Announcements

Statewide and associated species regulations, in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, apply at site unless noted hereafter.

Parking and hunting must be done in designated areas only.

All hunting must be done with shotguns.

Hunters should note postings for restrictions, closing, and regulations.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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 end of 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
All hunters must attend the safety talk prior to entering the field.

Firearm

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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.

Late Winter Antlerless

Not available at this site.

Muzzleloader

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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

Youth Firearm

Not available at this site.

Turkey

Fall Archery

Not available at this site.

Fall Shotgun

Not available at this site.

Spring

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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.

Youth Spring

Not available at this site.

Waterfowl

Ducks/Coots/Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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

Snipe/Rail

Not available at this site.

Youth Waterfowl

Not available at this site.

Upland/Small Game

Controlled Pheasant

Not available at this site.

Crow

Not available at this site.

Dove

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

Non-toxic shot only; #6 steel or #7 bismuth & tungsten or smaller

Hunters must hunt within 10 feet of an IDNR marked stake and their firearm will remain at their chair, when leaving the stake is necessary (retrieving birds, etc.)

Loaded guns must not be transported to or from the hunting area.

All hunters must attend the safety talk before entering the field.

Sept 1-5

Hunting Sept. 1-5 is by Springfield lottery-issued permit, only.
Hunting hours are from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Permit holders must register at the Vermillion River Area prior to 11:00 am
Permitted hunters who fail to complete their registration by 11:00 am shall have their permit voided.
Following registration, a daily stand-by drawing, if needed, will be conducted for unclaimed or voided permits
Field and stake selection will be made through randomized draw following the standby draw
Hunters may be required to wear back patches while in the field
Hunters must sign out and report harvest at the sign-out box immediately following their exit from the field
Hunters may bring 1 non-hunting, unarmed observer
Free Dove Permit One Stop

Sep 6-30

Permit not required
Hunting hours: Noon-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
Up to 2 hunters per stake.
All dove hunters must sign-out and report their harvest.

Pheasant/Quail/Partridge

Not available at this site.

Rabbits

Not available at this site.

Squirrels

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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.
Hunting with shotguns and bow and arrows only.
Shotgun shells must be size #6 lead or smaller or #4 steel or smaller.   
Dogs are not allowed.

Woodcock

Not available at this site.

Furbearers

Furbearer Hunting

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

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

Furbearer Trapping

Not available at this site.

Amenities

Trails

More information