ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 2,497
  • Habitat: Site has a history of strip mining, now covered in a mix of grassland, wetlands, ponds, lakes, and ag fields.

Site Specific Regulations

  • Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • All hunters (except for archery deer, snipe, and rail hunters) must report to the check station to complete information cards. If the check station is not manned, hunters must register on a sheet in the box provided.
  • Archery deer hunters and snipe and rail hunters must have a windshield card.
  • The site closes to all use except permit and archery hunting starting two weeks before and continuing through the close of the Central IL Goose season.
  • An updated message is recorded daily during goose season.
  • Hunters under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
    • Season is in accordance with Statewide regulations.
    • Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from Sept 15 -Jan 31. Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number. Tree stands must be removed from site no later than the last day of archery hunting.
    • Open to archery deer hunting without regard to firearm deer season.
  • Firearm
    • Firearm deer hunting not permitted

Turkey

  • Turkey hunting not permitted

Waterfowl

  • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Goose, duck, and coot permits required and will be available starting August 16 through Springfield lottery drawing.
  • Goose hunters must attend registration:
    • Opening day through Nov 30, must register by 5 am.
    • From Dec 1 – 31, must register by 5:30 am.
    • From Jan 1 through season’s end, must register by 6 am.
  • Permits are void after the draw begins. No one may register after time.
  • Unfilled blinds may be filled until shooting time. There will be no refills.
  • Hunters will choose their blinds as their name is drawn.
  • Hunters must be at least 16 years old to draw for a blind.
  • All hunters must present a hunting license, or equivalent, at draw-time.
  • $15 Daily Usage Stamp must be purchased by anyone who is 16 or older.
  • One blind (G2) will be available daily by priority claim to disabled persons with an Illinois I.D. card showing a P2, P2a, H2, or H2a disability.
  • Goose hunting will be from designated blind sites.
  • All pits are accessed by foot. Pits are brushed with camo cloth and most pits are located in fields on the perimeter of the site. Several have water nearby, with 3 shooting over water. No motorized vehicles beyond the parking lots. Blind trails are marked with arrows and reflectors. Hunters should bring at least a flashlight and suitable footgear for finding blinds in the dark in muddy fields. Hunters can and should bring their own decoys. At blinds B-2, C-1, and D-1, chest waders and/or a retrieving dog are recommended.
  • Hunters must occupy sites within 1 hour after registering at the check station.
  • Only 2 hunters are allowed per blind.
  • Hunting parties must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys (standard size).
  • Hunters may not possess more than 5 shotshells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit.
  • During goose seasons held after the Canada goose season all restrictions regarding the use of the number of shotgun shells that hunters can possess are no longer in force.
  • Hunting will cease at 1 pm.
  • Upon vacating the blind sites, hunters must report to the station within 1 hour.
  • Central Zone Goose Season hunting is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and on Dec 24, 25, and 26.
  • No early Canada goose season or any season that occurs before the Central Zone Canada goose season is allowed at this site.
  • Conservation Order Light Geese
    • Light geese (snow geese, etc.) may be hunted after central zone Canada goose season.
    • Statewide season and hours.
    • Hunters must hunt from blinds only. Hunters must sign-in and sign-out.
  • Teal
    • Teal hunting follows statewide regulations for season and hours.
    • Teal hunting is not restricted to designated blind sites.
    • Hunters must sign in and sign out. 

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Squirrel hunting not permitted
  • Rabbits
    • Hunting opens the day after the close of the Central Illinois Zone goose season
    • Hunters must sign-in and sign-out.
    • Non-toxic shot required

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • Permit Required Hunting
      • September 1-5: A drawing will be held daily at 11 am at the site office if there are more hunters than can be accommodated. Stand-by drawings may be held. Dove hunters must hunt from designated staked areas from 12 pm – 5 pm.
    • Non-Permit Hunting
      • Sept 6 – 30: dove hunters may hunt from sunrise to sunset. Dove hunters must sign-in and sign-out.
    • Non-toxic shot only all season.
  • Woodcock, Snipe and Rail
    • Woodcock, Snipe and Rail hunting follow statewide regulations for hours and opening date but closes at the site on Sept 30.
    •  Windshield card required, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Furbearer trapping permits are allotted annually by site drawing on the opening day of goose season at 10 am.
    • Statewide regulations apply.
    • Trapping is allowed starting the day after the end of the Central Zone Duck Season to statewide ending.
  • Hunting
    • Furbearer hunting not permitted

Amenities