ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Iroquois County State Wildlife Area

Contact Info

Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 2,108
  • Habitat: mix of grassland and forest, with small areas of cropland, wetland and shrubs
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map

Site Specific Info

  • 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
  • Portable tree stands may be left up during duration of deer season at site and must have hunter name, address and phone visible on stand. Stands must be removed by the end of the season.
  • Ongoing habitat management including:  spring, summer, and fall burning, tree and brush removal are part of a long-term habitat improvement program at the park. Please watch for signs of field work and plan accordingly when you see them.
  • Site specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Season runs October 1 to the Tuesday before the opening of controlled pheasant season, each Monday and Tuesday during the controlled pheasant season and 7 days after the close of the controlled pheasant season to the end of the statewide season
    • Dove/Ag field area will be closed to archery hunting from October 1, until the end of the October Youth Firearm Season
    • Note the tree stand rule for this site
    • A drop-off barrel for free CWD sampling is available at the site office
  • Firearm
    • Statewide regulations
    • Requires a site-specific firearm deer hunting permit obtained through the statewide lottery
    • A drawing on site will be conducted to determine hunting areas – call site for info. The Hooper Branch Nature Preserve will be open to firearm deer hunting only, and will be part of the drawing for locations. Hunters must harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered deer
    • A drop-off barrel for free CWD sampling is available at the site office
  • Muzzleloader
    • Not permitted
  • Youth
    • Permitted via a mail-in drawing to the site by the last Saturday in August. Mail in application should include: youth name, guardian name (hunting mentor) and customer number, address and phone
    • A random drawing for hunting positions will be made. Successful applicants will be contacted and sent a permit, rules and map
    • Only the dove/ag field area will be open for this program. Hunters must only use designated areas as drawn. Youth hunter will be required to purchase an over-the-counter Youth Firearm Deer Permit at a physical license vendor (available at this site) to participate
    • A drop-off barrel for free CWD sampling is available at the site office

Turkey

  • Spring
    • Requires site-specific permit obtained via the statewide lottery
    • Hunters must physically check-out after hunting daily
  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations
    • Hunters must physically check-out after hunting daily
  • Fall Shotgun
    • Not permitted
  • Youth
    • Statewide regulations

Waterfowl

  • No waterfowl hunting except for rails
  • Rail
    • Can be hunted from opening of the statewide rail season to the Tuesday before opening of controlled pheasant season
    • Hunters must check-in and check-out to report harvest daily

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations, except site season is August 1-September 30, then reopens day after archery deer closes until statewide closing
    • Hunters can use shotguns, .22 rimfire rifles or black powder muzzleloaders
    • Hunters must physically check-out to report harvest daily
    • Field unit north of the check station is closed to squirrel hunting in September
  • Rabbits
    • Only open during the 5-day period following closure of the controlled pheasant hunting season. Statewide regulations apply
    • Hunters must check-in and check-out to report harvest daily. Closed Christmas and New Years’ Day

Upland Birds

  • Pheasant
    • Site mainly has controlled hunts for pen-raised pheasants
    • Controlled hunting only by permit and fee on a Wednesday through Sunday basis during the scheduled controlled pheasant season. Daily limit is 2 pheasants of either sex. No other species may be taken during the controlled pheasant season. Permit reservations are available online at www.dnr.illinois.gov. 
    • Site is open to regular pheasant hunting Wednesday through Sunday following the controlled pheasant season, excluding Christmas and New Year’s Day. Daily limit is 2 pheasants of either sex
  • Quail
    • Only open during the 5-day period following closure of the controlled pheasant hunting season. Statewide regulations apply
  • Dove
    • Statewide regulations, except the first 5 days of the statewide season the quota of hunters will be drawn by permit issued by lottery at the site. Vacancies will be made by random drawing at 11 am. Hunters must check-in and check-out to report harvest. Hunting hours are 12-5 pm during September 1-5 and sunrise to sunset during September 6-30
    • Hunters must use size 7 1/2 or smaller shot for dove hunting
    • Dove hunting is only allowed in the Dove/Ag. field unit from staked locations north of the check station
    • Site is open (no drawing) to hunting during statewide hours from September 6-30
  • Woodcock
    • Statewide regulations, except hunting is from the opening of the statewide season to the Tuesday before opening of controlled pheasant season
    • Hunters must check-in and check-out to report harvest daily

Furbearers

  • Hunting
    • Statewide regulations
    • Season opens the day after permit pheasant season
    • 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
  • Trapping
    • Not permitted

Amenities