ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

Wildlife Illinois

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Apply Now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!

Spoon River State Forest

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1,680
  • Habitat: Part of the Snakeden Hollow complex, the site is characterized by grasslands, brushy draws, and hardwood forest. Some acreage is in agricultural leases managed for wildlife habitat.

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.
  • 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.
  • Hunters under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
  • Only turkey hunters who hold permits are allowed on the site before 1 pm during spring turkey season.
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer hunter. Tree stands and ground blinds must be portable. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31, but must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.
  • Archery
    • Must wear blaze orange cap and vest during muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer seasons.
  • Firearm
    • For firearm, muzzleloader, shotgun youth, and late-season shotgun seasons, hunters must possess a site-specific permit issued by IDNR-Springfield lottery. This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.
    • Must observe parking lot restrictions; Maximum of 5 vehicles per lot
  • Special firearm deer hunting opportunity is available for disabled persons who are in possession of a P2A card.
    • Special deer hunt is held the 1st Saturday and Sunday in Oct following the completion of the youth firearm deer season. 
    • Each hunter can be accompanied by one (non-hunting) partner. 
    • Hunters wishing to participate must contact the Jubilee College State Park office at 309-446-3758 beginning the 1st Tuesday of Sept through the last Friday of Sept to apply.  The application can be viewed here.
    • All statewide regulations apply to this special hunt for disabled individuals.

Turkey

  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations
  • Fall Shotgun
    • Knox County turkey permit required
  • Spring
    • Requires a site-specific permit issued by IDNR Springfield lottery. This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.
    • Hunters must observe parking lot restrictions: A maximum of 2 vehicles per lot during spring hunt.
  • Spring Youth
    • Knox County turkey permit is required. Inquire at site for details.
    • Hunters must observe parking lot restrictions: A maximum of 2 vehicles per lot during spring youth hunt.

Waterfowl

  • Waterfowl hunting not permitted

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • Squirrels
    • Hunting with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifles, or muzzleloading black powder rifles is allowed.
    • Must wear blaze orange cap and vest during muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer seasons
  • Rabbits
    • Statewide regulations
    • During muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer season, hunters must wear solid blaze orange cap and upper garment of at least 400 square inches

Upland Birds

  • Dove
    • Non-toxic shot only.
    • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Pheasant, Partridge, and Quail
    • Pheasant, partridge, and quail hunters are required to wear a solid blaze orange orange cap and upper garment of at least 400 square inches.
  • Crow
    • Statewide regulations apply.
  • Woodcock, Snipe, and Rail
    • Statewide regulations apply.

Furbearers

  • Trapping
    • Site-specific permit required. Drawings for permit shall be announce publicly and held at the site. Drawing participants must have either a current or previous year’s trapping license. Permit applicants must submit name and address to the site prior to drawing.
    • Permits must be in possession while trapping in the area.
    • Only Egg Traps®, D-P (Dog-Proof) Traps®, Lil Grizz Get’rz®, box traps, cage traps, and traps of similar design may be used for land sets.
    • Only body-gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4½ inches or less and square body-gripping traps with a 10 inch jaw spread may be used for water sets
    • Snares may be used for water sets
  • Hunting
    • Statewide regulations
    • 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

Amenities

  • Foot trails
  • Hunting
  • Trapping