ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

Hunt Planner

Announcements

Public Duck and Goose Hunting Area Permit First Lottery Begins August 16!

Moraine Hills State Park

    Site Contact Info

    Site Map

    Site Characteristics

    • Huntable acres: 2,000 acres
    • Habitat: Huntable areas include marshes, prairie restoration areas, woodlands of mixed hardwoods.

    Site Specific Regulations

    • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
    • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
    • 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 webpage.
    • Species-specific rules:

    Deer

    • Firearm
      • 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.
      • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in the park. Hunters will need to provide samples to the District Wildlife Biologist by local vendors that take samples or 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 webpage.
      • 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.
    • Archery
      • Statewide Season, Fridays through Tuesdays, except during firearm deer season.
      • Hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing. Applications are available at Moraine Hills State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area and here. 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.
      • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been found in the park. Hunters will need to provide samples to the District Wildlife Biologist by either local vendors that take samples or 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 webpage.
      • Hunting is restricted to designated areas only (see map). If you are assigned Moraine Hills Zone G, you will be receiving special instructions, due to this zone being a joined McHenry County Conservation District and State property.
      • 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.
      • Preseason scouting is allowed on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to your assigned hunt, except during firearm deer season.
      • You must park in designated parking lots only. No parking is allowed along roadways.
      • 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 in the hunting area.
      • Bog soil is unstable and poison sumac is hazardous in winter.

    Turkey

    • Archery
      • Statewide Season, Fridays through Tuesdays, except during firearm deer season.
      • Hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing. Applications are available at Moraine Hills State Park, Volo Bog State Natural Area and here. 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 is restricted to designated areas only (see map). If you are assigned Moraine Hills Zone G, you will be receiving special instructions, due to this zone being a joined McHenry County Conservation District and State property.
      • 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.
      • Preseason scouting is allowed on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to your assigned hunt, except during firearm deer season.
      • You must park in designated parking lots only. No parking is allowed along roadways.
      • If it is necessary to track a turkey 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 in the hunting area.
      • Bog soil is unstable and poison sumac is hazardous in winter.
    • Firearm Turkey not permitted.

    Waterfowl

    • Waterfowl hunting not permitted.

    Squirrels/Rabbits

    • Squirrel hunting not permitted.
    • Rabbit hunting not permitted.

    Upland Birds

    • Upland bird hunting not permitted.

    Furbearers

    • Furbearer hunting or trapping not permitted.

    Amenities