Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County)
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-776-5689
Office address: Box 85, Miller City, IL 62966
Site coordinates: 37.10854 -89.3338
County: Alexander
Site Maps
Huntable acres: 11,690
Habitat: Topography is flat with shallow sloughs. Horseshoe Lake is noted for its large stands of bald cypress, tupelo gum, and swamp cottonwood. This 2,400 acre body of water has a maximum depth of six feet. Active habitat management will occur throughout the year on the site.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
All hunters must sign-in and sign-out and report harvest each day at the registration boxes before leaving the site.
Trolling motors are permitted year-round; outboards (10 hp limit) may be used from Mar 1 – Oct 15.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only allowed on the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area from Oct 1 – 31, other areas open all season long.
- Only one portable tree stand per hunter. Stands may be left unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31 only. Stands must be legibly marked with owner’s name, address and telephone number.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only in the public hunt area. The controlled waterfowl hunt area is not open for firearm deer season. Firearm deer hunting is only permitted on the Refuge area the first Friday and Saturday in November.
- Requires a site-specific permit issued through the statewide lottery.
- Check-in, check-out and reporting of harvest is required.
- Only one portable tree stand per hunter. Stands may be left unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31 only. Stands must be legibly marked with owner’s name, address and telephone number.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only in the public hunt area. The controlled waterfowl hunt area is not open for the muzzleloader deer season.
- Check-in, check-out, and reporting of harvest is required.
- Only one portable tree stand per hunter is allowed. Stands may be left unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31 only. Stands must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Allowed in the public hunt area and controlled waterfowl hunt area.
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply. Only allowed on the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area from Oct 1 – 31, other areas open all season long.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply except only in the public hunt area. The controlled waterfowl hunt area is not open for fall shotgun turkey hunting.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Allowed in the public hunt area and controlled waterfowl hunt area.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area
- Blinds/stakes are allocated through the online permit reservation system and the daily draw. A $10 daily permit must be purchased. Blinds will be assigned by a daily drawing and hunters will be responsible for their own transportation to and from their assigned blind. Hunting ends at noon. Gates will be closed at 12:30 p.m.
- Only one vehicle is allowed per permit holder.
- Hunters with permit reservations are required to check in at the check station between 4:30 a.m. – 5 a.m. Permits are void after 5 a.m. (no exceptions).
- Hunters are only allowed to drive to and from their assigned parking area for their assigned blind. Directions and maps will be provided.
- Hunters are not allowed to move from their assigned blind and guns are not allowed outside of the blinds and must be cased when going to and from the blinds.
- 25 shell limit during duck season. After duck season, all goose hunters must abide by a shell limit of 5 shells per Canada goose allowed in the daily bag. No shot larger than T.
- Hunters MUST complete a harvest report card at the end of each day regardless if you were successful or not. Cards will be located on the porch of the check station and must be placed in the drop box. Hunters who fail to report their harvest will be issued a citation from the IL Conservation Police.
- 2 hunters allowed per blind and 1 observer. Dogs are allowed.
- The Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area is not open to any goose hunting seasons that occur after the regular Canada goose hunting season.
- Horseshoe Lake SFWA Public Hunt Area is closed to waterfowl hunting on Monday and Tuesday.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting only allowed in Public Hunt Area. No hunting allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area
- Non-toxic shot required.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a site specific permit issued through the Public Duck and Goose lottery. Applications are available between September 1 and October 1.
- Only one permit per person shall be issued for the hunt on December 28. A pre-hunt orientation will be held for permit holders and their parents/guardians on Dec. 27.
- Successful Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit recepients are required to check in at the check station between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Permits are void after 5:00 a.m. A drawing shall be held on the morning of the hunt to allocate blind sites.
- Each youth shall not possess more than 25 shells.
- Hunting hours are from legal opening until noon on the day of the Youth Waterfowl Hunt.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is only allowed in the Public Hunting Area. No hunting is allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area.
- Non-toxic shot required (steel shot, size 6 or smaller only).
- Sept 1- 5, the shooting hours are 12 pm – 5 pm. Sept 6 – 30, shooting hours are sunrise – sunset.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is only allowed in the Public Hunting Area. No hunting is allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area.
- Non-toxic shot required
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only shotguns and bow and arrow are allowed in the Public Hunting Area
- The Controlled Hunting Area is only open from August 1 – to October 31
- Only non-toxic shot is allowed in the Controlled Hunting Area
Upland Birds
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is only allowed in the Public Hunting Area. No hunting is allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area.
- Non-toxic shot required
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- No hunting allowed in the Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Area
- Non-toxic shot is required.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except no hunting is allowed in the Controlled Hunting Area.
Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit is required. Contact site for more information.
- Only Egg Traps, D-P (Dog-Proof) Traps, Lil Grizz Get’rz, box traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets
Amenities
Camping
Hunting
Trapping