimfire rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzleloaders allowed. 

Upland Birds

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.

Woodcock

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except hunting concludes by 4 p.m. daily.  

Furbearers

Furbearer Trapping

Available at this site. Statewide regulations, except closed during Deer Firearm Season.

Furbearer Hunting

Available at this site. Statewide regulations, except:

  • 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 

Amenities

Camping

Fishing

Hiking Trails

Hunting

More information