ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Shabbona Lake State Park

Site Contact Info

Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 776
  • Habitat: The area is covered in mature hardwood forests mixed with agriculture fields, pine plantations, sloughs, fens and prairie.
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map – Dove and Deer
  • Printable Map – Waterfowl

Site Specific Regulations

  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • 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.
  • Handicapped accessible hunting is available. Contact the park office for details.
  • 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.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • 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.

Turkey

  • Shotgun turkey hunting not permitted
  • Fall Archery
    • 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.

Waterfowl

  • 2020 Waterfowl Hunting Procedures:
    • Social distancing and masks are required when checking in and out of the check station.
    • There will be 6 waterfowl/blinds available.
  • 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.
  • Handicapped accessible hunting is available. Handicapped hunters have first priority on the handicapped accessible blind
  • Do not cut, remove, or disturb any vegetation anywhere on the site without prior approval.
  • Only non-toxic shot

Squirrels/Rabbits

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

Upland Birds

  • Pheasant and quail hunting not permitted
  • Dove
    • 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. Handicapped accessible hunting is available, contact the park office for details. From Sept 6 -30, sign-in and sign-out to hunt.
    • Hours from 12 pm – 5 pm
    • Hunters are required to check-in at the park office. A back patch must be worn when required.
    • 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.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Trappers should contact the site office at 815-824-2106 to inquire about the fall/winter trapping program.
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities