Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: 618-833-5175
Office address: 2755 Refuge Rd., Jonesboro, IL 62952
Site coordinates: 37.42173 -89.37438
County: Union
Site Map
Site Characteristics
Habitat: The site is located in the Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands Division of Illinois. The topography is relatively flat with numerous shallow sloughs and other water areas scattered throughout the area. More prominent water areas include Grassy Lake with 350 acres and Lyerla Lake with 275 acres.
Active habitat management will occur throughout the year on the site.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated species regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
All hunters must sign in, sign out, and report harvest each day at the registration boxes before leaving the site.
Hunters may leave tree stands unattended from September 15 to January 31. Stands must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.
All waters that are open to fishing close on October 16 to the last day of February, both dates are inclusive
Night hunting is prohibited.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is allowed in the Controlled Area October 1-31.
- Hunting is allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
Statewide permit required.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Hunting is only allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
- Hunting is permitted on the refuge portion of the site during the first Friday and Saturday in November.
- 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. Follows the same regulations as Deer Firearm. See the section above for more information.
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:
- Hunting is only allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
- Controlled Hunting Area open Oct 1- Oct 31.
Statewide permit required.
Fall Shotgun
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that hunting is only allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
Spring
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Turkey Fall Shotgun. See the section above for more information.
Youth Spring
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Turkey Fall Shotgun. See the section above for more information.
Waterfowl
Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- The Controlled Hunting Area is located on the south end of the site. Controlled Hunting Area blinds/stakes are allocated through the online permit reservation system and the daily draw. A $10 daily permit must be purchased. Blinds will be assigned by a daily drawing and hunters will be transported to the blinds/stakes.
- Hunters with permit reservations are required to check in at the check station between 4:30 and 5:00 am. Permits are void after 5:00 am.
- The Firing Line Unit is open on to a daily drawing held at the site maintenance building 1 hour prior to shooting time. No less than 2 and no more than 4 hunters per party. Hunters must hunt within 50 yards of their assigned stake
- Must use at least 6 decoys
- During the regular duck season hunters may not possess more than 25 shotshells
- Hunting hours end at 12 pm. and hunters must be out of the area by 1 pm.
- The Firing Line Unit is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and December 24-28.
- The site is closed to any goose hunting in September
- Teal hunting is allowed in the Firing Line Unit only
- The Controlled Hunting Area and Firing Line Unit are open to any goose season that occurs after the regular Canada goose season. Goose hunters may not possess more than 5 shotshells per Canada goose allowed in the daily limit
- Youth hunters require a permit for the hunt issued for the hunt on December 28th. Hunting hours are from legal opening-noon. Each youth shall not possess more than 25 shotshells.
Goose
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers. See the section above for more information.
Snipe & Rail
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that hunting is only allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
Youth Waterfowl
Available at this site. Follows the same regulations as Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers. See the section above for more information.
Upland & Small Game
Dove
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A non-toxic shot is required.
- The Firing Line Unit is open for the statewide season.
- Controlled Hunting Area shooting hours are from noon to 5 p.m., September 1-5, and sunrise to sunset from September 6 to October 28.
Rabbits
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except that hunting is allowed in the Firing Line Unit during the statewide season.
Squirrels
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Allowed in the Controlled Hunting Area August 1-October 31
- The Firing Line Unit is open for the statewide season
- Hunting is to be done using a shotgun with non-toxic shot or a .22 caliber or smaller rimfire only.
Upland Birds
Not available at this site.
Woodcock
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Furbearer Hunting
Not available at this site.
Furbearer Trapping
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A site-specific permit is required. Contact the site for more information.
- 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