Wildlife Illinois

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Announcements

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

Randolph County State Recreation Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 820
  • Habitat: This site is located in the scenic rolling hill country of southwestern Illinois. Woods are generally found along streams, draws, and on adjacent slopes too steep for cultivation. Some of the upland area and gentler slopes are open, devoted to wildlife food plots or maintained in a fallow condition. Grasslands, brushy draws, and hedgerows are interspersed throughout the area providing a diverse wildlife habitat. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Site Specific Regulations

  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • Hunters may leave stands unattended from September 15 – January 31. Stands must be legibly marked with owner’s name, address and telephone number.
  • No hunting or trapping is permitted in posted areas or developed recreation areas, and within 100 yards of construction sites, residences and developed recreation areas
  • All hunters must sign in (and indicate license plate #) and check out and report harvest each day.
  • All hunting is by shotgun or archery only. (Exceptions exist for furbearer hunting regulations)
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • Open to archery hunters during statewide firearm deer seasons, but blaze orange is required by all hunters at these times
    • Handicapped hunting facility is available, contact site for more information.

Turkey

  • Spring
    • Spring turkey hunting requires a site-specific permits issued via a Springfield drawing.
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • Handicapped hunting facility is available.
  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • All hunters must wear blaze orange during overlap with deer firearm seasons

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Rabbits
    • Statewide regulations apply.

Upland Birds

  • Quail
    • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Woodcock
    • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Dove
    • Sept. 1 – 5, the hunting hours are noon – 5 p.m., and a drawing to determine hunter eligibility will be held if more hunters apply to hunt than can be accommodated.
    • Sept. 6 – 30, statewide hours apply.

Furbearers

  • Hunting
    • Statewide Regulations
    • Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
    • Furbearer hunting closed during Firearm Deer Season
      • Hunters with a valid, unfilled firearm deer permit for the hunt area may take coyotes during legal hours of the firearm deer season. Otherwise, the use of shotgun slugs to take furbearing mammals is prohibited on state sites.
    • Coyote and striped skunk season coincides with the statewide fox season.
  • Trapping
    • Quota of 2 permits are issued. Contact site for details
    • Water sets or box traps only are allowed during the statewide season.

Amenities