James Pate Philip State Park / Heron Woods State Habitat Area
Site Contact Information
Office Phone: 847-608-3100
Office Address: 2050 West Stearns Road, Bartlett, IL 60103
Site Coordinates: 41.97741; -88.2552
County: Cook
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable Acres: 415
Habitat: James Pate Philip State Park is predominantly an open prairie with a few wooded pockets. Brewster Creek runs through the main portion of the property. Limestone trails wind throughout the main park. A subsection of the main park also runs along the prairie path and consists more of a savanna eco-type and is being flanked by two new subdivisions. Finally, Heron Woods State Habitat Area (SHA), a satellite area of the James Pate Phillips SP, is located north of the main portion of the Park. Heron Woods SHA comprises of an abandoned, former surface mine. The topography contains ridges and water-filled valleys, with a closed canopy of trees. A trail loops through the northern portion of Heron Woods, leaving the majority of the site unable to traverse.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year at this site.
Site-Specific Applications
The Deer Archery Permit Application is now available. Only one application is allowed for each individual. Illinois residents only. Applications must be received by August 20th.
Site/Species Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Controlled burning, for habitat management purposes, may be used within your hunting zone.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. See further site-specific regulations below:
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in Kane, DuPage, and Cook County. Please have your deer checked. Further information regarding CWD, including sampling locations may be found here. CWD SAMPLING: All harvested deer should be tested for CWD.
- A barrel is located within the park at the IDNR Region 2 building on the eastern-most entrance (near the door labeled “employee entrance”).
- If it is outside of normal hours (or the biologist is not present), please deposit the upper few vertebrae and head in the barrel and fill out the necessary paperwork.
- Two-week hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing for Illinois Residents. Applications are available online here, and at the James Pate Philip State Park Office. Applications must be received at the James Pate Philip State Park Office by August 15th to be eligible for the drawing (emailing Nicky.Strahl@Illinois.gov is the preferred acceptance method though). Successful applicants will be notified by email about September 1st. Each archery hunter will be assigned a specific hunting period and zone. All hunters must be able to show proof of a current Illinois hunting license, archery deer permits, and site-issued deer hunting permit upon request. Successful applicants will be mailed a Site Windshield Card. This card must be visible through the vehicle windshield while hunting.
- Hunters must maintain accurate records of each hunt the hunting record provided and must be returned to the site office by February 1. This hunting record is found on the back of the Site Windshield Card.
- Stands/blinds and gut piles must be a minimum of 75 yards from designated trails.
- Hunters may leave stands unattended, but stands must be marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
- Stands/blinds may be setup on the first day of assigned hunting period by each hunter and may remain the entire assigned period.
- Stands must be removed on the last day assigned to each hunter.
- Spectators are not allowed in the area unless assisting or mentoring the hunter (the assigned hunter is the legal hunter).
- Archery deer hunters with an unfilled deer tag may harvest coyote with their archery equipment while actively deer hunting.
Firearm
Not available at this site.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Not available at this site.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Not available at this site except for coyote as listed above in the archery deer section.
Archery deer hunters with an unfilled deer tag may harvest coyote with their archery equipment while actively deer hunting.
Amenities
Trails