Announcements
Applications for 2021 Firearm and Muzzleloader Deer Permit Lotteries are open!
Rock Cut State Park
Site Contact Info
- Office phone: 815-885-3311
- 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 Characteristics
- Huntable acres: 2,570
- Habitat: Along the Rock River, the park’s rolling plains features hardwood timber surrounding two lakes.
- Digital Map
- Printable Map
Site Specific Regulations
- All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter,
- Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
- Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
- Hunting at this site allows hunters with disabilities an opportunity to participate in an IDNR program for managing the deer and turkey populations.
- A day-of-the-hunt registration is located at the park office between 4 – 5 am, during which a review of site regulations and safety information is conducted prior to a daily drawing for blind sites. Pre-selected hunters and partners must be registered by 5 am. Drawing to choose blind sites will be held at 5 am each day of the hunt. 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.
- Species-specific rules:
Deer
- 2020 Deer Hunting Procedures due to Covid-19:
- There will be no drawing for hunters to pick sites.
- Hunters will receive a letter with their assigned hunting site.
- There will be no standby hunters.
- Hunters need to have a partner (not necessarily a hunter), to help them with whatever they need.
- Due to this site being located in a CWD positive county, all successful deer hunters must provide a CWD sample within 48 hours of harvest.
- See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels.
- Firearm deer hunting for disabled individuals and their hunting partners allowed on certain dates in November. Contact site for dates.
- 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.
- 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.
- Shotgun with slugs only; not larger than 10 or smaller than 20 gauge; not capable of holding more than 3 consecutive slugs
- 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.
Turkey
- Fall shotgun turkey hunting for disabled individuals and hunting partners with site-specific permits allowed on certain days in November. Contact site for dates.
- 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.
- 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.
Waterfowl
- Waterfowl hunting not permitted
Squirrels/Rabbits
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Squirrels
- Squirrel hunting not permitted
-
Rabbits
- Rabbit hunting not permitted
Upland Birds
- Upland bird hunting not permitted
Furbearers
-
Trapping
- 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
-
Hunting
- Furbearer hunting not permitted
Amenities
- Campground
- Boat ramp
- Trails
- More information