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Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1,314
  • Habitat: The Fox River flows through Silver Springs SFWA. The site contains small lakes and wetlands among open habitats such as prairie restorations, cool season grasslands and agricultural fields as well as several small tracts of timber.
  • 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.
  • Non-hunters are not allowed in areas where hunting is in progress.
  • A hunter’s shotgun cannot be capable of firing more than three consecutive shots.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • From Oct 1 to Jan 19, deer may be hunted with bow and arrow.
    • A limited number of archery deer hunters may hunt per day.
      • Determination of those who hunt is by first come first served.
    • Hunters must sign in. Sign in is allowed 2 hours prior to legal shooting time.
    • Hunters must sign out and report harvest.
      • Sign-out sheet is on the back porch of the office.
    • Hunters may hunt in Areas B & C only.
    • Archers must wear blaze orange cap & upper garment while in area C on days that upland bird hunting is taking place.
    • Only portable non-piercing tree stands are allowed.
      • Stands must be removed daily.
  • Archery deer hunters may take coyote during archery deer season.

Turkey

  • Turkey hunting is not permitted.

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting is not permitted.

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel may be hunted from Sept. 5 through Sept. 30.
    • A limited number of hunters is allowed per day.
      • Determination of those who hunt is by first-come first-serve basis.
    • Squirrel hunters must use shotgun only loaded with lead shot of #6 or smaller or with steel shot # 4 or smaller.
    • Hunters must hunt in Areas B & C only.
    • Hunters must sign in and sign out and report harvest on back porch of office.
  • Rabbits – Non-permit
    • Rabbit hunting does not require a site permit, but hunters must register between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM.
    • Hunting hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    • Rabbit hunters must use shot of size  #3 or smaller steel or other non-toxic approved shot.
    • Rabbit hunters must wear blaze orange cap, upper garment & an IDNR patch.
    • Archers must use flu-flu arrows only.
    • Statewide bag limits apply for rabbit.
    • Hunters are required to hunt in the assigned area for first hour. 
    • Hunting is closed Monday and Tuesday each week.
    • From Jan. 15 to Jan.19, quail hunting is allowed without permit.
    • A limited number of hunters are allowed per day.

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • From Sept. 1 to Sept. 5, a site permit is required for dove hunting.
      • Dove hunting with a site permit is from noon to 5:00 PM.
    • Registration for dove hunting permit is from 9:00 AM to 11:00 A.M.
      • If hunter fails to report, his or her permit is void after 11:00 AM.
      • A drawing is held at 11:00 AM for vacancies.
    • Hunters with permits must sign in and wear a department-issued back patch.
    • Hunters must sign out and report harvest in person.
    • From Sept. 6 to Sept. 30, dove hunting is allowed without a site permit.
      • Dove hunting without the site permit is from noon to sunset.
      • Determination of those who hunt is by first-come first-serve basis.
      • Hunters must sign in and sign out and report harvest.
    • For both permit and non-permit dove hunting, hunters must hunt within 10 feet of a marked location in designated fields. Loaded shotguns may not be transported to or from the hunting area. Also hunters must not carry shotguns into the field when retrieving doves. 
    • Non-toxic shot is required. Shot may be #6 or smaller steel or other non-toxic approved shot.
    • Dove hunting is closed during National Hunting and Fishing Days.
  • Pheasant
    • From Oct. 18 to Jan. 12, a site permit is required for pheasant hunting.
      • On Oct. 18, the taking of hens only is required.
      • Beginning Oct. 19, both hen and rooster pheasants may be taken.
    • Permits are available through T. Miller at http://www.tmillerinc.com​
    • Pheasant hunting with a site permit is allowed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Pheasant hunters with site permits must register between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM or from 11:30 AM to NOON (for late hunts).
    • Pheasant hunting is closed on Monday and Tuesday of each week and on Christmas Day & New Years Day, but is open on Thanksgiving until 1 pm.
    • Hunting is allowed only in Areas A, D, & E.
    • From Jan. 15 to Jan. 19, pheasant hunting is allowed without a site permit
      • Non-permit pheasant hunting is from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
      • Hunters must register between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM.
      • A limited number of hunters are allowed per day.
    • Non-toxic shot is required.Shot size: #3 or smaller steel or other non-toxic approved shot.
    • Blaze orange cap, upper garment & IDNR patch are required.
    • Archers must use flu-flu arrows only.
    • Pheasant hunters are required to hunt in assigned area for first hour.
    • Bag limit is two pheasants of either sex.
    • A pheasant must be tagged with an IDNR tag before it is removed from area.
  • Quail
    • From Jan. 15 to Jan.19, quail hunting is allowed without permit.
    • Quail hunting is from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
    • Quail hunters are required to register between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM.
    • Statewide bag limits apply for quail.
    • Hunters are required to hunt in assigned area for first hour.
    • Non-toxic shot is required.
    • Blaze orange cap and upper garment are required.
    • A limited number of hunters are allowed per day. 
    • Hunting is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping is not permitted.
  • Hunting
    • Archery or Shotgun only
    • Coyote may be taken with a shotgun from the day after the archery deer season closes until February 28
    • Archery deer hunters may take coyotes during the archery deer season
    • Pursuit of coyotes with dogs is prohibited

Amenities