Announcements
Prairie Ridge State Natural Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-783-2685
Office address: 4295 N. 1000th St., Newton, IL 62448
Site coordinates: 38.93562 -88.18351
County: Jasper
Site Map
Printable Map – Firearm Deer
Printable Map – Archery Deer
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 455 (Archery Deer Hunting) or 2916 (Firearm Deer Hunting)
Habitat: Prairie Ridge SNA contains native tall-grass prairies and marshlands. Great care is taken to ensure the continued protection and presence of a number of endangered species. Prairie Ridge has the distinction of having the state’s only breeding population of the state-endangered greater prairie-chicken.
Site Specific Regulations
All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
Hunters should avoid disturbance to the natural community due to the presence of endangered species and must use extreme care not to injure non-targeted species.
Hunters must not enter restricted areas. No hunting is allowed at the land sections owned by the Illinois Audubon Society, which are the Robert Ridgeway Grassland and the Graber Grassland.
A person must gain permission from site manager to enter area, except an archery deer hunter during season at selected tract and a firearm deer hunter with valid site-specific permit (Prairie Ridge SNA) during his or her firearm deer hunting season.
Deer
One non-piercing, portable tree stand or ground blind is allowed per hunter.
Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)
Stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 to January 31 and must be marked with owner’s name, address and telephone number.
Ground blinds, if used during firearm or muzzleloader deer seasons, must display blaze orange, visible from all directions.
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Archery deer hunting is open on 4 selected tracts only. (See map).
- Archery deer hunting is closed during the statewide firearm deer seasons, but continues through the youth, muzzleloader, and late winter deer seasons.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A site-specific permit, issued for Prairie Ridge SNA, is required.
- Only selected tracts at this site are open for the firearm deer season.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only select tracts are open to firearm deer hunting.
- A site-specific permit is required.
- Muzzleloader deer season is closed during the second firearm deer season.
- Only selected tracts at this site are open for deer hunting.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Youth Deer Hunters must have a valid youth “Over The Counter” permit for Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (PRSNA).
- Youth deer hunters are encouraged to contact the site for information regarding the hunt.
Turkey
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Furbearer Hunting
Not available at this site.
Furbearer Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
None