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Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

Site Contact Info

Office Phone: (309) 968-7135

Office Address:  7982 S. Park Road Manito, IL 61546

Site Coordinates:

County:

Site Superintendent

District Wildlife Biologist

Conservation Police

Site Closures List

Site Maps

Digital Map

Printable Map

Site Characteristics

Huntable acres: 1,500

Habitat: This area contains a long sand bluff overlooking Spring Lake which is a 1,285 acre lake with numerous springs, stumps, and much aquatic vegetation. Timbered areas have mature stands of hardwoods and pine with fallow areas interspersed. Spring Lake Bottom Unit consists of four moist soil wetland impoundments which are managed to provide habitat for migratory birds. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

Site Specific Regulations

All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.

All Waterfowl Refuge Areas are closed to public access.

Horseback riding and ATVs not permitted.

Hunters under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult of legal age. No wake with an outboard motor over 25-horsepower applies on this area.

Deer

Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
  • Only one non-piercing tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended from September 15 through January 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
  • Open to archery deer hunting without regard to firearm deer season

Firearm

Not available at this site.

Late Winter Antlerless

Not available at this site.

Muzzleloader

Not available at this site.

Special CWD

Not available at this site.

Youth Firearm

Not available at this site.

Turkey

Fall Archery

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
  • Open to archery Turkey hunting without regard to firearm deer season.

Fall Shotgun

Not available at this site.

Spring

Not available at this site.

Youth Spring

Not available at this site.

Waterfowl

Ducks/Coots/Mergansers

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Central Zone dates apply.
  • Site closes at 1pm daily.

Goose

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Central Zone dates apply.
  • Site closes at 1pm daily.

Snipe/Rail

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Central Zone dates apply.
  • Site closes at 1pm daily.

Youth Waterfowl

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Central Zone dates apply.
  • Site closes at 1pm daily.

Upland/Small Game

Controlled Pheasant Hunting

Not available at this site.

Crow

Not available at this site.

Dove

Not available at this site.

Pheasant/Quail/Partridge

Not available at this site.

Rabbits

Not available at this site.

Squirrels

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Opens the day after Labor Day and closes Sept 30, but the season reopens the day of the closing of the archery deer season and remains open until the end of the statewide season.
  • All squirrel hunting must be with shotguns or .25 caliber or smaller air rifles (no other rifle type).
  • Site requires use of windshield card, displayed on vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.

Woodcock

Not available at this site.

Furbearers

Furbearer Hunting

Not available at this site.

Furbearer Trapping

Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:

  • Trappers must obtain a site permit allocated at a drawing in Oct at Spring Lake SFWA office. The drawing will be held on the opening Saturday of the Central Zone duck season at 11 am at the check station located on the causeway.
    • A limited number of trappers are allowed to trap during season.
    • Trappers must stay within assigned areas.
  • 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 .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms permitted

Amenities

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