ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 7,740
  • Habitat: This area consists of upland and bottomland hardwoods, small grasslands, and managed wetland that surround the corridor of Rend Lake. Topography of this site consists of flatter upland sites that moderately rolls 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 agriculture fields and fencerows allow for great deer, turkey and upland game hunting opportunities
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map
  • Printable Topography Map

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 must remove tree stands daily
  • No ATV’s allowed on site
  • No cutting of live vegetation on site
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations
  • Firearm
    • Statewide regulations.
    • Disabled Hunt (first season only; permit drawing will be conducted by Corps of Engineers’ staff with permits mailed to successful applicants by the Department of Natural Resources.
  • Muzzleloader
    • Statewide regulations

Turkey

  • Statewide regulations

Waterfowl

  • Statewide regulations
  • Hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties
  • No trespassing or hunting allowed on Rend Lake Refuge during teal or early Canada goose seasons
  • Must use at least 6 decoys
  • Hunting hours are from legal shooting start until 1 pm

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Statewide regulations
    • Hunting with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifles, or muzzleloading black powder rifles is allowed
  • Rabbits
    • Statewide regulations

Upland Birds

  • Statewide regulations
  • Non-toxic shot is required for dove hunting

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
    • 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