ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

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Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area

Site Contact Information

Site Characteristics

Site Specific Regulations

  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • Access is limited to foot traffic only over a large portion of the area.
  • Mazonia is part of the Windshield Card access program. To obtain a permit, go to: https://dnr2.illinois.gov/windshieldcard/index.asp  You must also report your harvest and hunter trips via the system, even if you did not hunt. You must also report your harvest via the statewide call-in system. Failure to do so will result in loss of hunting privileges for the next hunting season.
  • Hunting is only allowed in areas designated as open.
  • Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in Grundy, Kankakee and Will Counties near this site. Please have your deer tested. Further information regarding CWD, including sampling locations, may be found at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Programs/CWD/Pages/default.aspx
  • Fishing will be allowed in conjunction with the upland game season. Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Hunting will prohibited in the event of adverse water and/or weather conditions, such as flooding, high winds, or heavy fog, national or local security.
  • Species Specific Rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Hunting allowed in the South Unit (located in Kankakee County) only.
    • Archery hunters may also take coyotes and raccoons by use of bow and arrow.
    • No non-hunters in the field.

Turkey

  • Turkey hunting not permitted.

Waterfowl

  • 2020 Waterfowl Hunting Procedures
    • Only one hunter from each party will check in at the window of the main office.
    • Staff will record all hunters’ names in that party on a sign-in/waterfowl harvest card.
    • The hunting party’s card will be put in a barrel to be drawn for stake allocation.  Hunters will receive a stake map if requested.
    • Staff will keep card and hunters will be asked that checked in the party to return to their vehicle and tune their vehicle’s radio to a specific frequency for announcements (signage will list radio frequency).
    • At designated draw time, staff will make daily announcements over FM transmitter and/or bull horn.
    • As staff draws a card, it will be announced over the FM transmitter and/or bull horn along with hunters’ names.
    • Selected party’s representative will come to the check station again and choose hunting stake from map at check station.
    • Hunting party will receive their sign-in/waterfowl harvest card with their chosen stake and then the chosen stake will be announced.  It is recommended that hunters keep track of blinds taken during the draw to help speed up the process.
    • Hunting party will then be required to leave the area and go to their assigned stake.
    • Hunters must record their harvest under each respective hunter name on the card at the end of the hunt.
    • Hunting party will place their harvest card in the lock box located outside the main office at the end of each day’s hunt. 
    • There will be no re-draw for blinds this year.
    • There will be no standby drawings after the main draw for Braidwood Lake and the Mazonia North and South Units.
    • Mazonia North and South Unit blinds will follow the same procedure for open blinds available daily.
  • Blinds
    • Blinds are allocated annually by drawing on the last Saturday of July at the site office.
      • Drawing rules will be posted.
      • Blinds must be built within 10 feet of a marked location by the Blind winner and up to two partners. The partners must be named on the provided partner sheet and returned by August 31st.
      • Once the completed blind is approved, a blind registration card will be issued and must be placed in the blind prior to hunting.
    • Blinds are allocated for one hunting season only. Blind builders have until Feb. 1 to reclaim blind materials.
    • You may not use Giant Reed Grass, (Phragmites) or any other nuisance plant with the seed head attached, for camouflaging your blind. Remove seed heads prior to entering the park. Keep your blinds clean (including spent shells), you are responsible for them. Blinds in poor or trashed condition, will be red-carded.
    • More information can be found here
  • All hunters must report to the check station to fill out information cards and to turn in hunting licenses before proceeding to blinds.
  • Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blinds must report to the check station at least one hour before shooting 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.
  • All hunting will be from registered blinds only and hunters must occupy their blinds within one hour after registering at the check station.
  • Hunting is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Hunting hours are legal opening to 1:00 pm.. All hunters must be checked out by 2:00 P.M. At this time waterfowl and coots bagged must be checked and hunting licenses will be returned.
  • It shall be illegal to fish or trespass upon the designated waterfowl hunting area or waterfowl refuge beginning ten days prior to the Central Zone Duck Season, until the end of Central Zone Duck Season.
  • No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, waterfowl and coots except from within a registered blind.
  • No person under 16 years of age shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, unless accompanied by an adult.
  • All hunting parties shall hunt with at least 12 decoys. Decoys shall be staked, placed, or floating, be individually visible, be at least 8 inches long, and not be within a boat, blind, or container.
  • No person shall trespass, for any purpose, on areas posted as Refuge or Waterfowl Rest Areas.
  • Not more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time.
  • Blinds shall not be locked.
  • Claiming or attempting to claim a blind which is legally occupied, and/or to harass, in any manner, the occupants of a blind which has been legally occupied is unlawful.
  • During Duck Season, blinds not claimed by the builder or partners by one hour before shooting time will be assigned by a drawing at this time. No blinds will be assigned after 9:00 A.M.
  • Blind 8 is wheelchair accessible. It must be reserved at least 48 hours in advance by calling the site office. If not claimed it will be part of the daily draw.
  • All harvested birds must be presented at the check station in person upon check out.

Squirrels/Rabbit

  • Rabbit
    • Hunting allowed in the North Unit only.
    • Season opens day after close of central duck season through statewide close.
    • Statewide hours
    • Hunters must sign in and sign out and report harvest.
    • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Christmas and New Years Day.
    • May only hunt in areas designated as open on site map.
    • Blaze orange required (400 sq. in.).
    • No non-hunters in the field.
  • Squirrel
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted.

Upland Birds

  • Hunting allowed in the North Unit only.
  • Season opens day after close of central duck season through statewide close.
  • Hunters must sign in and sign out and report harvest.
  • Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Christmas and New Years Day.
  • May only hunt in areas designated as open on site map.
  • Blaze orange required (400 sq. in.).
  • No non-hunters in the field.

Furbearers

  • Hunting
    • Archery only
    • Coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and opossum may be taken during their respective seasons that fall within archery deer season
    • Statewide hours
  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping not permitted.

Amenities