Announcements
Trail of Tears State Forest
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-833-4910
Office address: 3240 State Forest Rd., Jonesboro, IL 62952. Main office is at Giant City State Park
Site coordinates: 37.48512 -89.35833
County: Union
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 4,784
Habitat: Area lies within the Ozark Hills of southern Illinois, composed of long, narrow ridges with steep slopes and narrow valleys. Approximately 95% of the area has mature hardwood forest.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
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.
All hunters must sign-in and sign-out and report harvest at the registration boxes before leaving the site.
Hunting is prohibited in the 222 acre Ozark Hills Nature Preserve, the compartment adjoining the picnic area, slopes facing into nursery beds, and within 200 yards of any site buildings.
All fire trails are closed to all vehicles, except authorized state vehicles. Annual Forest Road closure from Dec 24 – May 5.
Deer
Stands may be left unattended Sept 15 – Jan 31
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Late Winter Antlerless
Not available at this site.
Muzzleloader
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Special CWD
Not available at this site.
Youth Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Turkey
Fall Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
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
Not available at this site.
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Pheasant/Quail/Partridge
Not available at this site.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Woodcock
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply.
Furbearers
Furbearer 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.
Furbearer Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Site-specific permit required
- 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
Amenities
Trails
Camping