Mitchell’s Grove Nature Preserve
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 815-667-4726
Office address: c/o Starved Rock SP, Box 509, Utica, IL 61373
Site coordinates: 41.37637 -89.06802
County: LaSalle
Site Superintendent (Starved Rock SP parent site)
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 185
Habitat: The site is located at the confluence of Tomahawk Creek and the Little Vermilion River and has acres of mature second-growth forest, remnant hill prairie, and wet prairie. The terrain, with its sandstone rock outcroppings, is very rugged in places.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Deer hunting is only permitted at this site.
Must not remove deer antlers.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunters are required to sign in before hunting on the sheets provided at the Mitchell’s Grove parking lot.
- Hunters must display and return parking passes daily.
- Only antlerless deer may be harvested in October.
- Either sex deer may be harvested from Nov 1 to the end of the season.
- Closed during statewide firearm, muzzleloader & special CWD firearm deer seasons.
- Must check out and report harvest immediately after the conclusion of the hunt on the sheets at the Mitchell’s Grove parking lot.
- Tree stands must be non-piercing, portable, and tagged with the hunter’s name, address, and phone number. All stands must be removed daily.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Firearm deer hunting is permitted during the first and second firearm deer seasons.
- Firearm and muzzleloader deer hunters must have a Starved Rock site-specific permit.
- Hunters are required to check in before 5 am at the Matthiessen State Park check station.
- If any permits are not claimed, a drawing to allocate standby permits will be held at 5:30 am.
- Standby hunters will be allowed to enter the field after the drawing at 5:30 am & 12 pm.
- The Bonus Buck program allows the first state-issued permit to be for antlerless deer only, but after a hunter harvests that deer and checks the deer at the manned check station at Matthiessen State Park’s maintenance building, a $5.00 permit may be issued for either sex.
- Check station closes at 6 pm.
- All hunters must attend the safety talk before entering the field.
- Deer harvested must be checked in/reported at the check station and must be reported as outlined in the statewide rules & regulations for reporting deer harvested during the regular statewide deer season.
- Hunters engaged in deer hunting with the use of a firearm are required to wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches.
- Tree stands must be non-piercing, portable, and tagged with the hunter’s name, address, and phone number. All stands must be removed daily.
- Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Firearm Deer. See the section above for more information.
Special CWD
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Must have a valid FOID card, a current hunting license, and a current habitat stamp on their person while hunting.
- Hunters engaged in deer hunting with the use of a firearm are required to wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches.
- Tree stands must be non-piercing, portable, and tagged with the hunter’s name, address, and phone number. All stands must be removed daily.
- Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)
Youth Firearm
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland & Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Not available at this site.