Rock Cut State Park

Site Contact Info

Office phone: 815-979-1237

Office address: 7318 Harlem Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111 

Site coordinates: 42.3543 -88.99079

County: Winnebago

Site Superintendent

District Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Police 

Site Closures List

Site Map

Digital Map

Printable Map

Site Characteristics

Huntable acres: 2,570

Habitat: A mix of hardwood forest and grasslands surrounding two lakes.

Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Site Specific Regulations

Statewide and associated species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• Due to this site being located in a CWD positive county, it is recommended that successful deer hunters have their deer tested for CWD.
• See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels.
• Hunting dates are the Monday after first firearm season to the end of Statewide archery season (no hunting during second firearm season.)
• Hunting allowed every day of the week from 8am to 5pm.
• Hunting allowed in unit east of I90 (see map.)
• Hunters will be required to sign in and out of the mailbox kiosk.
• Only 3 hunters allowed in unit at a time.

Firearm

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• Due to this site being located in a CWD positive county, it is recommended that successful deer hunters have their deer tested for CWD.
• See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels.
• Firearm deer hunting for disabled individuals and their hunting partners is the Thursday, Friday and Saturday prior to the first statewide firearm deer season. Contact the site for more information. 40 sites available.
• Eligible hunter with disabilities must have a class P2A disability card, valid FOID card, proof of passing a Hunters Safety Course, and a current Habitat Stamp.
• All hunting partners will be required to possess a current Illinois Hunting license, valid FOID card, proof of passing a Hunters Safety Course, and current Habitat Stamp.
• Site drawn lottery and blind assignment is done prior to hunt.  Applications are sent out in September and must be returned by the second Friday in October.
• A day-of-the-hunt registration is located at the park office between 4 – 5 am.  Pre-selected hunters and partners must be registered by 5 am.  Any unfilled sites will be filled by standby hunters. Hunters with disabilities will be given priority over able-bodied standby hunters. Limited number of permits available.
• Pre-selected hunters and partners will be required to purchase site-specific permits (valid for site’s season) for $25.00. Additional standby permits may be purchased for $5.00 (valid that day only).
• Hunting is done from assigned designated blinds only.
• Legal hunting devices as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code, Section 650.30 a)
• A safe range of fire has been determined for each blind site. Hunters must restrict their shots to the approved range of fire.
• If tracking of a deer is necessary, state personnel will escort hunters to track and dispatch wounded deer.
• Non-hunters (with the exception of non-hunting partners) are not allowed to be in the blind or in the field while the hunt is in progress.
• The hunter and partner must wear blaze orange apparel.

Late Winter Antlerless

Not available at this site.

Muzzleloader

Not available at this site.

Special CWD

Not available at this site.

Youth Firearm

Not available at this site.

Turkey

Fall Archery

Not available at this site.

Fall Shotgun

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• Fall shotgun turkey hunting for disabled individuals and their hunting partners is the Thursday, Friday and Saturday prior to the first statewide firearm deer season. Contact the site for more information. 40 sites available. 
• Eligible hunter with disabilities must have a class P2A disability card, valid FOID card, proof of passing a Hunters Safety Course, and a current Habitat Stamp. 
• All hunting partners will be required to possess a current Illinois Hunting license, valid FOID card, proof of passing a Hunters Safety Course, and current Habitat Stamp. 
• Site drawn lottery and blind assignment is done prior to hunt.  Applications are due by the end of September.
• A day-of-the-hunt registration is located at the park office between 4 – 5 am.  Pre-selected hunters and partners must be registered by 5 am.  Any unfilled sites will be filled by standby hunters. Hunters with disabilities will be given priority over able-bodied standby hunters. Limited number of permits available.
• Pre-selected hunters and partners will be required to purchase site-specific permits for $25.00 (valid for site’s season). Standby permits may be purchased for $5.00 (valid that day only). Only hunters with disabilities possessing a valid P2A disability card are eligible to purchase any additional site-specific turkey permits for $15.00. 
• Hunting is restricted to the assigned blind sites only. 
• A safe range of fire has been determined for each blind site. Hunters must restrict their shots to the approved range of fire. 
• Turkeys of either sex may be harvested and must be brought in whole (not field dressed) to the check station. 
• Non-hunters (with the exception of non-hunting partners) are not allowed to be in the blind or in the field while the hunt is in progress. 
• The turkey hunter and partner must wear blaze orange. 
• See statewide regulations for legal hunting devices.

Spring

Not available at this site.

Youth Spring

Not available at this site.

Waterfowl

Not available at this site.

Upland/Small Game

Controlled Pheasant Hunting

Not available at this site.

Crow

Not available at this site.

Dove

Not available at this site.

Pheasant/Quail/Partridge

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply.

Rabbits

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• Hunting dates are the Monday after first firearm season to the end of Statewide Deer archery season (no hunting during second firearm season.)
• Hunting allowed every day of the week from 8am to 5pm.
• Hunting allowed in unit east of I90 (see map.)
• Hunters will be required to sign in and out of the mailbox kiosk.
• Only 3 hunters allowed in unit at a time.
• See statewide regs for legal hunting devices.

Squirrels

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• Hunting dates are the Monday after first firearm season to the end of Statewide Deer archery season (no hunting during second firearm season.)
• Hunting allowed every day of the week from 8am to 5pm.
• Hunting allowed in unit east of I90 (see map.)
• Hunters will be required to sign in and out of the mailbox kiosk.
• Only 3 hunters allowed in unit at a time.
• See statewide regs for legal hunting devices.

Woodcock

Not available at this site.

Furbearers

Furbearer Hunting

Not available at this site.

Furbearer Trapping

Available at this site.  Statewide regulations apply, except:

• For a site-specific permit please contact the park office at 815-885-3311 or visit the office at 7318 Harlem Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111

Amenities

Campground

Boat ramp

Trails

More information