Announcements
More InfoShelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area
Site Contact Info
Office Phone: 217-665-3112
Office Address: 562 State Highway 121, Bethany, IL 61914
Site Coordinates: 39.551141 -88.575840
County: Moultrie
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 3,597
Habitat: This site lies along the Kaskaskia River and is characterized by woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, several small ponds, food plots and waterfowl management sub-impoundments.
Site/Species Specific Regulations
All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
Site requires use of windshield card that must be displayed on vehicle dashboard. Report of hunting effort and harvest must be submitted by 15 February.
One portable tree stand per hunter may be placed from September 15-January 31. Tree stand must be clearly marked with owner’s name, address, and telephone number and removed by the end of the season.
Dog training allowed by permit from September 1-March 31. Contact site for permit application.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only antlered deer harvest from October 1-15. All deer from October 16 to end of season.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a “Lake Shelbyville Project in Moultrie County” permit obtained through the statewide lottery. Note: “Moultrie County” deer permits are not valid to hunt this site.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a site-specific muzzleloader permit obtained through the statewide lottery.
- Hunting only allowed during second season.
- Only antlerless deer can be harvested.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Fall Shotgun
Not available at this site.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a site-specific permit obtained through the statewide lottery.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a youth Moultrie County turkey permit obtained at a physical vendor.
Waterfowl
Note: building of permanent blinds, including pits, of any kind or other structural works on the Federal Project Lands is prohibited. All blinds must be of a portable nature or constructed with natural vegetation located at the blind site and must be removed or dismantled at the end of each hunt.
Motors over 10 HP are not allowed in the Fishhook, Jonathan Creek, McGee and North Dunn Waterfowl Management areas.
It is illegal to trespass upon waterfowl rest areas 2 weeks prior to and throughout the waterfowl season. It is illegal to trespass upon any designated waterfowl area 7 days prior to the beginning of the season.
Ducks/Coots/Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting until 1 pm only.
- Stake 5 within the Dunn waterfowl unit may be hunted from either stake A or B, however once a party occupies one of the stakes, the other may not be occupied. Entire party must remain at either site A or site B, they may not split up.
- Blind Drawings
- Registration for daily drawings occur between 4-5 am the first 2 days of the season, with actual drawing at 5 am. Parties will register as they intend to hunt, with not more than 4 names per registration card. Fishhook and Jonathan Creek areas are drawn at Fishhook Check Station. North Dunn and the McGee Waterfowl areas are drawn at the site office.
- Each hunting party drawn will be allowed to choose 1 of the staked sites in the Fishhook, Jonathan Creek, McGee and North Dunn Waterfowl areas. Parties will select sites in the order they are drawn.
- Following regulations apply: 1) party must hunt within 10 yards of assigned stake, 2) party must be in place by one-half hour before shooting time, 3) party is required to check-out and report harvest by 2 pm following each hunt.
Goose
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting until 1 pm only.
- Stake 5 within the Dunn waterfowl unit may be hunted from either stake A or B, however once a party occupies one of the stakes, the other may not be occupied. Entire party must remain at either site A or site B, they may not split up.
- Blind Drawings
- Registration for daily drawings occur between 4-5 am the first 2 days of the season, with actual drawing at 5 am. Parties will register as they intend to hunt, with not more than 4 names per registration card. Fishhook and Jonathan Creek areas are drawn at Fishhook Check Station. North Dunn and the McGee Waterfowl areas are drawn at the site office.
- Each hunting party drawn will be allowed to choose 1 of the staked sites in the Fishhook, Jonathan Creek, McGee and North Dunn Waterfowl areas. Parties will select sites in the order they are drawn.
- Following regulations apply: 1) party must hunt within 10 yards of assigned stake, 2) party must be in place by one-half hour before shooting time, 3) party is required to check-out and report harvest by 2 pm following each hunt.
- Early Goose & Teal:
- Statewide regulations.
- No drawing but hunting parties must be separated at least 200 yards
Snipe/Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting only until 4pm.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- No drawing but hunting parties must be separated at least 200 yards.
Upland/Small Game
Must use non-toxic shot in Fishhook, North Dunn, Jonathan Creek and McGee waterfowl areas.
Controlled Pheasant Hunting
Not available at this site.
Crow
Statewide regulations.
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Must use non-toxic shot, size 6 or smaller.
- When using dove management fields:
- Daily drawings are held September 1-5, pending demand and staffing availability. Drawings shall take place at 10 am near the entrance of the designated field(s). If demand does not warrant a drawing past the first 2 days of season, it shall be posted at the field, as well as, at the information board located at site office, in which case it will revert back to first-come-first served.
- Shooting hours are 12-5 pm for the first 5 days regardless. Hunters must be within 10 feet of a designated stake with no more than 2 hunters per stake.
- Stakes are allocated on a first come-first served basis from September 6 to end of season. After September 5 management fields will be open to statewide hours with no drawing.
- Non-toxic shot required in waterfowl management units and other fields as designated.
- When not using dove management fields:
- Hunters must hunt at least 100 yards from the edge of dove management units.
- No drawing required.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting only until 4pm.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting only until 4pm.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- May use a .22 rimfire rifle and muzzleloading blackpowder rifle.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting only until 4pm.
Furbearers
Furbearer Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise.
- Furbearer hunting closed during Firearm Deer Season .
- Hunters with a valid, unfilled firearm deer permit for the hunt area may take coyotes during legal hours of the firearm deer season. Otherwise, the use of shotgun slugs to take furbearing mammals is prohibited on state sites.
- Coyote and striped skunk season coincides with the statewide fox season.
- Windshield Card required.
Furbearer Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires site-specific permit obtained by drawing held at the site office the first Saturday in October.
Amenities
- Boat access
- Fishing
- Hiking trails
- More information