TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE
PART 530 COCK PHEASANT, HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE, BOBWHITE QUAIL, AND RABBIT HUNTING
SECTION 530.110 REGULATIONS FOR NON-FEE HUNTING OF COCK PHEASANT, HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE, QUAIL, AND RABBIT AT VARIOUS DEPARTMENT-OWNED OR -MANAGED SITES


 

Section 530.110  Regulations for Non-Fee Hunting of Cock Pheasant, Hungarian Partridge, Quail, and Rabbit at Various Department-Owned or -Managed Sites

 

a)         General Site Regulations

 

1)         All regulations in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510 – General Hunting and Trapping – apply in this Section, unless this Section is more restrictive.

 

2)         Only flu flu arrows may be used by bow and arrow hunters; broadheads are not allowed.

 

3)         On sites that are indicated by (1), hunters must check in and/or sign out. Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (5).

 

4)         On sites that are indicated by (2), only nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of size #3 steel or tin, #4 bismuth shot or #5 tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-matrix or smaller may be used or possessed.

 

5)         Site specific rules or exceptions are noted in parentheses after each site.

 

b)         Site Specific Regulations

 

1)         Statewide regulations apply at the following sites:

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (5)

 

Anderson Lake State Conservation Area (1) (2)

 

Apple River Canyon State Park – Salem and Thompson Units (rabbits only; closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Argyle Lake State Park (closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens the day after the close of the central zone duck season) (1) (2)

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting for bobwhite quail will terminate at the close of legal shooting hours on December 14) (1) (2)

 

Big River State Forest (closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Buffalo Prairie Pheasant Habitat Area (site will be open to Youth Hunting Only (hunters <18 years old accompanied by a non‑hunting adult) for the first 2 weeks of the Upland Game Season; the site will be open to upland game hunting with statewide regulations after the first 2 weeks of season) (2) (5)

 

Cache River State Natural Area (1)

 

Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area (5)

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Carlyle Lake State Lands and Waters (Corps of Engineers Managed Lands)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (subimpoundment area closed 7 days prior to and during the southern zone waterfowl season) (5)

 

Cave-In-Rock State Park – Kaegi Tract (5)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (2) (5)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (5)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (rabbit hunting only) (5)

 

Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area (2) (5)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (5)

 

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens the day after the close of the Central Illinois Zone goose season) (1) (2)

 

Dug Hill State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

Eagle Creek State Park

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (north of Allen Branch and west of Peppenhorst Branch only) (5)

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (2) (5)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park (1)

 

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (hunting with muzzleloading shotgun or bow and arrow only) (1)

 

Fort Massac State Park (5)

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2) (5)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (4:00 p.m. daily closing; closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Giant City State Park (1)

 

Hamilton County State Conservation Area (5)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (closed during firearm deer hunting (rabbit only)) (5)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (5)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (no hunting during firearm deer hunting; 4:00 p.m. daily closing) (5)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) (Public Hunting Area) (1) (2)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) – Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Unit (all hunters must obtain a free site permit) (2)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area − Open Unit (2) (5)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area – Controlled Unit (rabbit hunting only open the day following the close of the controlled pheasant hunting season through the close of rabbit season) (2) (5)

 

Johnson Sauk Trail State Recreation Area – (rabbit hunting only, open the day after the close of the controlled pheasant hunting season through the close of rabbit season) (5)

 

Jubilee College State Park (hunting for pheasant and quail will terminate at sunset on the Sunday after Thanksgiving; closed during all site firearm deer hunting) (1) (2)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area closed 7 days prior to and during duck season; the defined Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed) (1)

 

Ken Russell T Lake State Habitat Area (2) (5)

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (4:00 p.m. daily closing; closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area (closed during all site firearm deer hunting; rabbit hunting closes at the end of the pheasant and quail season; unauthorized personnel may not be on the site outside of the posted check station operating hours; hunters may only enter the site from designated parking lots) (1)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (closed during firearm deer hunting) (2) (5)

 

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area (upland season does not open until the day after the close of the site's waterfowl season; the site is closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day) (1)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (5)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (5)

 

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (4:00 p.m. daily closing; closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area (Pools 25 and 26)

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24

 

Moraine View State Park (rabbit hunting permitted Mondays and Tuesdays during the site controlled hunting season; hunting hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. only) (5)

 

Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center (hunting from January 1 to the end of season; rabbits only) (1)

 

Nauvoo State Park (Max Rowe Unit only) (5)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (closed during firearm deer hunting) (2) (5)

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (West and North Subunits only) (1)

 

Pyramid State Park – Park and Galum Units (5)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (closed during firearm deer hunting (rabbit only)) (5)

 

Randolph County State Conservation Area (1)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (5)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area – Dutch Creek Unit (5)

 

Red Hills State Park (2) (5)

 

Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters – Corps of Engineers Managed Land

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area (5)

 

Saline County State Conservation Area (5)

 

Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area (5)

 

Sam Parr State Park (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1) (2)

 

Sangamon County State Conservation Area

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (2) (5)

 

Shawnee National Forest, Oakwood Bottoms (2)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (4:00 p.m. daily closing) (5)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (5)

 

Siloam Springs State Park – Buckhorn Unit (opens December 5; closed during Late-Winter Deer Season) (5)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area (1)

 

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens the day after the close of the Central Illinois zone goose season) (1) (2)

 

Spoon River State Forest (2) (5)

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Park (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (5)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (closed during firearm deer hunting and muzzleloading rifle deer seasons; rabbit only) (5)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (areas designated as Waterfowl Rest Areas are closed to all access during the regular Canada goose season only) (nontoxic shot only on posted waterfowl rest areas) (5)

 

Trail of Tears State Forest (1)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line Unit only) (1) (2)

 

Washington County State Conservation Area (1)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (5)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Cecil White Unit) (5)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Scripps Unit) (5)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Spunky Bottoms Unit) (5)

 

Weldon Springs/Piatt County Unit (closed during first and second firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Forest (5)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (closed during firearm deer hunting (rabbit only) (5)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (rabbit only; opens after second firearm deer hunting) (closed during firearm deer hunting) (5)

 

Wolf Creek State Park

 

2)         Hunting is permitted on the following areas only on the dates listed in parentheses; or on sites indicated by (3), hunting will be permitted on the first and second day of the statewide upland game season and on each subsequent Wednesday and Saturday in November, and on each Thursday and Sunday in December, through December 24.  On sites indicated by (4), hunting will be permitted on the first and second day of the statewide upland game season and on each subsequent Wednesday and Saturday in November and on each Thursday and Sunday in December, through December 24, except closed during the firearm deer seasons and open December 27 and 29.  Daily hunting permits filled by drawing through DNR Permit Office.  Successful applicants will be sent confirmation and a printable permit via email or can access the Reservation Inquiry System to see if they were awarded a permit.  Illinois residents will have preference.  Only one permit per person will be issued.  Each permit authorizes the holder to bring the number of additional hunting partners listed in parentheses for the day's hunt.  The permit must be in possession while hunting on the site.  The harvest must be reported by February 15 (or two weeks after the season closes for those seasons ending after February 1) or permit holders will forfeit hunting privileges at the sites covered in this Section for the following year:

 

Birkbeck Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Bradford Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (open every Wednesday in November and December.  Each permit authorizes holder to bring 2 hunting partners) (2) (5)

 

Chatsworth State Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Clifton Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − Upland Management Area (open every Wednesday during the upland season; daily limit of bobwhite quail is 4; permits issued for dates after the close of the pheasant and quail season are for rabbit hunting only; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners)

 

Dublin Highlands Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Edward R. Madigan State Park (open on Mondays from the opening of upland game season until Christmas Day; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners; check in required before hunting)

 

Finfrock State Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (3)

 

Freeman Mine Habitat Area (open every Wednesday in November and December starting with opening day of upland game season except during firearm deer hunting and December 24 and 25; each permit authorizes holder to bring 3 hunting partners; hunting hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; daily bag limit is 2 cock pheasants, 4 quail, and 2 rabbits)

 

Franklin Creek State Natural Area − Nachusa Prairie Sand Farm (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Gifford Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (open every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in November and December beginning with the Monday after the opening of the statewide upland season through the seventh Monday following; closed during the November and December firearm deer hunting; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (1) (2)

 

Hallsville Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)  

 

Herschel Workman Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Hindsboro Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Ilo Dillin State Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (Upland Game Management Area) (open every Tuesday and Saturday during the upland game season, starting with opening day of upland game season, except during firearm deer season and December 24 and 25; permits issued for dates after the close of the pheasant and quail season are for rabbit hunting only; each permit authorizes holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2)

 

Larry D. Closson Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 partners) (3)

 

Little Rock Creek Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Loda Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners; closed during muzzleloader deer season) (2) (4)

 

Manito Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Maxine Loy Land and Water Reserve (open every Wednesday during the upland season; daily limit of bobwhite quail is 4; permits issued for dates after the close of the pheasant and quail season are for rabbit hunting only; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2)

 

Maytown Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Milks Grove Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Paul C. Burrus State Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (4)

 

Perdueville Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, and East Conant Units (open every Saturday and Wednesday starting with opening day through the close of statewide rabbit season; closed during firearm, muzzleloader and late winter deer seasons and any day that conflicts with a scheduled field trial; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 2 hunting partners)

 

Ramsey Lake State Park (open every Wednesday during the upland season; daily limit of bobwhite quail is 4; permits issued for dates after the close of pheasant and quail season are for rabbit hunting only; each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners)

 

Sand Prairie Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (3)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (Sparks Pond Land and Water Reserve Area) (open on Saturdays and Tuesdays from the opening of the upland game season through the end of December except during firearm deer hunting; each permit authorizes holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2)

 

Sangchris Lake State Park (open every Wednesday and Saturday in November and December after the opening day of upland game season except the Saturday of the second firearm deer season and December 24 and 25; each permit authorizes holder to bring 3 hunting partners; hunting hours 11:00 a.m. to sunset; check in required before hunting)

 

Saybrook Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (3)

 

Sibley Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (3)

 

Steward Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

Victoria Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 5 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Whitefield Pheasant Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (2) (3)

 

Willow Creek State Habitat Area (each permit authorizes the holder to bring 3 hunting partners) (3)

 

3)         The following sites will be open for pheasant, quail, rabbit and partridge hunting following the site's controlled pheasant hunting season; pheasants of either sex may be taken; all hen pheasants must be tagged by DNR before leaving sites; hunting hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; hunting dates are noted in parentheses:

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (open Wednesday through Friday following permit pheasant season) (1)

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area (dates are 5 days following the close of the site's permit pheasant season excluding Mondays, Tuesdays and Christmas) (1)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (no quail or rabbit hunting; controlled pheasant hunting area and for 5 consecutive days only) (1)

 

Iroquois County State Wildlife Management Area (open 5 days; the Wednesday through Sunday immediately following permit pheasant season, excluding Christmas and New Year's Day) (5)

 

Moraine View State Park (open Monday following the close of the controlled pheasant hunting season through the close of the North Zone season) (5)

 

c)         Violation of a site regulation is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.6, 2.7, 2.13 or 2.27).

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3840, effective March 1, 2024)