Spoon River State Forest
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 309-879-2607
Office address: c/o Snakeden Hollow SFWA, 1936 State Rt 167, Victoria, IL 61485
Site coordinates: 40.95357 -90.07884
County: Knox
Site Superintendent (Snakeden Hollow Parent Site)
Site Map
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.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Site Specific Application
Disabled Firearm Deer Hunting Application
Site/Species Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping 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.
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.
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.
Must observe parking lot restrictions; maximum of 5 vehicles per lot.
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Site closes to archery deer hunting during firearm deer seasons.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site requires a site-specific permit issued through IDNR lottery drawing. This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.
Late Winter Antlerless
Late Winter antlerless-only season is available at this site only if county is open for late winter season. Open counties announced by 1 Oct. each year. Statewide regulations apply.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site requires a site-specific permit issued through IDNR lottery drawing. This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.
- Site closed to muzzleloader hunting during second firearm deer season.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Disabled Hunt
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
- A disabled deer hunt is held the 1st Saturday and Sunday in October 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 September through the last Friday of September to apply. The application can be viewed here.
- Hunters must check in and check out and report harvest.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, Knox County Turkey permit required.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site requires a site-specific permit issued by IDNR 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
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Knox County Youth 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
Ducks/Coots/Mergansers
Not available at this site.
Goose
Not available at this site.
Snipe/Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Controlled Pheasant Hunting
Not available at this site.
Crow
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except: non-toxic shot only.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Non-toxic shot only.
- During muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer season, hunters must wear solid blaze orange cap and upper garment of at least 400 square inches.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Non-toxic shot only.
- During muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer season, hunters must wear solid blaze orange cap and upper garment of at least 400 square inches.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms, .25 caliber or smaller air rifles, or muzzleloading black powder rifles is allowed.
- During muzzleloader, late-winter, and youth deer season, hunters must wear solid blaze orange cap and upper garment of at least 400 square inches.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Furbearers
Furbearer Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Furbearer hunting closed during Firearm Deer Season except coyotes may be taken by persons in possession of a valid unfilled firearm deer permit.
Furbearer Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit required.
- Furbearer trapping permits are allotted annually by site drawing at the Snakeden Hollow SFWA office on the opening day of goose season at 10 am. Persons participating in the drawing must have either a current or previous year 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.
Amenities
Hiking
Hunting
Trapping