Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-547-3381
Office address: 6924 Omega Rd., Kinmundy, IL 62859
Site coordinates: 38.72601 -88.77958
County: Marion
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 2,580
Habitat: site is composed of 1,789 acres of woodland, 115 acres of grasslands, 876 acres of lakes and wetlands, and 243 acres of cropland. The area has steeply rolling to flat topography. Much of the hunting is around the large oak and hickory timber blocks, brushy draws, and expanses of fallow fields. Many small food plots are planted on the area for food and winter cover for wildlife. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Site/Species 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.
Hunters must remove tree stands from the area at end of the day’s hunt.
Waterfowl hunters must sign-in at the east boat ramp kiosk prior to hunting and sign-out reporting harvest at the end of each day. Instructions for waterfowl hunters are posted at the east boat access sign-in station.
No hunting may be done in restricted areas, developed recreation areas, or within 100 yards of construction sites or residences.
No cutting of live vegetation on site
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
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.
Fall Shotgun
Not available at this site.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit issued through the statewide drawing required.
Youth
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit issued through the statewide drawing required.
Waterfowl
Ducks/Coots/Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting must be done from within 100 yards of a staked site
- Boat blinds only
- Sub-impoundment walk-in is permitted. Temporary land blinds are permitted
- Must use at least 6 decoys
- Hours are from legal opening- 1 pm. All hunters must be checked out at sign-in box by 2 pm.
Goose
Not available at this site.
Snipe/Rail
Not available at this site.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting in Sub-Impoundment only
- Sub-Impoundment walk-in hunting is permitted
- Temporary land blinds are permitted
- Sign-in at East Boat Ramp.
Upland/Small Game
Controlled Pheasant Hunting
Not available at this site.
Crow
Not available at this site.
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- September 1 – 5, hunting hours are sunrise to 11:30 a.m.
- During the first five days of the season, if more hunters show up than can be accommodated, a drawing will be held one hour before sunrise at the nearby Horse Camping parking lot.
- September 6 – 30, hunting hours follow statewide regulations.
- Dove season closes at this site on September 30.
- Hunter parking is available in the Horse Camping parking lot to the east of the dove hunting area.
- Non-toxic shot only.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Not available at this site.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Squirrel hunting can only be done with shotgun or bow and arrow
Woodcock
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Hunting
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- 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.
Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit required. Permit is issued via a public drawing held at the site office on the third Saturday of October at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Must have a current trapping license
- Statewide regulations
- Trappers may have partners provided their name is on the registration card
- Trappers must stay in assigned areas
- A harvest report must be submitted to the site office within 10 days following the close of the site trapping program.
Amenities
Hunting
Trapping