Announcements

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

Must hunt in areas or zones designated as being open to hunting and only on IDNR property. The site is divided into hunting areas or zones, determined by species hunted (dove, deer, turkey, or waterfowl) and other factors.

Must park in designated lots and must not enter upon any trail in an unauthorized vehicle.

Persons under 16 years of age may hunt when accompanied by a supervising adult.

Hunters should note regulations posted at the site before hunting.

Hunters are responsible for the daily removal of all trash, litter, spent shells, etc.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

All hunters are required to sign-in prior to hunting.
Limited number of hunters allowed
First-come/first-served basis to determine eligibility to hunt
Sign-in begins at 5 am
Hunt only in the zone for which you are signed-in and only park in the lot designated for that zone.
Required to sign-out and report harvest immediately upon leaving their designated hunting area.
Archery deer hunting will remain open on this site during the statewide firearm deer season and muzzleloader season. During this time, archery hunters must wear the same blaze orange clothes as required for firearm deer hunters.
One portable, non-piercing stand is allowed per hunter. The stand must be removed from the site at the end of each day’s hunt. Trees, shrubs, and brush may not be removed, trimmed, or broken to place stand or to clear shooting lanes
Required to submit all deer heads, along with corresponding harvest information, within 48 hours of harvest to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease.

Firearm

Not available at this site.

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

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

All hunters are required to sign-in prior to hunting.
Limited number of hunters allowed
First-come/first-served basis to determine eligibility to hunt
Sign-in begins at 5 am
Hunters may only hunt in the zone for which they are signed-in and only park in the lot designated for that zone.
Archery turkey hunting will remain open on this site during the statewide firearm deer season and muzzleloader season. During this time archery hunters must wear the same blaze orange clothes as required for firearm deer hunters.
Archery turkey hunters are required to sign-out and report harvest immediately upon leaving their designated hunting area.
One portable, non-piercing stand is allowed per hunter. The stand must be removed from the site at the end of each day’s hunt. Trees, shrubs, and brush may not be removed, trimmed, or broken to place stand or to clear shooting lanes.

Fall Shotgun

Not available at this site.

Spring

Not available at this site.

Youth Spring

Not available at this site.

Waterfowl

Ducks/Coots/Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

Waterfowl hunting permitted only during Nov and Dec and only from 6 pre-constructed blinds located on the site.
While attempting to take migratory waterfowl or coots, hunter must possess only non-toxic shells. It is unlawful to possess any shotgun shell loaded with a shot size larger than steel T; Bismuth – Tin, Federal Ultra Shok High Density, Environ-Metal HEVI-Steel BBB; Federal Tungsten/Iron, Kent Tungsten/Matrix (Impact), Federal Tungsten/Polymer “BB”; Environ-Metal HEVI Shot, Remington Wingmaster HD, Winchester Xtended Range Hi-Density, Environ-Metal Dead Coyote! B; Environ-Metal HEVI-13 “1”; or Federal Heavyweight “3” while hunting waterfowl in Illinois.
Blind sites will be allocated by an annual drawing.
Blind winners will be awarded their blind site choice for either Nov or Dec.
The person who was awarded a blind, or the pre-designated partners, must sign-in and claim the allocated blind 1 hour before legal shooting time each day.
No more than 3 people may be registered for assignment to any blind site.
Blinds remaining unclaimed 1 hour before legal shooting time may be claimed by stand-by hunters on a first-come, first-served basis.
No more than 4 people may occupy a blind
Hunt only from the blind for which you signed-in; May not move to another blind
All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys.
Required to sign-in prior to entering the field
Required to park in designated lots (the existing archery deer hunt parking lots) on the park perimeter and walk to blind site
Season is the North Waterfowl Zone in Nov and Dec
Waterfowl species other than Canada geese may be hunted if the statewide season for the species in question is open in the North Waterfowl Zone during Nov and Dec, exclusive of the Canada goose season.
Hours from legal opening time until 1 pm daily
Hunters must be out of the field and checked-out by 2 pm daily.
Required to sign-out and report game taken on the check station sheets.
Do not cut, remove, or disturb any vegetation anywhere on the site without prior approval.
Only non-toxic shot

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

Waterfowl hunting permitted only during Nov and Dec and only from 6 pre-constructed blinds located on the site.
While attempting to take migratory waterfowl or coots, hunter must possess only non-toxic shells. It is unlawful to possess any shotgun shell loaded with a shot size larger than steel T; Bismuth – Tin, Federal Ultra Shok High Density, Environ-Metal HEVI-Steel BBB; Federal Tungsten/Iron, Kent Tungsten/Matrix (Impact), Federal Tungsten/Polymer “BB”; Environ-Metal HEVI Shot, Remington Wingmaster HD, Winchester Xtended Range Hi-Density, Environ-Metal Dead Coyote! B; Environ-Metal HEVI-13 “1”; or Federal Heavyweight “3” while hunting waterfowl in Illinois.
Blind sites will be allocated by an annual drawing.
Blind winners will be awarded their blind site choice for either Nov or Dec.
The person who was awarded a blind, or the pre-designated partners, must sign-in and claim the allocated blind 1 hour before legal shooting time each day.
No more than 3 people may be registered for assignment to any blind site.
Blinds remaining unclaimed 1 hour before legal shooting time may be claimed by stand-by hunters on a first-come, first-served basis.
No more than 4 people may occupy a blind
Hunt only from the blind for which you signed-in; May not move to another blind
All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys.
Required to sign-in prior to entering the field
Required to park in designated lots (the existing archery deer hunt parking lots) on the park perimeter and walk to blind site
Season is the North Waterfowl Zone in Nov and Dec
Waterfowl species other than Canada geese may be hunted if the statewide season for the species in question is open in the North Waterfowl Zone during Nov and Dec, exclusive of the Canada goose season.
Hours from legal opening time until 1 pm daily
Hunters must be out of the field and checked-out by 2 pm daily.
Required to sign-out and report game taken on the check station sheets.
Do not cut, remove, or disturb any vegetation anywhere on the site without prior approval.
Only non-toxic shot

Snipe/Rail

Not available at this site.

Youth Waterfowl

Not available at this site.

Upland/Small Game

Controlled Pheasant Hunting

Not available at this site.

Crow

Not available at this site.

Dove

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

From Sept 1 – 5, limited number of hunters allowed. Must register beginning at 10 am at park office or designated station. The drawing is held at 11 am. Hours from 12 pm – 5 pm
From Sept 6 -30, sign-in and sign-out to hunt. Hours from sunrise to sunset. A windshield is required for these dates.
Hunters are required to check-in at the park office.
All hunters are required to sign-in prior to hunting, and to sign-out and report harvest immediately upon leaving their designated hunting area.
Non-toxic shot only; only #6 or smaller steel shot or #7½ or smaller bismuth shot may be used.

Pheasant/Quail/Partridge

Not available at this site.

Rabbits

Not available at this site.

Squirrels

Not available at this site.

Woodcock

Not available at this site.

Furbearers

Furbearer Hunting

Not available at this site.

Furbearer Trapping

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

Trappers should contact the site office at 815-824-2106 to inquire about the fall/winter trapping program.

Amenities

Campground

Boat ramp

Trail

More information