Announcements
Moraine Hills State Park
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 815-385-1624
Office address: 1510 S. River Rd, McHenry, IL 60051
Site coordinates: 42.319908 -88.213676
County: McHenry
Site Map
Printable Map – Deer Firearm
Printable Map – Deer Archery Moraine Hills
Printable Map – Deer Archery Bull Valley
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 2,000 acres
Habitat: Huntable areas include marshes, prairie restoration areas, and woodlands of mixed hardwoods.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning.
Site Specific Application
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Controlled burning, for habitat management purposes, may be used within your hunting zone.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in the park. Hunters will need to provide samples to the District Wildlife Biologist. Getting your deer sampled is at no charge to the hunter and is very easy. There are local vendors that take samples and there will be head drop off barrels at Moraine Hills State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area, and Chain O Lakes State Park. You can find other locations to have your deer sampled here.
For more information on CWD, you can contact the District Wildlife Biologist (815-675-2386 ext 215) or visit our Chronic Wasting Disease Management page.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. See further site-specific regulations below:
- Dates: Statewide Season, Fridays through Tuesdays, except during firearm deer season.
- Permits: Hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing. Applications are available at Moraine Hills State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area and and in the above Site Specific Application section. Applications must be received at the Moraine Hills Park Office by Aug 31st to be eligible for the drawing. Successful applicants will be notified by email before September 15th. You will be required to sign in and out, and report harvests at the kiosks found in each designated parking area. Failure to report will result in loss of hunting privileges.
- Hunting Area: Hunting is restricted to designated areas only (see maps). Hunters may only hunt in their assigned zone. Hunters are allowed to share access with one other hunter to hunt their assigned zone with them; however, they are responsible for making sure the other hunter follows site rules. Under each permit, only two hunters are allowed in the field at a time. It is unlawful to drive deer, or participate in a deer drive, on all Department-owned or -managed properties. Hunters are required to hunt from elevated stands which are a 6 foot minimum above ground. Tree stands and climbing devices must be portable, may not cut or pierce the tree bark, but do not have to be removed at the end of each day. All trails are open to hikers during the archery hunting season, therefore stands and gut piles must be a minimum of 75 yards from designated trails. All stands must be tagged with site issued permit number on weatherproof material. Pruning branches up to 1 1/2 inches is allowed on the stand tree only.
- If you are disabled and possess a Class P2O (previously a P2) or a Class P2A card, and require accommodations. Please contact the Moraine Hills State Park Office at 815-385-1624, during the application period 15 July to 31 August. We will make every attempt to accommodate your hunt.
- Scouting: Preseason scouting is allowed until September 31st in your assigned hunting area. Any further scouting should be conducted during your hunting permit dates
- Parking: You must park in designated parking lots only. No parking is allowed along roadways.
- Tracking: If it is necessary to track a deer onto private property, you must first notify the site office and obtain permission from the landowner. All property around the park is privately owned; please respect the rights of others.
- Unlawful: Plastic markers and flagging tape are prohibited.
- Spectators are allowed
- Hazards: Bog soil is unstable, poison sumac is hazardous in winter. Controlled burning, for habitat management purposes, may be used in your hunting zone.
Firearm
Available at this site. See further site-specific regulations below:
- Permits are allocated during the statewide firearm permit lottery. Permits issued will be Either Sex permits. Permits will be valid for the first or second season only. All hunters must check out daily and report harvest at the check station.
- Back patches must be worn by hunters while in the field.
- A mandatory meeting and lottery for specific hunting stations will be conducted at the site on the first Saturday of November at 1:00 PM. Standby opportunities are available the Saturday and Sunday of the second season only, participants must also attend the lottery.
- Hunters are required to hunt from elevated stands (6 feet minimum above ground) and within a 65 yard radius of the hunter station marker.
- Tree stands and climbing devices must be portable, may not cut or pierce the tree bark, but do not have to be removed at the end of each day. Pruning branches up to 1 1/2 ” is allowed on the stand tree only.
- Preseason scouting is allowed in the Nature Preserve after October 1.
- You must park in designated parking lots only. No parking is allowed along roadways.
- Firearms must be unloaded and fully enclosed in a case, except while the hunter is in an elevated stand or as otherwise authorized by an employee of the IDNR. This requires your firearm to be cased whenever you are on the ground.
- If it is necessary to track a deer onto private property, you must first notify the site office and obtain permission from the landowner. All property around the park is privately owned, please respect the rights of others.
- Non-hunters are not allowed within hunting areas.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Not available at this site.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Not available at this site.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. See further site-specific regulations below:
- Dates: Statewide Season, Fridays through Tuesdays, except during firearm deer season.
- Permits: Hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing. Applications are available at Moraine Hills State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area and and in the above Site Specific Application section. Applications must be received at the Moraine Hills Park Office by Aug 31st to be eligible for the drawing. Successful applicants will be notified by email before September 15th. You will be required to sign in and out, and report harvests at the kiosks found in each designated parking area. Failure to report will result in loss of hunting privileges.
- Hunting Area: Hunting is restricted to designated areas only (see maps). Hunters may only hunt in their assigned zone. Hunters are allowed to share access with one other hunter to hunt their assigned zone with them; however, they are responsible for making sure the other hunter follows site rules. Under each permit, only two hunters are allowed in the field at a time. It is unlawful to drive deer, or participate in a deer drive, on all Department-owned or -managed properties. Hunters are required to hunt from elevated stands which are a 6 foot minimum above ground. Tree stands and climbing devices must be portable, may not cut or pierce the tree bark, but do not have to be removed at the end of each day. All trails are open to hikers during the archery hunting season, therefore stands and gut piles must be a minimum of 75 yards from designated trails. All stands must be tagged with site issued permit number on weatherproof material. Pruning branches up to 1 1/2 inches is allowed on the stand tree only.
- If you are disabled and possess a Class P2O (previously a P2) or a Class P2A card, and require accommodations. Please contact the Moraine Hills State Park Office at 815-385-1624, during the application period 15 July to 31 August. We will make every attempt to accommodate your hunt.
- Scouting: Preseason scouting is allowed until September 31st in your assigned hunting area. Any further scouting should be conducted during your hunting permit dates
- Parking: You must park in designated parking lots only. No parking is allowed along roadways.
- Tracking: If it is necessary to track a deer onto private property, you must first notify the site office and obtain permission from the landowner. All property around the park is privately owned; please respect the rights of others.
- Unlawful: Plastic markers and flagging tape are prohibited.
- Spectators are allowed
- Hazards: Bog soil is unstable, poison sumac is hazardous in winter. Controlled burning, for habitat management purposes, may be used in your hunting zone.
Fall Shotgun
Not available at this site.
Spring
Not available at this site.
Youth Spring
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Furbearer Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Coyote hunting only.
- Open only to deer hunters with unfulfilled permits during all deer seasons open at the site.
Furbearer Trapping
Available at this site. Please contact site office for details.
Amenities
Boat Access
Fishing
Hiking Trails