Announcements
Vesely/Wilmington Shrub Prairie State Natural Area
Site Contact Info
Office phone: (815) 423-5326
Office address: 24621 N River Rd, Wilmington, IL 60481
- Main Office is located at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Site coordinates: 441.28004, -88.1529
County: Will
Site Maps
Site Characteristics
Huntable acres: 305
Habitat: The area is dominated by open habitats, such as native prairie, cool season grasslands and agricultural fields and contains woodlands and wetlands.
Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site, including prescribed burning.
Site Specific Regulations
Statewide and associated Species regulations in accordance with the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping 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.
CWD has been present in Will County. Firearm hunters must physically report their harvest to the nearest check station for sampling. Archery hunters are not required to submit samples for testing, but it is strongly suggested. For more information, contact the District Wildlife Biologist, or visit our CWD webpage.
A hunter’s shotgun cannot be capable of firing more than three consecutive shots.
Before hunting, the hunter should note posted regulations to determine further restrictions.
Only 4 hunters maximum at any given time are allowed to hunt on the site per day.
Deer
Archery
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Only 4 hunters maximum at any given time are allowed to hunt on the site per day.
- While CWD testing is not required for deer harvested during Archery deer season, it is strongly suggested to submit a sample to the nearest self-serve Head Drop-Off Station.
- Hunter trips and harvest must be reported to the windshield card system, and harvest must be checked according to statewide regulations.
- Only non-piercing, portable tree stands are allowed. Stands must be removed daily.
Firearm
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- Firearm deer hunting is allowed during first and second firearm seasons only.
- All deer harvested with a firearm in CWD monitored counties are required to be taken to the nearest check station (Find nearest check station here)
- Firearm deer hunters must possess a site-specific firearm deer permit for Vesely Land & Water Reserve/Wilmington Shrub Prairie N.P. for the specific season they are hunting on the site.
- Permits are allocated through state lottery.
- Harvest must also be checked according to statewide regulations.
- Only portable, non-piercing tree stands are allowed. Stands must be removed daily.
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
Not available at this site.
Fall Shotgun
Not available at this site.
Spring
Available at this site. Statewide regulations apply, except:
- A permit allocated through the state lottery is required.
- All hunters must possess a site-specific turkey permit for the Vesely Land & Water Reserve/Wilmington Shrub Prairie N.P. for the specific season they are hunting on the site.
- Harvest must be checked according to statewide regulations.
- Turkey hunting is not permitted on the nature preserve portion of the site.
Youth Spring
Not available at this site.
Waterfowl
Not available at this site.
Upland/Small Game
Not available at this site.
Furbearers
Not available at this site.
Amenities
Hunting