ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

J.B. Pritzker, Governor | illinois.gov

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Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

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Site Characteristics

  • Huntable acres: 1,500
  • Habitat: This recreational area consists of has gently rolling topography that is bordered by Rend Lake. The lake access makes for great camping and day use area opportunities. The Habitat of this site mainly consists of oak/hickory woodlands, small prairie grass fields, fallow fields, and agriculture fields that are border by heavy fence rows. This site diverse habitats provides excellent opportunities for deer, turkey, and the very popular controlled pheasant hunting program. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
  • Digital Map
  • Printable Map

Site Specific Regulations

  • All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter.
  • Use Hunt Planner to find hunting seasons open at this site.
  • Hunters must remove tree stands daily
  • No ATV access
  • Parking in designated areas only
  • Species-specific rules:

Deer

  • Archery
    • Statewide regulations, except that no hunting is allowed on the days the site is open to controlled pheasant hunting
    • All archery hunting is located on the east side of the Main North/South Road through park.
    • All hunters must check-in and check-out daily and report their harvest at the check station box
  • Special Disabled Firearm
    • The first Friday, Saturday and Sunday in November
    • Permit applications may be obtained from the site office and completed applications must be returned to that office by October 1st.
    • All initial permits will be issued as anterless only; hunters must harvest an antlerless deer on site before they can purchase an either-sex site-specific permit; hunters must check anterless deer with site staff for verification to get the either-sex permit
    • Disabled hunters must possess a Class P2A disabiltiy card or a Veteran’s Administration issued card or letter designating a 10% or more service connected disability in order to be eligible for the drawing. All participating hunters must show proof of passing the Illinois Hunter Safety Course or an equivalent State program for nonresidents
    • Special Deer Hunt All permtitees must call the site office on October 1, between the hours of 9:00am and 12:00 pm to be added to the list of applicants. Drawing held at 12:30pm on Oct. 1
    • Standby hunting is available, permit holders must register at the site office by 5:00 am each day of the hunt. Unfilled permits are void after 5:00 am. Vacancies each day will be filled by a drawing held at 5:00 am. Disabled vacancies may be filled by any qualifying disabled person holding a valid hunting license, Habitat Stamp, and Firearm Owner Identification Card, unless exempt. Standby hunters will be issued a one-day site-specific deer permit at the site office, and charged a permit fee of $5.

Turkey

  • Fall Archery
    • Statewide regulations, except that no hunting is allowed on the days the site is open to controlled pheasant hunting
    • All bow hunting is located on the east side of the Main North/South Road through park.
    • All hunters must check-in and check-out daily and report their harvest at the check station box
  • Spring and Youth seasons
    • Site specific permit issued through the statewide lottery required
    • A windshield parking permit, site map, hunting regulations and hunter harvest report will be mailed to each successful permit holder prior to the season

Waterfowl

  • No waterfowl hunting offered

Squirrels/Rabbits

  • No squirrel/rabbit hunting offered

Upland Birds

  • Controlled Pheasant Hunt
    • Applicants must contact the Department of Natural Resources to obtain a permit reservation. Permits will be issued until the daily quota is filled.
    • Applications for reservations on areas operated by DNR will be accepted on the first Monday of August until 24 hours before the last hunt date. Methods for making reservations are available on the DNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, by email at dnr.pheasant@illinois.gov or by writing the DNR’s Division of Parks and Recreation-Pheasant, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Il 62702-1271
    • Closed to pheasant permit hunting on every Monday and Tuesday during the controlled hunting season and on December 25th. 
    • Check in time is 7:00-8:00 am and hunting hours are 9:00-4:00 pm
    • On Thanksgiving Day, hunting hours are 9:00am-1:00 pm
    • Only non-toxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be possessed and only shot shells with a shot size ballistically equivalent to No. 5 lead or smaller may be used or in possession.
    • Daily limits-A permit authorizes the harvest of 2 pheasants of either sex per hunter.
      Non-hunters are not allowed in the field, except at special hunts publicly announced by the DNR where non-hunters authorized by the DNR shall be allowed in the field, and except for operators of DNR conveyances.
    • Hunters under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult hunter.
    • During the controlled pheasant hunting season, hunters may not leave the confines of any permit area and return to hunt on the permit area during the same day.
    • During the controlled pheasant hunting season, hunters must wear a back patch issued by the check station.
    • Stand-by permits shall be issued by drawing held at the conclusion of check-in time when daily quotas are not filled.
  • Youth Controlled Pheasant Hunt
    • Applicants must contact the Department of Natural Resources to obtain a permit reservation. Reservations for pheasant hunting will be issued by the DNR. Permits will be issued until the daily quota is filled.
    • Applications for reservations on areas operated by DNR will be accepted on the first Monday of August until 24 hours before the last hunt date. Methods for making reservations are available on the DNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov, by email at dnr.pheasant@illinois.gov or by writing the DNR’s Division of Parks and Recreation-Pheasant, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271​
    • Only applications for reservations submitted by Illinois residents will be accepted during the first application period.  Reservations will be confirmed. 
    • Youth pheasant hunt will be held the Saturday following the opening of the statewide upland game season.
    • All hunters must be between the ages of 10 and 17 inclusive and have a youth hunting permit. Stand-by permits shall be issued by drawing held at the conclusion of check-in time when daily quotas are not filled.
    • Hunters under the age of 18 are not required to pay a daily fee.
    • All rules applicable to Controlled pheasant hunting are in effect.

Furbearers

  • No furbearer hunting/trapping offerd

Amenities