Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-724-2493
Office address: 11981 Rend City Rd., Benton, IL 62812
Site coordinates: 38.19922, -88.91874
County: Franklin
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 7,740
Habitat: This area consists of upland and bottomland hardwoods, small grasslands, and a managed wetland that surrounds the corridor of Rend Lake. The topography of this site consists of flatter upland sites that moderately roll into the bottomlands of Rend Lake. Several open fields bordering the lake are surrounded by brushy areas providing cover for quail and rabbits. The many woodlands mixed with agricultural fields and fencerows allow for great deer, turkey, and upland game hunting opportunities. Active habitat management will occur throughout the year at this site.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at the site unless noted hereafter.
Hunters must remove tree stands daily.
No ATVs allowed on site.
No cutting of live vegetation on site.
Hunting is not allowed in Recreation areas.
All portable hunting stands/blinds must be permanently labeled with the owner’s name, address, and phone number and must be visible from ground level.
All game/trail cameras must be permanently labeled with the owner’s name, address, and phone number and must be visible from ground level. The use of bark penetrating attachments is prohibited. Game/trail cameras are not to be placed within 100 feet of hunter/fisherman parking lots, access roadways, or designated trails, and must be used for wildlife monitoring only. The surreptitious capture of images of individuals is strictly prohibited.
Waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties.
No trespassing or hunting allowed on Rend Lake Refuge during teal, early Canada goose, or regular waterfowl seasons.
Must use at least 6 decoys.
Hunting hours are from the legal shooting start time until 1 pm, except during the last 3 days of the Canada Goose season, where shooting time closes at legal sunset.
Hunters are required to sign in and sign out and report daily harvest.
Decoys may not be placed in the field prior to the opening date of the season.
There is no hunting permitted on land that is in an open or closed Recreation Area.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Disabled Outdoor Opportunity Firearm
Disabled Hunter opportunities are open during the first firearm season only. Those wishing to participate in the hunt must request an application packet from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Rend Lake Project Office. For more information, see IDNR’s Disabled Outdoor Opportunities calendar.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Late Winter Antlerless
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a county-specific permit, issued through the statewide lottery, is required.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a county-specific permit, issued via statewide lottery, is required.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Goose
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Handicapped Blind/Dry Field Pit
Those wishing to participate in the handicapped waterfowl blind and dry field pit must request the blinds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Project Office. For more information, see IDNR’s Disabled Outdoor Opportunities calendar.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Non-toxic shot required.
- Hunters are required to sign in and sign out and report daily harvest
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that hunting with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifles, or muzzleloading black powder rifles is allowed.
Upland Birds
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
- Furbearer hunting is 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
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Water sets only
- Only body gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4 ½ inches or less, and square body-gripping traps with a 10-inch jaw spread may be used for water sets; snares may be used for water sets
Amenities
Boat Ramps
Hunting
Trapping