ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 5,807
  • Habitat: The Duck Ranch Unit and Sparland Unit and Marshall Unit are mixtures of Illinois River floodplain forest, lake and ponds. Much of the waterfowl areas are Illinois River backwaters. The area managed for upland and forest species consists of mostly timber with small shrubby openings.

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 for many programs by 15 February. See specific-rules for hunting program requirements.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • Hunting restricted to areas posted as open to hunting
  • At no time are hunters permitted to enter designated waterfowl refuges or rest areas.
  • Steel or non-toxic shot is required at all waterfowl sites (Duck Ranch Unit, Marshall Unit, and Sparland Unit) and at upland game and forest areas where rabbit, dove, pheasant, and quail are hunted.
  • Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Follows statewide season, hours, and bag limit; except at the Duck Ranch Unit, archery deer hunting is permitted from the date of legal opening for archery deer season to the date of 7 days prior to the opening day of duck season, and the archery deer hunting opens one day after the conclusion of duck season and closes at archery deer season closing.
    • Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31. Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.
  • Firearm
    • Firearm deer hunting is allowed by site-specific permit only. Permits will be allocated through the regular statewide drawing.
    • Each permit will be valid for both of the firearm deer seasons.
    • Permit holders must check in at the site by 5 am each day of deer season to validate their permit.
    • At 5 am there will be a drawing for standby hunters if there are any available vacancies. Vacancies may be filled by any person holding a valid Hunting License, Habitat Stamp, and FOID card, unless exempt.
    • Standby hunters will be issued a one-day site-specific deer permit at the check station, and charged a permit fee of $5.00. No standby deer permits will be sold after 1 pm.
    • Firearm deer hunters must report harvested deer at the sign-out box provided at each parking area at the conclusion of each day’s hunt.
    • Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds must be removed at the end of each day.
  • Youth, Muzzleloader, and Late Firearm
    • Hunters are required to possess a county-specific deer permit (Zone 1, 2, 3 – Marshall County Permit, Zone 4 – Peoria County).
    • If a hunter has obtained a full-season firearm deer site-specific permit for Marshall SFWA and has not filled that permit, he or she may use that site-specific permit to hunt in the late firearm antlerless season if open in the county (Marshall or Peoria) where hunting.

Turkey

  • Fall Archery
    • At Duck Ranch Unit, fall archery turkey hunting is permitted from the date of legal opening to the date 7 days prior to opening of duck season; Season opens again one day after the conclusion of duck season.
    • At the site’s upland and forest game areas, fall archery hunting follows statewide seasons.
  • Fall shotgun
    • Not permitted
  • Spring
    • Spring turkey hunting requires a site-specific permit, with only 4 permitted hunters being allowed to hunt per day.
    • Hunting is restricted to 5 designated zones (1, 2, 3, 4 & Duck Ranch).
    • Open to holders of a valid Marshall County or Peoria County Youth Turkey Hunt Permit. Must hunt in the county specified on permit.
  • Youth
    • Statewide regulations

Waterfowl

  • Statewide Regulations.
  • Low water conditions due to siltation of the Illinois River backwaters may make access to certain blinds difficult or nearly impossible during segments of the waterfowl season. Please note that airboats are allowed at the Sparland Unit ONLY. Shallow-water drive or “mud motors” are recommended when conditions warrant. Further information on water levels and blind accessibility can be obtained from the site office.

Duck Ranch Unit

  • Duck permits are allocated by drawing. Applicants must apply online.
  • Permits available Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during the Central Zone duck season.
  • Hunting is not permitted on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
  • 3 permits available per day
  • Permit holders will have first choice of hunt location
  • Daily drawing for hunt location held at the Marshall SFWA check station 1 hour prior to legal shooting hours; after that time, permits are void. Hunt locations not claimed by the permit winners will be allocated in the drawing
  • Blinds not selected during the drawing shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
  • No blind sites shall be allocated after 11 am, at which time the waterfowl area is closed to further entry.
  • Permit holder may bring up to 3 guests
  • All hunting will cease at 1 pm.
  • A $10 daily fee will be charged to each hunter. Non-hunting partners between 16 and 20 years of age must pay daily usage stamp fee. All partners under 16 are not required to purchase a daily usage stamp.
  • Hunt locations may be accessed by motorboat via the Illinois River (boat ramp at the City of Henry marina) and by walking from water’s edge, or the blinds may be accessed by foot via a 1 mile sand trail from a parking lot on site.
  • Hunters are required to report their kill on a harvest card located at a determined location at the end of each day’s hunt. Hunters need not report back to check station.

Youth Waterfowl at Duck Ranch Unit

  • Youth duck permits are allocated by drawing. Applicants must apply online.
  • Applicants must be between the ages of 10 and 17 at the time of the hunt
  • Each permit holder is required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian or responsible adult, who may not hunt
  • All hunting must be from three designated hunt locations (blinds available)
  • Hours from legal opening time until 1 pm
  • Youth hunters with reservations are required to check-in at the check station no later than 1 hour before legal shooting time.
  • A drawing shall be held on the morning of the hunt to allocate blind sites. A standby drawing will be held immediately after the permit drawing for any unclaimed blinds by permit holders.
  • No fee is required for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit.
  • Youth hunters are required to report their kill on a harvest card located at a determined location at the end of each day’s hunt.

Teal, Early Goose, Late Goose, Conservation Order Light Goose

  • Statewide hours
  • Hunters are not restricted to blind sites
  • Windshield card required

Sparland Unit

Regular Waterfowl and Youth Waterfowl

  • Central Zone; Statewide hours
  • Waterfowl hunting sites allocated by annual draw for a period of one year
  • No check station on this unit. Windshield card required
  • Blind builders or partners must occupy their blinds by one-half hour before opening hunting hour each day in order to claim their blind for the day. Blinds not legally occupied may be claimed on a first come-first served basis.
  • Attempts to claim blinds by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation and shall be cause for arrest. The insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind.
  • All hunting must be from registered blinds only.
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season as posted at the site.
  • Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
  • No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time
  • Subject to special dates for youth waterfowl hunting made by Department public announcement.

Teal, Early Goose, Late Goose, Conservation Order Light Goose

  • Statewide hours
  • No permanent blinds may be constructed for the sole purpose of teal season
  • Hunting from a completed blind or staked site is waived during seasons held before the regular duck season or for seasons held after the duck season.
  • Beginning the day after duck season ends unclaimed blinds shall be allocated on a first come-first served basis
  • Windshield card required

Marshall Unit

Regular Waterfowl and Youth Waterfowl

  • Central Zone; Hours from legal opening to 1 pm
  • Waterfowl hunting sites allocated by annual draw for a period of one year
  • All hunters using this area must report to check station to fill out information cards
  • Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blinds must report to the check station at least one hour before hunting hour each day and occupy that blind for at least one hour. Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check station for reassignment.
  • Blinds not claimed by annual blind builders at this hour will be assigned by a daily draw.
  • Any blinds left unclaimed after completion of the daily drawing will be assigned on a first come-first served basis up to 30 minutes after the drawing and from 8 – 11 am.
  • Once 4 hunters have occupied a blind, all original occupants of the blind must check out at the check station before any additional hunters may occupy that blind.
  • Blinds may be reallocated on a first-come, first-served basis or, if multiple parties arrive at the check station at 8 am, there will be a second drawing, after which time the area shall be closed to additional hunters.
  • All hunting will be from registered blinds and hunters must occupy blinds within 1 hour after registering at the check station.
  • All hunting will cease at 1 pm during duck season.
  • Upon vacating a blind, hunters must report to check station within 1 hour to sign out and report any harvested waterfowl.
  • All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys during duck season and Canada goose season. Must be removed upon termination of hunt.
  • Blinds may not be locked.
  • At no time are hunters permitted to enter designated waterfowl refuges or rest areas.
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season as posted at the site.
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season.
  • Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
  • Subject to special dates for youth waterfowl hunting made by Department public announcement.
  • No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except during statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting, 5 persons may occupy a blind at one time only if the party is comprised of 2 youth hunters, their non-hunting parents and one non-hunting guide.

Teal, Early Goose, Late Goose, Conservation Order Light Goose

  • Statewide hours
  • No permanent blinds may be constructed for the sole purpose of teal season.
  • Hunting from a complete blind or staked site is waived during seasons held before the regular duck season or for seasons held after the duck season.
  • Beginning the day after duck seasons ends, when the check station is not operating, unclaimed blinds shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Windshield card required.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • at Upland and Forest Game Area
    • Statewide regulations
    • .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifles, or muzzleloading black powder rifles allowed
  • Rabbits
    • at Upland and Forest Game Area
    • Statewide regulations
    • Non-toxic shot required

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • Statewide regulations
    • Non-toxic shot only
    • Windshield card required
  • Woodcock
    • Statewide regulations
    • All site units may be hunted during teal and early goose seasons only
    • Windshield card required
  • Pheasant and Quail
    • Statewide regulations
    • Non-toxic shot only
    • Closed during the firearm deer hunting season
    • Windshield card required

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • A site permit is required and must be in possession while trapping on the area.
    • Trappers must stay within assigned areas.
    • No trapping is permitted in subimpoundments or designated waterfowl management units during duck season.
    • A drawing shall be held at the Marshall SFWA office on Dec 1 at 10 am every year. Persons participating in the drawing must have either a current or previous year trapping license. The number of permits per site shall be determined pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.20. Permit applicants must submit name and address to the site prior to drawing.
    • Only Egg Traps®, D-P (Dog-Proof) Traps®, Lil Grizz Get’rz®, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets
    • Only body-gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4½ inches or less and square body-gripping traps with a 10-inch jaw spread may be used for water sets.
    • Snares may be used for water sets.
    • .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms permitted unless otherwise specified.
    • Windshield card required
  • Hunting
    • Raccoon, opossum open to statewide regulations
    • Skunk, red fox, grey fox, coyote, and woodchuck open to archery during archery deer season
    • All open to statewide regulations after conclusion of archery deer season
      • Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
    • Windshield Card required
    • Duck Ranch Unit
      • Raccoon and Opossum only
      • Opens the day after the close of duck season

Amenities

  • Boat ramp is off-site for access to blinds at the Duck Ranch. Information about blind accessibility can be obtained from the Marshall SFWA office.
  • Amenities vary within the site’s units or areas: Campground, picnic area, and trails
  • More information