ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

Hunt Planner

Announcements

Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area

Site Contact Info

Site Characteristics

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.
  • The Illinois National Guard has jurisdictional use of this site for the months of February through October and other times. Heightened security measures may dictate the closing of hunting programs with little or no notice. The National Guard trains more heavily on weekends and for that reason the site is closed to hunting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Sept 1 – Oct 31 each year. Any closure will be posted at the site, on the IDNR website, and will be announced through press release. 
  • Anyone found in a Restricted Area for any reason will be ticketed.
  • There is no interior vehicle access for the public.
  • Do not park anywhere on the site except on the designated parking lots.
  • All hunting closes the first Thursday after Jan 10.
  • Hunters must note regulations posted at the site before hunting.  
  • Hunters must use or possess firearms, archery equipment, or ammunition that is legal for use during the seasons they are hunting currently on the site. Hunters may possess weapons in the field only during hunting hours.
  • During firearm, muzzleloader, and special CWD deer seasons, all hunters are required to wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches while hunting.
  • A stand or ground blind that is portable may be used during archery or firearm hunts. Hunters must not use a tree stand that damages the tree. One stand per permit holder may be left unattended from Oct 1 to the first Thursday after Jan 10. The stand must be tagged with the hunter’s name, address, and phone number. Stands left after this date become the property of the IDNR.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • It is unlawful to “drive” deer for the purpose of hunting.
  •  Archery
    • Hunters must check in/out and report their harvest at self-check stations in the parking lots.
    • All deer harvested must also be checked in and reported as outlined in the statewide rules & regulations.
    • Archery deer hunting is closed during firearm, muzzleloader, and special CWD deer seasons.
    • Hunting is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from archery deer season opening date until October 31st at this site. 
  • Firearm and Muzzleloader
    • A site-specific permit is required.
      • Site-specific permit holders are required to check in by 5 am.
      • A drawing to allocate standby permits will be held at 5 am.
      • Standby permits are site specific for Marseilles only, valid only for the day they are issued, and cost $5 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.
    • Firearm deer hunting is permitted during first and second season only.
    • All firearm and muzzleloader deer hunters must check in at the manned check station at Gate 60.  Hunters must surrender a valid photo I.D. (other than a driver’s license) and a valid Illinois hunting license while on site. 
    • Firearm deer hunters must check out and report their harvest at the manned check station.
    • Harvested deer must also be checked in and reported by hunter as outlined in the statewide rules & regulations.
  • Special CWD
    • All special CWD deer hunters must check in/out and report their harvest at the parking lot self-check stations. Harvested deer must also be checked in and reported by hunter as outlined in the statewide regulations
    • CWD deer hunting at this site is open only during the first four-day segment of the special CWD season.

Turkey

  • Fall Archery
    • Hunters must check in/out and report their harvest at the self-check station within parking lot.
    • Turkeys harvested must also be checked in and reported as outlined in the statewide rules & regulations.
    • Fall archery turkey hunting is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Oct 1-31, due to the Guard’s training schedule.
    • Fall archery turkey hunting is also closed during firearm, muzzleloader, and special CWD deer hunting.
  • Fall Shotgun
    • Fall shotgun turkey not permitted
  • Spring
    • Must possess a site-specific turkey permit for the specific season they are hunting on the site. Permits are issued through the Springfield permit office only.
    • Turkey hunting in the spring is restricted to Monday through Thursday only during the regular statewide season and is closed to hunting on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
    • Spring turkey hunting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until 8:30 am. Hunters must be off the site no later than 9 am unless otherwise posted.
    • All hunters must check in/out and report harvest at the parking lot check station.  
    • All turkeys harvested on this site must be checked in and reported via the statewide telephone reporting system as outlined on your turkey hunting permit. Report turkey as harvested on a Special Hunt Area (Marseilles SFWA) and not as harvested in LaSalle County.
    • Access to this site at any time outside of posted hours is forbidden, including scouting.

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting season opens Sept 1 and closes the first Thursday after January 10th. Squirrel hunting is closed during all firearm deer seasons.
    • The National Guard trains more heavily on weekends and for that reason the site is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Sept 1 – Oct 31 each year.
    • Must sign-in at the parking lot self-check stations
    • Shotgun only; shot size: lead shot #6 or smaller or steel shot size #4 or smaller. 
  • Rabbits
    • Season runs from the statewide open to the first Thursday after Jan 10. Closed during all firearm deer seasons. 
    • Must sign-in and sign-out/report at the parking lot self-check stations.
    • Upland game hunting may be done with shotgun loaded with lead shot size  lead #5 or smaller or with steel shot size #3 or smaller. 
    • Blaze orange cap and upper garment are required. 

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • Dove hunting is closed during all site firearm deer seasons.
    • The National Guard trains more heavily on weekends and for that reason the site is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Sept 1 – Oct 31 each year.
    • Must sign-in and sign-out/report at the parking lot self-check stations. 
    • Shotguns loaded with lead shot size #7 or smaller or steel shot size #6 or smaller
  • Pheasant and Quail
    • The pheasant and quail hunting season at this site is from the statewide open to the first Thursday after Jan 10. Closed during all firearm deer seasons. 
    • Must sign-in and sign-out/report at the parking lot self-check stations.
    • Upland bird hunting may be done with shotgun loaded with lead shot size  lead #5 or smaller or with steel shot size #3 or smaller. 
    • Blaze orange cap and upper garment are required.  

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping is not permitted.
  • Hunting
    • Coyote only
      • Coyote hunting season opens Nov 5 and closes the first Thursday after Jan 10.  Closed during all site firearm deer seasons.
      • Must sign-in and sign-out/report their harvest at the check station.
      • Hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. 
      • Use of dogs is prohibited
      • Unauthorized personnel may not be on the site outside of the posted check station operating hours

Amenities