Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 815-369-4282
Office address: 8542 N Lake Road, Lena, IL 61048
Site coordinates: 42.42334 -89.82537
County: Stephenson
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 560
Habitat: Rolling countryside with timber and grassland surrounds a 40-acre lake. To assure food for wildlife, acres are planted with proso millet, sunflowers, and winter wheat. Active habitat management will occur throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
Non-hunters or non-permitted hunters must not enter hunting zones. Exception: hiking/equestrian trail users allowed in archery zone until 11/15 and non-hunting, supervising adults may accompany a youth hunter during the youth firearm deer hunt.
Portable, non-piercing stands may be used but must be removed each day.
Deer
Due to this site being located in a CWD positive county, all successful deer hunters must provide a CWD sample within 48 hours of harvest. See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels.
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting restricted to those areas designated as open to hunting.
- Hunters required to sign-in/out and record harvest at the hunter registration station provided in parking lot.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Firearm deer hunting is during second deer season and CWD seasons only.
- Hunters must obtain a Windshield Card.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Not available at this site.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is limited to youth hunters (under 18 years of age) who are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian supervising the youth at all times.
- Adults accompanying youth hunters may also hunt, but only if they possess a valid Stephenson County permit or site-specific stand-by permit and only while supervising a youth.
- Requires a youth deer hunting site-specific permit issued through the statewide lottery.
- A youth with site-specific permit must check-in and deposit his or her hunting license by 5 am.
- Any vacancies remaining at 5 am will be filled at that time by a drawing to allocate stand-by permits. Stand-by permits are issued as being valid for the day of issuance only, are site specific, and cost $5.00 each. No other deer permits are required.
- Non-resident stand-by hunters are required to have a non-resident hunting license and a current habitat stamp.
- Youth season is open during the first firearm season
- Hunting will be allowed from ground blinds only. IDNR will determine blind locations and assign them to the hunters. Hunters must remain at their blinds at all times. Exceptions will only be allowed to retrieve or track deer without a weapon or to enter or exit the hunting area.
Turkey
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Allowed from Sept 1 – Sept 30; Hours between 12 pm and 5 pm
- Daily bag limit of 15 doves. Possession limit is 30 doves after the first hunting day.
- Check-in at the park office and secure a back patch which must be displayed at all times while on the area.
- Daily number of hunters will be filled on a draw basis. Registration for the drawing begins at 11:15 am. The draw will take place at 11:20 am. After 11:20 am, if the hunter quota has not been filled, hunters must register in person at the park office and obtain a back patch for any open sites before hunting.
- Dove hunters must check out and report harvest.
- Shotgun only. Only approved, non-toxic shot (as defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 50 CFR 20), such as bismuth of size #7.5 or smaller, or steel shot size #7 or smaller.
Rabbits
Not available at this site.
Squirrels
Not available at this site.
Upland Birds
Not available at this site.
Woodcock
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Hunting
Not available at this site.
Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
Boat access
Camping
Fishing
Hiking trails
Hunting