ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

Site Contact Info

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.
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map

Site Specific Regulations

  • 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
  • Non-hunters or non-permitted hunters must not enter hunting zones. Exception: Non-hunting, supervising adults may accompanying a youth hunter during the youth firearm deer hunt.
  • Species-specific rules:

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
    • 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.
    • Portable, non-piercing stands may be used but must be removed each day.
  • Firearm
    • Firearm deer hunting is during second deer season and CWD seasons only.
    • Hunters must obtain a Windshield Card.
    • Portable, non-piercing stands may be used but must be removed each day.
  • Youth Firearm
    • 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.
    • Youth hunters may apply by selecting Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park as their choice of hunting area on the firearm deer permit application. Applications are to be submitted to the IDNR Permit Office in Springfield.
    • 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

  • Turkey hunting not permitted

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted
  • Rabbits
    • Rabbit hunting not permitted

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • 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 kill.
    • 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.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping not permitted
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities