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Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Iris & Jack Witkowsky State Wildlife Area

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 Superintendent
District Wildlife Biologist
Conservation Police

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.
Digital Map
Printable Map

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.
Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
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).
Species-specific rules:

Archery
- Opens on Oct 15
- Closed during all firearm deer hunting seasons
Firearm
- 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.
Muzzleloader
- Requires a muzzleloader-only Special Hunt Area permit.
- Muzzleloader hunting not allowed during the second firearm deer hunting season.
CWD
- Statewide regulations
Youth
- During youth deer hunting seasons, only Jo Daviess County permit holders who contact the site office will be issued a youth season.

All turkey hunters must obtain a Special Hunt Area permit. Special Hunt Area permit not valid anywhere else in the county. County permit is not valid for the Special Hunt Area.
Fall Archery
- Opens Oct 15
- Closed during firearm deer seasons
Fall Shotgun
- Closed during firearm deer seasons
Spring
- Statewide opening and closing dates apply
Spring Youth
- 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.

Squirrels
- Allowed after second firearm deer season until statewide close.
- Shotgun or bow and arrow

Trapping
- Furbearer trapping not permitted
Hunting
- Coyote
  - 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