Matthiessen State Park

Archery

• Statewide regulations
• Allowed in Zone A (lots 1-11) during all deer firearm seasons
• Lots 3, 5, 6, and 22 are closed in October
• Antlerless deer only in October. Then either sex from Nov. 1 through the end of the season.
• Must check in at the site check station prior to hunting and report out/harvest immediately after hunting.
• Blaze orange required during all firearm seasons in Zone A
• Tree stands must be portable and tagged with hunter’s name, address, phone number.
• All tree stands and blinds must be removed daily.

Firearm

• Statewide regulations
• Site specific permit required
• Zone A has archery hunters during firearm season.
• First state issued permit will be antlerless only. After deer is checked in at site check station, a $5.00 permit will be issued for either sex.
• Check station closes at 6:00pm and is manned during Firearm and Muzzleloader seasons only
• Must check in at check station before 5:00am
• Standby permits available by drawing at 5:30am and 12:00pm (noon) for $5 each.
• Tree stands must be portable and tagged with hunter’s name, address, phone number.
• All tree stands and blinds must be removed daily
• All hunters MUST attend safety talk before entering the field
• Hunters who wish to change hunting areas must report to the check station prior to moving.

Muzzleloader

• Statewide regulations
• Site specific permit required
• Zone A has archery hunters during firearm season.
• First state issued permit will be antlerless only. After deer is checked in at site check station, a $5.00 permit will be issued for either sex.
• Check station closes at 6:00pm and is manned during Firearm and Muzzleloader seasons only
• Must check in at check station before 5:00am
• Standby permits available by drawing at 5:30am and 12:00pm (noon) for $5 each.
• Tree stands must be portable and tagged with hunter’s name, address, phone number.
• All tree stands and blinds must be removed daily
• All hunters MUST attend safety talk before entering the field
• Hunters who wish to change hunting areas must report to the check station prior to moving.

Special CWD

• Must have a Starved Rock site specific permit to hunt
• Hunters are required to self-check in and out at site check station (at Matthiessen State Park).
• No stand-by permits
• Tree stands must be portable and tagged with hunter’s name, address, phone number.
• All tree stands and blinds must be removed daily

• Spring
  • All turkey hunters must possess a site-specific permit. The permit is issued through the Springfield permit office as part of the regular permit lottery process.
  • Spring turkey allowed from lots 32 & 34
  • Hunters are required to register at the check station and must display a parking pass while hunting.
  • Hunters must return their parking passes and immediately report their hunting efforts and harvest on the sheets provided.  
  • Harvested turkeys must be checked in/reported via the statewide telephone reporting system as outlined on your turkey hunting permit. Hunters must report harvested turkeys as taken on a Special Hunt Area (Matthiessen SP) and not as harvested in LaSalle County.
  • Hunting area is restricted to the Vermillion River Area parking lot #10.

• Waterfowl hunting is limited to land based only
• Closed during all site firearm deer seasons
• No hunting allowed until IDNR stakes hunting locations, and hunt within 10′ of stake
• No more than 3 hunters per stake
• Portable blinds only and removed daily
• First-come, first-served
• Sign in/out and report of harvest required

• Squirrels
  • Shotgun squirrel hunting is allowed from Aug 1 -Sept 30.
  • Squirrel allowed from parking lot 32 & 34
  • All hunters must register at the check station.
  • Each hunter must display a parking pass. Hunters must return their parking passes and immediately report their hunting efforts and harvest on the sheets provided.
  • Hunting is restricted to the Vermillion River Area lot #9 & #10.
  • Shotgun shells must be size #6 lead or smaller or #4 steel or smaller.   ​
  • Dogs are not allowed.

• Rabbits
  • Rabbit hunting not permitted

• Dove
  • Dove hunting permit is required and is allocated through state lottery.
  • From Sept 1-5, dove hunting allowed from 12 pm – 5 pm
  • Permit holders must register between 9-11 am at the Vermillion River Area of Matthiessen SP to validate their permits. 
  • Hunters field selection will be made at the time of registration or a drawing at 11am. 
  • Hunters will be issued a back patch which must be worn when hunting.
  • If the daily hunter quota is not filled, a drawing is held to fill the site. To be included in the drawing, a hunter must check in prior to 11am.  
  • Dove hunting is allowed from Sept 6-30 from noon until sunset. Prior to hunting in any of the dove fields, all hunters are required to register at the sign-in box located on the north side of the entrance road into the Vermilion River Area of Matthiessen SP.
  • All hunters must attend the safety talk before entering the field.
  • Designated dove hunting areas are staked. Hunters will hunt from stakes, with 2 hunters per stake.
  • Loaded guns must not be transported to or from the hunting area. Guns may not be carried into fields when retrieving birds.
  • Must use size #6 or smaller steel or other non-toxic approved shot.
  • Shell casings and litter must be picked up and placed in refuse containers.
  • All dove hunters must sign-out and report their harvest.

• Trapping
  • Furbearer trapping not permitted
• Hunting
  • Coyote Only
    • Shotgun only from the date after archery deer season closes until February 28
    • Use of dogs prohibited
    • Archery Deer Hunters may take coyotes during archery deer season