ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Site Characteristics

Site Specific Regulations

  • Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • All hunters are required to sign-in and sign-out at the hunter check station located at the site office (Zone A) or there is a sign-in/out box at the trail head on the east side of the site (Zone B).
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • Hunting allowed in Zones A and B only.
    • Statewide hours except during the Central Zone Duck Season when hunting hours are 1:00 PM until 1/2 hour after sunset.
    • Archery Deer is still open at this site during state Firearm Deer seasons
    • Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31, but must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.

Turkey

  • Turkey hunting not permitted

Waterfowl

Duck Permit

  • Duck permits are allocated by drawing. Applicants must apply online.
  • 8 permits allocated daily for the Central Zone duck season. 24 hunters per day.
  • The permit holder may bring no more than 2 partners (hunters or non-hunters; 3 persons per stake)
  • Hunting rotates daily with the Rice Lake (Ridge Field), Copperas Creek (Vorhees), and Big Lake walk-in areas.
  • Hunters with permit reservations are required to check in at the check station located 1.5 miles south of Banner off Banner Dyke Road between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
  • Permits are void after 5:00 a.m.
    • At that time a drawing shall be held to allocate stakes to permit holders.
    • After all permit hunters are checked in a standby drawing will be held if the hunter quota is unfilled.
  • Hunting shall be by walk-in or boats without motors only.
  • All parties must hunt over a minimum of 12 decoys of at least standard size.
  • Hunters must be at least 16 years of age (except for the Illinois Youth Goose/Duck Hunt) to draw for a stake.
    • Each person under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
  • Hunting is allowed from ½ hour before sunrise to 1 pm.

Duck and Youth Waterfowl Season

  • Blinds allocated by annual draw held on the last Sunday in July.
  • All hunters using this area must report to the check station to complete information cards and/or participate in draw for blind before proceeding to sites.
  • All hunting will be from registered blinds and staked sites. Hunters must occupy sites within 1 hour after registering at the check station. All hunting will cease at 1 pm.
  • Registered builders (or partners desiring to claim their blinds) must report to the check station by 5:00 am each day to claim their blind. Unclaimed blinds will be allocated in a public draw.
  • Upon vacating the blind sites, hunters must report to the check station within 1 hour. Hunters are required to check self out and record harvest at the check station.
  • During duck season, blinds not claimed by the builder or partners by one hour before hunting time shall be assigned by a drawing at this time and during the hours from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.
  • Once 4 hunters have occupied a blind, all original occupants of the blind must check out at the check station before any additional hunters may occupy that blind. Blinds may be reallocated on a first-come, first-served basis or, if multiple parties arrive at the check station at 8:00 a.m., there will be a second drawing, after which time the area shall be closed to additional hunters.
  • All parties must hunt over a minimum of 12 decoys of at least standard size.
  • It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season.
  • Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
  • Subject to special dates for youth waterfowl hunting made by Department public announcement.
  • No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except during statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting, 5 persons may occupy a blind at one time only if the party is comprised of 2 youth hunters, their non-hunting parents and one non-hunting guide.

Teal

  • Statewide regulations
  • Hours:
    • Sunrise – 1:00 p.m.
  • Check-in and check-out required

Goose

  • Hunting from a completed blind or staked site is waived during seasons held before the regular duck season or for seasons held after the regular Canada goose season
  • Early Canada Goose season opens with Teal Season
  • Hours:
    • Sunrise until 1:00 p.m. during Teal Season
    • Half (½) hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. during Duck Season
  • Late Goose and Conservation Order Light Goose seasons are statewide hours
  • Check-in and Check-out required for all Goose hunting

Snipe and Rail

  • Open during Teal Season
  • Statewide regulations
  • Hours:
    • Sunrise – 1:00 p.m.
  • Check-in and check-out required

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted
  • Rabbits
    • Rabbit hunting not permitted

Upland Birds

  • Woodcock
    • Statewide regulations
    • Check in and check out required.
    • Open during teal season only; sunrise until 1:00 p.m.
  • No other upland bird hunting permitted.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Muskrat, Mink, Raccoon, Opossum, Striped Skunk, Weasel, Gray Fox, Red Fox, Coyote, Badger, River Otter, Beaver, Bobcat, and Woodchuck (Groundhog)
      • Statewide regulations
      • A site-specific permit is required and must be in possession while trapping on the area.
      • Trappers must stay within assigned areas.
      • No trapping is permitted in sub-impoundments or designated waterfowl management units during duck season.
      • A drawing shall be held prior to the opening of the season. The date of the drawing shall be announced by the Department by public announcement here and the drawing shall be held at the site. Persons participating in the drawing must have either a current or previous year trapping license.
      • Only Egg Traps®, D-P (Dog-Proof) Traps®, Lil Grizz Get’rz®, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets.
      • Only body-gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4.5 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.
      • .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms permitted unless otherwise specified
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities