Tapley Woods State Natural Area
Site Contact Information
Office Phone: 815-745-3302
Office Address: c/o Apple River Canyon SP, 8763 E. Canyon Rd, Apple River, IL 61001
Site Coordinates: 42.35384 -90.29335
County: Jo Daviess
Site Superintendent (Apple River Canyon State Park Parent Site)
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 259
Habitat: Very steep, unglaciated ridges are timbered, with mature oak and hickory as the dominant tree species. Undergrowth is dense which makes walking difficult.
Site Specific Regulations
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Statewide and associated species 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.
Area is closed to non-hunters during deer firearm seasons (youth, firearm, CWD, and muzzleloader), and the area is closed until 1 pm during turkey firearm seasons (spring and youth).
Ground fires and camping are not permitted.
One non-piercing, portable tree stand is allowed per hunter. Stand must be removed at the end of each day’s hunt.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except archery deer hunting is closed during firearm deer seasons (youth, firearm, CWD, and muzzleloader hunting seasons).
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that it requires a site-specific special hunt area permit issued through the statewide lottery.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Requires a site-specific special hunt area permit issued through the statewide lottery.
- Muzzleloader deer hunting is only permitted during the 2nd portion of the muzzleloader deer hunting season. Note: A muzzleloader-only deer hunting permit is invalid during the 2nd portion of the firearm deer season.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Youth deer hunters must possess a youth deer hunting permit.
- Youth hunters with a lottery permit must also contact the site office to be granted youth season permissions.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that archery hunting is closed during all firearm deer seasons.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that a site-specific permit issued through the statewide lottery is required.
Spring
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Fall Shotgun. See the section above for more information.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Youth hunters must possess a Jo Daviess Co. permit, issued via statewide lottery, and must contact the site office to be granted youth season permissions.
- Area closed to non-hunters during deer firearm seasons (Youth, Firearm, CWD, and Muzzleloader) and until 1 pm during turkey firearm seasons.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Not available at this site.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Rabbit hunting closed during all firearm deer seasons (youth, firearm, CWD, and muzzleloader)
- Hunting can only be done with shotgun or bow and arrow.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Rabbits. See the section above for more information.
Upland Birds
Not available at this site.
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 is 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.
Trapping
Not available at this site.
Amenities
None