Announcements
Iris & Jack Witkowsky State Wildlife Area
Site Contact Information
Office phone: 815-745-3302
Office address: c/o Apple River Canyon SP
8763 E. Canyon Rd., Apple River, IL 61001
Site coordinates: 42.3046 -90.34328
County: Jo Daviess
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 1,086
Habitat: Characterized by a mixture of timbered slopes and ridge tops and wide valleys vegetated by grasslands, row crops, and hay fields. The topography is steep, consisting of non-glaciated ridges.
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.
No ground fires or camping allowed
Area is closed to non-hunters during deer firearm seasons and until 1 pm during turkey firearm seasons (youth and spring).
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Opens on October 15.
- Closed during all firearm deer hunting seasons.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Special Hunt Area permit required. Special Hunt Area permits not valid anywhere else in the county. County permits are not valid for the Special Hunt Area.
- Firearm deer hunting is allowed during first or second deer hunting season.
- Firearm deer hunter with permit may harvest coyote while deer hunting.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a muzzleloader-only Special Hunt Area permit.
- Muzzleloader hunting not allowed during the second firearm deer hunting season.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- During youth deer hunting seasons, only Jo Daviess County permit holders who contact the site office will be issued a youth season.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Opens on October 15.
- Closed during firearm deer seasons.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Closed during firearm deer seasons.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- During youth turkey hunting seasons, only Jo Daviess Co. permit holders who contact the site office will be issued a youth season permit.
- A non-hunting supervising adult may accompany a youth during youth hunt.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Controlled Pheasant Hunting
Not available at this site.
Crow
Not available at this site.
Dove
Not available at this site.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Not available at this site.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Opens after second firearm deer season closes.
- Shotgun or bow and arrow.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Allowed after second firearm deer season until statewide close.
- Shotgun or bow and arrow.
Woodcock
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Coyote only
- Allowed from sunset to sunrise.
- Coincides with deer seasons. Closed during firearm deer seasons, except that coyote may be taken by firearm deer hunters with Special Hunt Area permit.
- Only valid permit holders may take coyotes by legal means.
- May be taken with bow & arrow during archery season
Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
None