Section 650.60  Regulations at Various Department-Owned, -Leased or -Managed Sites

 

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

 

b)         It is unlawful to drive deer, or participate in a deer drive, on all Department-owned or -managed properties.  A deer drive is defined as a deliberate action by one or more persons (whether armed or unarmed) whose intent is to cause deer to move within firearm range of one or more participating hunters.

 

c)         Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder.  Tree stands and ground blinds must comply with restrictions listed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(c)(3) and (c)(12) and must be portable.  Tree stands and ground blinds must be removed at the end of each day with the exception that they may be left unattended from September 15-January 31 at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (1).  Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended overnight must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.

 

d)         Check-in, check-out, and reporting of harvest is required at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (2). Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by a (6).

 

e)         Only antlerless deer or antlered deer having at least four points on one side may be harvested at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (3).

 

f)         Only antlerless deer or antlered deer having at least five points on one side may be harvested at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (4).

 

g)         Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites:

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Big Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Cache River State Natural Area (1) (2)

 

Campbell Pond State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters (Corps of Engineers managed lands except for Jim Hawn and East Spillway areas that are closed to firearm deer hunting)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (except subimpoundment area) (6)

 

Cave-In-Rock State Park – Kaegi Tract (1) (6)

 

Crawford County Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area (1) (2)

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area (1) (2)

 

Devil's Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (1) (6)

 

Dug Hill State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Cedar/Draper Bluff Hunting Area (1) (2)

 

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (muzzleloading rifles only; no in-line muzzleloading rifles or muzzleloaders with scopes allowed) (1) (2)

 

George S. Park Memorial Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Giant City State Park (1) (2)

 

Hamilton County State Conservation Area (1) (6)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Alexander County (all portions of the Public Hunting Area except the Controlled Hunting Area) (1) (2)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area, excluding Doza Creek Water Management Area and Baldwin Lake Rest Area (1) (2, except south of Highway 154 and north of Highway 13)

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

Lake Le Aqua Na State Park (first season only; standby hunting allowed by Stephenson County permit holders if all blinds not filled by youth hunters; submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (2)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Mermet Lake State Conservation Area (1) (6)

 

Miller-Anderson Woods State Natural Area (Bureau County permit holders may hunt the Bureau County portion of the Area and Putnam County permit holders may hunt the Putnam County portion of the Area) (2)

 

Mississippi State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area – Pools 25 and 26 (Batchtown, Crull Hollow and Godar Waterfowl Rest Areas are closed to hunting beginning 14 days before the regular duck season; areas reopen to hunting the day after duck season closes; it is unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting areas between sunset of the Sunday immediately preceding opening day of regular duck season through the day before regular duck season as posted at the site; no deer hunting is allowed within 200 yards of an occupied duck blind; during duck season only, deer hunters may not access the designated duck hunting areas by launching a boat at certain specifically posted boat ramps; boat ramps reopen to deer hunters the day after duck season closes; hunting is allowed at Red's Landing and Riprap Landing walk-in areas from 12:00 p.m. to ½ hour after sunset during duck season, statewide hours during remainder of the season (1)

 

Mississippi River Pool 16 (1)

 

Mississippi River Pools 17, 18 (1)

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24 (1)

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Pere Marquette State Park (1) (6)

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, East Conant, Galum and Park Units (3) (6)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Corps of Engineers' managed areas of Rend Lake

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area (1) (2)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (areas designated as Waterfowl Rest Areas are closed to all access during the Canada Goose Season only) (1) (6)

 

Trail of Tears State Forest (1) (2)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

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

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit (6)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Forest (1) (6)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area (1)

 

h)         Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites by special permit allocated through the regular statewide drawing.  Season dates that differ from the statewide dates are in parentheses.  Sites that offer standby hunting are followed by a (5).  At sites offering standby hunting, permit holders must register at the check station by 5:00 a.m. each day of the hunt.  Unvalidated permits are void after 5:00 a.m.  Vacancies each day may be filled by a drawing held at 5:00 a.m.  Vacancies may be filled by any 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 check station, and charged a permit fee of $5.  All hunters must check out and report harvest. Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (6). In the event that Department budget reductions or site staffing reductions make the operation of check stations or issuance of standby permits impractical, changes to check station procedures and standby permit issuance will be publicly announced and posted at the site.  If standby drawing or check station procedures are modified, then 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

Apple River Canyon State Park – Thompson and Salem Units (first or second season only) (6)

 

Argyle Lake State Park (1) (2) (5) (6)

 

Big River State Forest (2) (5) (6)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area (6)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – East Fork Unit in Clinton County

 

Castle Rock State Park (first or second season only) (1) (5) (6)

 

Cedar Glen State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (first season permits only; hunting from elevated stands only, 6 feet minimum above the ground except for designated accessible blinds; firearms must be fully enclosed in a case, except while the hunter is in an elevated stand or as otherwise authorized by an employee of the Department; all hunters must attend a site lottery drawing for designated hunter stations) (1) (2) (5)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (only in the area between County

Highway 14/Friends Creek Road and State Route 48 – both sides of lake) (6)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area (first season only) (2) (5)

 

Dixon Springs State Park (1) (2)

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Ferne Clyffe Hunting Area (1) (2)

 

Flag Pond State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Fort Massac State Park (6)

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (first season only) (6)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (1) (6)

 

Franklin Creek State Natural Area (first or second season only) (5) (6)

 

French Bluff State Natural Area (first or second season only) (1) (6)

 

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area/Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area (first or second season only) (2) (5)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (first or second season only) (1) (5) (6)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Henry Allan Gleason State Natural Area (6)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (1) (6)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Refuge (Alexander County) (hunting only on the first Friday and Saturday of November) (2)

 

Iroquois County State Conservation Area (first season only) (5) (6)

 

Iroquois County State Conservation Area (second season only; no hunting in the controlled pheasant hunting area) (5) (6)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Jubilee College State Park (first or second season only) (1) (2) (5)

 

Kaskaskia River Fish and Wildlife Area (Baldwin Lake Rest Area; first or second season only; hunting from elevated stands only; six feet minimum above ground; hunting must occur within 20 yards of an assigned, numbered stake; an inhouse drawing will be held in mid-October for such assignments; hunters will be notified by mail of their hunting location; no hunters may enter the area before 5:00 a.m.); any hunter that has filled the Springfield-issued permit may purchase additional antlerless-only tags at the site office  (1) (2) (5 − last 2 days of second season)

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (1) (6)

 

Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Lake Le Aqua Na State Park (second season only; submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (6)

 

Lake Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (must have valid permit for Lake Shelbyville Project Lands – Moultrie County) (6)

 

Lowden-Miller State Forest (first or second season only) (1) (5) (6)

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2) (5)

 

Marseilles Fish and Wildlife Area (first or second season only) (all tree stands must be removed no later than the last day of the archery deer season; unauthorized personnel may not be on the site outside of the posted check station operating hours; hunters may enter the site only from designated parking lots) (1) (2) (5)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2) (5)

 

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Mississippi Palisades State Park (first or second season only) (1) (5) (6)

 

Momence Wetlands State Natural Area

 

Moraine Hills State Park (first or second season permits only; hunting from elevated stands only, 6 feet minimum above ground except for designated accessible blinds; firearms must be fully enclosed in a case, except while the hunter is in an elevated stand or as otherwise authorized by an employee of the Department) (2) (5)

 

Morrison-Rockwood State Park (first season only) (5)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Paul C. Burrus State Habitat Area (6)

 

Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (any hunter that has filled the Springfield-issued permit may purchase additional antlerless-only tags at the site office)

 

Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (Jasper County) (6)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area – Dutch Creek Unit (6)

 

Revis Hill Prairie State Natural Area (6)

 

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area (1) (6)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (6)

 

Sangamon County State Conservation Area (6)

 

Sanganois State Wildlife Area (Ash Swale Waterfowl Rest Area will be closed to deer hunting during the waterfowl hunting season) (1) (6)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (6)

 

Siloam Springs State Park – Buckhorn Unit (3) (6)

 

Spoon River State Forest (first or second season only) (1) (6)

 

Starved Rock State Park (first or second season only; permit includes Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Margery C. Carlson State Natural Area, Mitchell's Grove State Natural Area and Sandy Ford State Natural Area; all initial permits will be issued as antlerless only; hunters must take an antlerless deer during the current year firearm season on site before they can purchase an either-sex site-specific permit; hunters must check antlerless deer with site staff for verification to participate in bonus buck program; standby hunters may purchase up to 2 one-day site-specific antlerless-only permits each day) (2) (5)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area – Refuge (hunting only on the first Friday and Saturday of November (2)

 

Vesely Land and Water Reserve/Wilmington Shrub Prairie Nature Preserve (first or second season only) (6)

 

Wards Grove State Nature Preserve (first or second season only; antlerless only) (6)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (6)

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Scripps Unit (6)

 

Weldon Springs State Park − Piatt County Unit (6)

 

White Pines Forest State Park (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the first statewide firearm deer season only) (2)

 

White Pines Forest State Park (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the second statewide firearm deer season only) (2)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (first or second season only) (6)

 

Wolf Creek State Park (for Corps of Engineers managed lands not managed by IDNR, contact Corps of Engineers, Lake Shelbyville office for specific deer hunting policy) (6)

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3973, effective March 1, 2024)