TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE
PART 670 WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING BY USE OF BOW AND ARROW
SECTION 670.60 REGULATIONS AT VARIOUS DEPARTMENT-OWNED, -LEASED OR -MANAGED SITES


 

Section 670.60  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)         To drive deer, or participate in a deer drive, on all Department-owned or -managed properties is prohibited.  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 archery 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 through January 31 at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (1).  Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended 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)         Where standby hunters are used to fill quotas, a drawing may be held at sites indicated by a (3).  Notice of any standby drawing modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

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

 

g)         Only antlerless deer or antlered deer having at least 5 points on one side may be harvested at those sites listed in this Section that are followed by a (5).

 

h)         Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites:

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (6)

 

*          Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

Apple River Canyon State Park – Thompson and Salem Units (6)

 

Argyle Lake State Park (1) (6)

 

*          Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (statewide hunting hours except during the Central Zone duck season hunting hours 1:00 p.m. until ˝ hour after sunset) (1) (2)

 

*          Beall Woods State Park (1) (6)

 

*          Beaver Dam State Park (an antlerless deer must be taken on the site before an antlered deer is harvested) (2)

 

*          Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

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

 

Big River State Forest (1) (6)

 

Bradford Pheasant Habitat Area (October 1-31 only) (6)

 

Buffalo Rock State Park/Blackball Mines Nature Preserve (2)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area (6)

 

Cache River State Natural Area (1) (2)

 

Campbell Pond State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

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

 

Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters (Corps of Engineers managed lands, except Jim Hawn and East Spillway Areas)

 

*          Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters (Corps of Engineers managed lands – Jim Hawn and East Spillway Areas)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (except subimpoundment area is closed 7 days prior to and during the regular waterfowl season; lands bounded on the east by "C" levee, south by "D" levee, west by ACOE property line, and including the posted area west of parking lot #2, will be open the entire archery deer hunting season) (6)

 

Castle Rock State Park (submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (1) (6)

 

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

 

Cedar Glen State Natural Area (no hunting after December 15) (1) (6)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (permit obtained at Red Hills State Park headquarters) (1) (6)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (6)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Crawford County State Conservation 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)

 

Des Plaines Game Propagation Center (closed Saturdays and Sundays in October and Sundays in November, December and January) (2)

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area (no hunting is permitted Wednesday through Sunday of the site's permit pheasant season) (6)

 

Devil's Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Dixon Springs State Park (1) (6)

 

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

 

*          Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area – Putnam County Unit (2)

 

Dublin Highlands Pheasant Habitat Area (opens statewide opening date; however, site closes for archery deer hunting at the end of legal shooting hours the day preceding the opening of the North Zone upland season and reopens the day after the close of the North Zone upland season and runs until the statewide season closes; submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (1) (2)

 

Dug Hill State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

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

 

Edward R. Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area/James C. Helfrich Wildlife Propagation Center (Illinois resident-only; hunting only in designated areas) (1) (6)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (archery hunting is closed in the designated controlled pheasant hunting area on days when the controlled pheasant hunting program is in operation) (6)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Finfrock State Habitat Area (October 1-31) (6)

 

Flag Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Flatwoods State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (1) (2)

 

*          Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site (opens November 1) (2)

 

Fort Massac State Park (1) (6)

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (1) (6)

 

Franklin Creek State Natural Area (submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (6)

 

Freeman Mine State Habitat Area (closed on Mondays in November and December) (1) (2)

 

French Bluff State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

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

 

Giant City State Park (1) (2)

 

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area/Heidecke State Fish & Wildlife Area (archery deer hunting is closed during the muzzleloader deer season) (6)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Hallsville State Habitat Area (October 1-31) (6)

 

Hamilton County State Conservation Area (1) (6)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (6)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (6)

 

Henderson Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Henry Allen Gleason State Natural Area (6)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (1) (6)

 

Hindsboro State Habitat Area (October 1 through October 31 only) (1) (6)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area Alexander County (Controlled Hunting Area open from October 1-31; Public Hunting Area open during statewide season) (1) (2)

 

Ilo Dillin State Habitat Area (hunting allowed during October only) (6)

 

Iroquois County State Wildlife Area/Hooper Branch only (1) (6)

 

Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park (statewide regulations apply, except that, on Wednesdays through Sundays of the site's permit pheasant season, hunting only allowed 2:00 p.m. until sunset) (1) (6)

 

Jubilee College State Park (1) (2)

 

*          Kankakee River State Park (deer bow hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment with at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange/pink between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on days when upland game hunting is allowed during the site's controlled hunting season; a limited hunting opportunity for persons with disabilities, Class P2A, exists at the Davis Creek Bike Trail Area; disabled hunters must register to hunt at the site office and must sign in and out daily; disabled hunters are required to hunt with a non-disabled partner who may also hunt from predetermined locations during the disabled hunting season (November 1 to the day before the first firearm deer season, except campground blinds will remain open until the close of the archery deer season and do not require a partner to hunt) (6)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (the State-owned portion of the defined waterfowl rest area is open until 2 weeks prior to the start of the regular duck season through the close of the regular duck and Canada goose seasons; no hunting within 50 yards of the Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area's main north-south road) (1) (2 – except south of Highway 154 and north of Highway 13)

 

*          Ken Russell T Lake State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (1) (6)

 

Kidd Lake State Natural Area (1)

 

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

 

Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area (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 Le Aqua Na State Park (submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (6)

 

Larry D. Closson Habitat Area (October 1-31 only) (1)

 

Lincoln Trail State Park (November 1 through the end of statewide season; open to archery deer hunting during statewide firearm deer seasons) (2)

 

Little Rock Creek State Habitat Area (opens statewide opening date; however, site closes for archery deer hunting at the end of legal shooting hours the day preceding the opening of the north zone upland season and reopens the day after the close of the north zone upland season and runs until the statewide season closes) (1) (2)

 

Lowden-Miller State Forest (submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (1) (6)

 

Lowden State Park (in October, hunting allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only, excluding official State holidays; beginning November 1, archery hunting is allowed 7 days a week) (1) (6)

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area (closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October only; no hunting after the first Thursday after January 10; all tree stands must be removed from this area no later than the last day of the 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)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Maxine Loy Land and Water Reserve (6)

 

Maytown Pheasant Habitat Area (hunting allowed during October only) (6)

 

Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (1) (6)

 

Mermet Lake State Conservation Area (1) (6)

 

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

 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (additional site hunting pass required) (2)

 

Miller-Anderson Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Mississippi Palisades State Park (closed during the first firearm deer season) (1) (6)

 

Mississippi River Pool 16 (1)

 

Mississippi River Pools 17, 18 (1)

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24 (1)

 

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 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 ˝ hour after sunset during duck season, statewide hours during remainder of season) (1)

 

Mitchell's Grove State Nature Preserve (antlerless deer only in October; either-sex deer from November 1 until the end of the statewide season; closed during the muzzleloading deer season) (2)

 

Momence Wetlands State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Moraine View State Park (archery deer hunting closed Wednesday through Sunday during the controlled pheasant season) (1) (6)

 

Morrison Rockwood State Park (opens on the day following the close of the first firearm deer season) (1) (2)

 

*          Mt. Vernon Propagation Center (1) (2)

 

Nauvoo State Park (Max Rowe Unit Only) (6)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Paul C. Burrus State Habitat Area (formerly Hurricane Creek State Habitat Area) (hunter quotas filled by drawing) (1) (6)

 

*          Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (East subunit closes November 1) (1) (2)

 

*          Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

Pere Marquette State Park (1) (6)

 

Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, East Conant, Galum and Park Units (4) (6)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (6)

 

*          Ramsey Lake State Park (1) (6)

 

*          Randolph County State Conservation Area (1) (2)

 

Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area (1) (6)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (6)

 

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

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area – East Hannibal Unit (6)

 

*          Red Hills State Park (1) (6)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (refuge only (south of site headquarters) from October 1 through October 31; an antlerless deer must be taken on the site before an antlered deer is harvested) (2)

 

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

 

Revis Hill Prairie State Natural Area (6)

 

*          Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (statewide hunting hours, except that, during the Central Zone duck season, hunting hours 1:00 p.m. until ˝ hour after sunset) (1) (2)

 

*          Rockton Bog State Natural Area (6)

 

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area (1) (6)

 

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

 

*          Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

*          Sam Parr State Park (1) (2)

 

Sandy Ford State Natural Area (antlerless deer only in October; either-sex deer from November 1 until the end of the statewide season; archery deer hunting is closed during the muzzleloader deer season) (2)

 

Sangamon County State Conservation Area (1)

 

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

 

*          Sangchris Lake State Park (closed to archery deer hunting during the second firearm deer season) (1) (4) (6)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (6)

 

*          Shabbona Lake State Park (submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease) (6)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (for Corps of Engineers managed lands not managed by DNR, contact Corps of Engineers, Lake Shelbyville office for specific deer hunting policy) (1) (6)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (6)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (Fall Creek Unit) (6)

 

Siloam Springs State Park – Buckhorn Unit (resident hunters only) (4) (6)

 

*          Silver Springs State Park (2)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area (1) (2)

 

*          Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

*          Sparks Pond State Natural Area (6)

 

Spoon River State Forest (1) (6)

 

*          Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (6)

 

*          Starved Rock State Park/Matthiessen State Park/Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve (antlerless deer only in October; either-sex deer from November 1 until the end of the statewide season; deer bowhunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment with at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange/pink during the statewide firearm deer seasons; open to archery deer hunting during the statewide firearm deer season only in Zone A) (2)

 

*          Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (6)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (6)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (areas designated as refuge are closed to all access during 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 open throughout statewide season; Controlled Public Hunting Area open October 1 through October 31) (1) (2)

 

Vesely Land and Water Reserve/Wilmington Shrub Prairie Nature Preserve (6)

 

Walnut Point State Park (1) (6)

 

Wards Grove State Nature Preserve (closed during firearm deer hunting; antlerless deer only) (6)

 

*          Washington County State Conservation Area (1) (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (6)

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Cecil White Unit (6)

 

Weinberg-King State Park − Scripps Unit (resident hunters only) (6)

 

Weinberg-King State Park − Spunky Bottoms Unit (resident hunters only) (6)

 

Weldon Springs State Park – Piatt County Unit (6)

 

Whitefield Pheasant Habitat Area (hunting allowed during October only) (6)

 

*          White Pines Forest State Park (hunting allowed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only – excluding official State holidays in October.  Beginning November 1, archery hunting is allowed 7 days a week, excluding the site's special firearm deer season) (6)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Forest (1) (6)

 

Willow Creek State Habitat Area (hunting permitted October 1-31) (1) (6)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (6)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area (1)

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (opens October 15) (6)

 

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

 

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens at the close of duck season) (6)

 

i)          Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites except that hunter quotas shall be filled by lottery drawing, using either mail-in paper applications or online (electronic) applications:

 

Bohm Woods State Nature Preserve (harvest reports are due to the site by January 31; failure to submit report is a violation of this Part) (1)

 

*          Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (hunting in designated areas only; harvest reports due to the site by January 31; failure to report harvest is a violation of this Part) (6)

 

*          Frank Holten State Park (opens November 1; crossing of Harding Ditch within confines of site allowed; no hunting from Harding Ditch right-of-way; drawing for weekly hunter quotas will be held prior to the season; display windshield card while hunting; harvest report due to site by January 31 is a violation of this Part) (1, starting October 15) (6)

 

Goode's Woods State Nature Preserve (an antlerless deer must be taken on the site before an antlered deer is harvested; harvest reports are due to the site by January 31; failure to submit report is a violation of this Part) (1)

 

*          Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) (hunting in designated areas only; harvest reports are due to the site by January 31; failure to submit report is a violation of this Part) (1)

 

Pere Marquette State Park (hunting allowed in group camping areas only; season begins the first weekday after camps close)

 

*          Zoeller State Natural Area (1) (6)

 

j)          State regulations shall apply except that hunters must obtain a free permit from the site office.  This permit must be in possession while hunting and must be returned, and harvest reported, to the address indicated on the card before February 15.  Failure to return the permit is a violation of this Part.

 

*         Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County – Gaberet, Mosenthein and Chouteau Island Units)

 

k)         Statewide regulations shall apply except that no hunting is permitted on days that the site is open to permit pheasant season.

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (season opens Monday prior to opening of permit pheasant hunting season and closes before the controlled pheasant clean up hunt; season reopens on December 26 through close of regular season) (3) (6)

 

Iroquois County State Conservation Area (permit pheasant hunting units are closed to archery hunting on days the site is open to permit pheasant hunting; archery hunting is open under statewide regulations in non-permit pheasant hunting units) (6)

 

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area (no bowhunting during controlled hunts as posted at the site) (2)

 

l)          Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites except that nonresident hunter quotas shall be filled by lottery drawing, using either mail-in paper applications or online (electronic) applications. Information about specific drawing dates and application procedures will be publicly announced.  Successful applicants will be issued a free permit from the site office.  This permit must be in possession while hunting and must be returned and harvest reported to the address indicated on the card before February 15.  Failure to return the permit is a violation of this Part.

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (Open Unit and West Open Unit closed to archery hunting during the Youth Deer Season) (1) (6)

 

m)        Statewide regulations shall apply at this site except that hunter quotas for specific periods shall be filled by lottery drawing, using either mail-in paper applications or online (electronic) applications.  Only Illinois residents are eligible to apply.  Information about drawing dates and application procedures will be publicly announced.

 

Fox Ridge State Park – Mentored Hunt (limited to designated portions of the State Park otherwise closed to archery deer hunting; beginning the Monday following muzzleloader season; only applicants with less than 3 years of deer hunting experience may apply; hunter quotas will be filled equally with adult and youth hunters; participating hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting, validly licensed (Illinois hunting license) adult who is 21 years of age or older; hunting assigned for one-week periods; if applicable, site issued windshield card must be displayed while hunting)

 

Hennepin Canal State Trail (hunters must stay in their designated zone; an antlerless deer must be taken on the site before an antlered deer may be taken) (1) (6)

 

Illinois Beach State Park, North Dunes Nature Preserve and Illinois Beach Nature Preserve (hunting assigned for two week periods; site-issued windshield card must be displayed while hunting)

 

James Pate Philip State Park and Heron Woods State Habitat Area

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area – Mentored Hunt (limited to designated portions of the recreation area otherwise closed to archery deer hunting; beginning the Monday following muzzleloader season; only applicants with less than 3 years of deer hunting experience may apply; hunter quotas will be filled equally with adult and youth hunters; participating hunters must be accompanied by a non-hunting, validly licensed (Illinois hunting license) adult who is 21 years of age or older; hunting assigned for one-week periods; site-issued windshield card must be displayed while hunting) (6)

 

Moraine Hills State Park

 

Volo Bog State Natural Area

 

Walnut Point State Park – Disabled Hunt (limited to persons with a Class P2A disability; limited to designated areas otherwise closed to archery deer hunting; hunting assigned to one-week periods) (6)

 

William Powers State Recreation Area (1)

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3999, effective March 1, 2024)