Section 590.5  Reference Material

 

Federal Register documents listing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations and establishing seasons for migratory birds may be viewed at: www.fws.gov/policy/frsystem.

 

(Source:  Added at 45 Ill. Reg. 13834, effective October 25, 2021)

 

Section 590.10  Statewide Regulations

 

a)         Pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/2.18], it shall be unlawful to take, possess, transport, or use migratory waterfowl except during such period of time and in such manner and numbers as may be provided in the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711), the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 1718 et seq.), and annual Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting (50 CFR 20 (August 31, 2006) and 21 (September 22, 2006) (collectively referred to in this Part as federal regulations) (no incorporation in this Part includes later amendments or editions), or contrary to any State regulations made in the Wildlife Code.

 

b)         The legal possession of a concealed firearm by a validly licensed concealed carry licensee is allowed statewide, subject to Section 2.33 of the Wildlife Code on illegal devices and State refuges, the prohibitions set forth in Section 65 of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act [430 ILCS 66] and any applicable federal regulations.

 

c)         Duck, goose and coot regulations are in accordance with Federal Regulations (50 CFR 20) unless the regulations in this Part are more restrictive.

 

d)         It shall be unlawful while attempting to take migratory waterfowl or coots to have in possession any shotgun shells not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations.

 

e)         It shall be unlawful to possess any shotgun shell loaded with a shot size larger than number T steel or number BBB of any other non-toxic shot when attempting to take waterfowl.

           

f)         Closed Areas

Closed areas, including waterfowl refuges and rest areas, may be designated at certain sites in accordance with 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.  Boundaries of these closed areas will be posted.

 

g)         Commercial Migratory Waterfowl Hunting regulations are specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 640.

 

h)         No person during the open season shall take or attempt to take wild geese prior to ½ hour before sunrise nor after sunset.  During special light goose seasons as indicated in subsection (n), statewide hunting hours shall be ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset daily.

 

i)          Registration in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) is required for those persons who are required to have a hunting license before taking or attempting to take ducks, geese or coots.  Instructions for registering are provided with issuance of hunting license.

 

j)          If 50 CFR 20 or 21 allows light goose seasons to be liberalized, snow geese, blue geese and Ross' geese may be taken in accordance with federal regulations regarding hunting hours, method of taking and bag limits through April 30.

 

k)         Nothing in this Part shall be construed to criminalize the legal possession of a concealed firearm, as set forth in Section 590.10(b), by a validly licensed concealed carry licensee (see 430 ILCS 66).

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.11  Seasonal Public Access Closures on Certain Department-Owned, -Leased, and -Managed Sites Listed in Section 590.20, 590.40 and 590.50

 

a)         It shall be unlawful, unless otherwise authorized in this Part, to be present upon the designated waterfowl hunting area of a Department owned, leased, or managed site during the period beginning 7 days prior to the start of regular duck season and continuing through the final day of regular duck season, except for legally permitted waterfowl hunters engaged in waterfowl hunting or other persons authorized by the Department.

 

b)         Subsection (a) shall not apply to the Mississippi River or the Illinois River.  No one may be located within 250 yards of an occupied waterfowl blind located on the Mississippi River or the Illinois River during the regular duck and goose season, except for legally permitted waterfowl hunters engaged in waterfowl hunting or other persons authorized by the Department.

 

(Source:  Added at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.15  Duck, Goose and Coot General Hunting Regulations on Department‑Owned, -Leased and -Managed Sites Listed in Sections 590.40 and 590.50

 

a)         Definitions

 

1)         Blind builder – Person who has been assigned a blind site as a result of the drawing.

 

2)         Blind partner – Persons chosen by the builder to assist in construction and maintenance of the blind and to share its blind claiming and hunting privileges.

 

3)         Blind registration card – Card issued by the Department and tacked inside each blind, or carried on the hunter for claiming hunting sites, listing names and addresses of blind builders.

 

4)         Blind site – A position within 10 feet of a marked location where blind must be constructed.  Sites shall be located and marked by the Department.

 

5)         Dog Hide – A compartment or area within or attached to a blind that houses a dog used to retrieve downed waterfowl.

 

6)         Drawing – Procedure by which blind sites are assigned.

 

7)         Herbaceous vegetation – For purposes of this Section, is a plant species that is not a tree or shrub.

 

8)         Hunting party – An individual or group of hunters occupying a single boat, blind, or hunting site.

 

9)         Hunting site – A position within 10 feet of a marked location where temporary blinds may be used.  Sites shall be located and marked by the Department.  Temporary blinds must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

10)       Temporary blind – A place of concealment that is removed in its entirety at the end of each day's hunt, including boat blinds.

 

11)       Woody vegetation – For the purposes of this Section, is a species of tree or shrub.

 

b)         Blind Construction

 

1)         Blinds must be at least 4 feet x 8 feet, but no higher than 14 feet from the water surface at normal pool level, to the top of the shooting box, sturdy enough to withstand daily usage, and must be maintained in good condition by blind builders throughout the duck season.  Blinds shall be numbered and that number shall be visible from the outside of the blinds.  Blinds must be placed within 10 feet of assigned Department marked site.  

 

2)         Blinds built over water must be of platform construction with the platform constructed above normal water conditions or they may be floating blinds.  At Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26, river blinds located on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and at Batchtown management area located on the river side of the closing levee may also be pull-in boat hide blinds.  Boat hide blind must have a minimum size of 18' x 7.5', be sturdy enough to withstand daily use considering conditions of the site, and be maintained in good condition throughout the season.  Boat hide blinds shall be completed, including final brushing by four weeks prior to opening day of duck season for other areas mentioned in this subsection (b)(2).  Failure to meet these standards shall result in forfeiture of the blind site.

 

3)         Except for Chain O'Lakes State Park, Meredosia Bay, Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and the Sparland Unit of Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area, blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 3 weeks in advance of opening date of regular duck season (except at Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 blinds and final brushing must be completed 4 weeks in advance of opening date of regular duck season) after which time the Department shall inspect all blinds and blind sites and issue Blind Registration Cards to those which pass inspection.  Blind builders shall not gain access to Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area until the day following Labor Day.  Blind builders must post Blind Registration Card in the blind prior to the first day of regular duck season.  If adverse weather or water conditions make compliance with this rule difficult the Site Superintendent or the District Wildlife Manager may grant extensions.

 

4)         Sites on which blinds have not been built or registered, as well as sites on which blinds of an unsatisfactory quality have been built, shall be reassigned to alternates selected at a drawing or by a first come-first served allocation held on a day publicly announced by the Department.  All reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing, 7 days prior to the opening date of the duck season on sites posted as being closed to trespassing 7 days prior to regular duck season.  At Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 reassigned blinds must be completed by sunset of the Sunday immediately preceding the opening day of regular duck season.  On all other sites reassigned blinds must be completed, including final brushing, by the day before the opening day of the regular duck season.

 

5)         Not more than 3 persons shall be registered for assignment of any one blind site.  Blind builders shall submit partner names on a blind registration form as designated at the site drawing.  After the designated time, no changes shall be accepted.  As directed by the information sheet available at each site, the registration form must be filled out and returned within 30 days after the blind drawing date.  Failure to do so shall result in forfeiture of blind/hunting site.

 

6)         No person shall be allowed to be a blind builder or partner on more than one public waterfowl blind managed by the Department.

 

7)         Boat hides are required, except as noted in Sections 590.40 and 590.50, and must have minimum dimensions of 18' x 7½'.  Boat hides shall be sturdy enough to withstand daily use considering the conditions of the site, and must be maintained in good condition throughout the season, and shall be completed including final brushing by 3 weeks prior to the opening day of duck season, except at Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 boat hides and final brushing must be completed 4 weeks prior to the opening day of duck season; failure to meet these standards shall result in forfeiture of blind site.

 

8)         Previous year's blind builders shall have until 7 days after the next allocation period drawing to salvage materials from their blinds except as indicated in Sections 590.40(a) and (b) and 590.50(a) and (b).  

 

9)         Blinds must include a dog hide that is on the same level as the blind.  The dog hide can either be incorporated into the blind by providing a hole at floor level that measures at least 20 inches high by 20 inches wide or by providing a separate compartment that is attached to the blind.  Hides attached to the blind should have a minimum floor space that measures 2 feet by 2 feet and should be at least 2.5 feet high with 2 openings.  One opening should be between the blind and the dog hide, should measure at least 20 inches by 20 inches, and should be constructed at the same level as the blind floor.  The water access opening should be at least 20 inches wide and 20 inches high.  Hides either within the blind or attached should have an enforced ramp to water level that is at least 15 inches wide with cleats every 12 inches.  Openings in the blind must be capable of being closed when not in use.

 

c)         Use of Blinds or Areas Located Near Blinds

 

1)         Attempts to claim blinds/hunting sites by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part.  The insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind.

 

2)         No person shall hunt, or attempt to hunt, except from within a registered blind, except for Chain O'Lakes State Park, Meredosia Bay, Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24 and the Sparland Unit of Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area.

 

3)         Persons under 16 years of age shall not hunt, or attempt to hunt, unless accompanied by an adult due to safety factors.

 

4)         Blinds shall not be locked.

 

5)         Claiming or attempting to claim any blind that is legally occupied, and/or harassing, in any manner, the occupants of a blind which has been legally occupied, is unlawful.

 

6)         No person shall violate Section 590.11 or be located within 250 yards of an occupied blind within the hunting area, except for those authorized to occupy the blind and Department employees.

 

7)         All hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys during duck season and Canada goose season.  The decoys shall be staked, placed, or floating, be individually visible, be at least 8 inches long, and not be within a boat, blind or container.

 

8)         At sites where a manned check station is in operation, hunters are required to show their hunting license and Federal and State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.  Persons exempt by law from having a hunting license and an Illinois stamp must show valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license, etc.).

 

9)         Cutting of woody vegetation greater than 4 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) is prohibited.  No cutting of oak trees of any size is allowed.  Killing or harming herbaceous vegetation, including but not limited to herbicide treatments or natural vegetation killers, or otherwise damaging or destroying habitat on Department managed lands by any means is prohibited.  Planting crops or other vegetation, as well as spreading mineral supplements, including but not limited to salt, is prohibited on lands controlled by the Department.  Violations of these rules without written permission of the Site Superintendent will result in loss of the blind for the current allocation period for that site.

 

d)         Public Drawing

 

1)         Time and place for all sites holding drawings shall be publicly announced by the Department.

 

2)         A registrant for a drawing must:

 

A)        be 16 years of age or older;

 

B)        possess a current or preceding year's annual Illinois hunting license that allows the individual to hunt without additional supervision;

 

C)        possess a current or preceding year's Illinois Migratory Waterfowl Stamp unless exempted by law; and

 

D)        possess a valid government issued photo identification (example: Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license).

 

3)         Persons exempted by law from possessing a hunting license or waterfowl stamp must be 16 years of age or older and have valid government issued photo identification.  In order to be an eligible applicant for the drawing, the participant must not at the time of the drawing have his/her hunting privileges suspended or revoked by the Department or any other jurisdiction.  Applicants must be present for the registration and drawing to be eligible for allocation of blind sites.

 

4)        No person is eligible to draw for a waterfowl blind or hunting site who has had his or her hunting privileges suspended by Illinois or any other state, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a conviction for violation of a State or federal law, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm by action of law regardless of conviction status (such as homeland security, under order of protection, etc.).  Any ineligible person who submits an application to draw for a waterfowl blind or hunting site shall be refused, if known by the drawer at the time to be ineligible, or shall have his or her draw declared void upon discovery of ineligibility by the Department.  A refused or voided application shall be referred to the appropriate State's Attorney for possible prosecution under the Criminal Code of 2012 [720 ILCS 5].

 

e)         Flood Rules

 

1)         Unless site-specific flood rules are listed in Sections 590.40, 590.50 or 590.60, in the event that State managed sites are flooded to the point that public waterfowl blinds cannot be constructed or waterfowl blinds are no longer usable during a flood, or if the receding flood water does not allow for Department blind inspection under subsection (b), the Department, by public announcement and/or posting, may permit waterfowl hunting under one of the following subsections:

 

A)        If the check station for that site is open, all rules apply, except that hunting will be allowed from boat, platform or floating blinds which must be located within 10 feet of the marked blind site.

 

B)        If the check station is not operable, all rules apply except that hunting will be allowed from boat, platform or floating blinds which must be located within 10 feet of the marked blind site.  Additionally, rules listed in Section 590.40(b)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (9) shall not be in force.  Rules concerning blind claiming as listed in Section 590.50(b) shall apply.

 

C)        If blind sites have not been marked and no check station is operable, the area will be open to hunting from platform, floating or boat blinds or by walk-in hunting, anywhere on the area except refuges and closed waterfowl rest areas.  Preplacement of unattended decoys and/or unoccupied blinds or boat hides do not constitute lawful possession of a hunting site.  All hunting parties must remain 200 yards apart and follow normal closing hours for the site.

 

D)        In all above flood circumstances, regulations requiring the construction of a separate boat hide and regulations regarding the minimum standards for blind construction and inspection shall be suspended for that season.

 

2)         Hunting locations allocated via public drawing shall be retained by blind registrants despite the lack of a completed blind.

 

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

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.20  Permit Controlled Department Sites Only − Duck, Goose and Coot Hunting

 

a)         Sites covered in this Section, which allow hunting by permit only, are:

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Black Crown Marsh State Natural Area

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area – Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area (2)

 

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (2)

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Controlled Hunting Area

 

Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area (2)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit (2)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Walk-in Units

 

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − Spring Lake Bottoms Unit

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area – Controlled Hunting Area

 

b)         Permit Requirements

 

1)         Permit applications shall be accepted starting August 16.  Initial acceptance dates and methods for making applications will be publicly announced.  A hunter can obtain up to 5 permits for duck hunting and 5 permits for goose hunting as follows:  Only applications submitted by Illinois residents will be processed during the first lottery to apply for up to one duck permit and one goose permit. Non-residents and residents who did not receive a permit or did not apply in the first lottery will be eligible to participate in the second lottery to apply for their first duck and goose permit.  Residents will have preference in the 2^nd lottery.  Residents and non-residents can apply for a 2^nd permit for duck and goose hunting in the 3^rd lottery.  Residents will have preference in the 3^rd lottery.  Residents and non-residents can apply online for a 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th duck and goose permit after the 3^rd lottery.  Successful applicants will be sent confirmation via email or can access the Reservation Inquiry System to see if they were awarded a permit.

 

2)         Permits shall be issued until the daily quota is filled.  The daily quota is determined by the formula:  one hunter per 10 to 40 huntable acres.  Huntable acres are determined by, but not limited to, the biological studies on the number of the species available; the condition, topography, and configuration of the land at the site; the condition of the roads at the site; the number of employees available to work at the site; and the number of blinds which can be established on a site as set forth in Section 3.8 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5].  Hunting locations (blind or stake number) shall be assigned randomly by the permit office and listed on the permit at sites that do not have a check station, but have multiple hunting locations.

 

3)         The permit shall be for the use of the entire blind or staked site/area.

 

A)        It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring one hunting partner or one non-hunting partner (non-hunting partners are defined as persons under 21 years of age accompanying the hunter in the blind) or 2 non-hunting partners (3 persons per blind but not more than 2 hunters per blind) for:

 

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

B)        It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring no more than 2 partners (hunters or non-hunters; 3 persons per stake/area) for:

 

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Walk-in Unit

 

Kidd Lake State Natural Area – units west of the railroad tracks only

 

C)        It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring no more than 3 partners (hunters or non-hunters; 4 persons per blind or staked site/area) for:

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Black Crown Marsh State Natural Area

 

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area – Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area

 

4)         Unallocated blinds may be filled by a drawing at the sites.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

5)         Permits are not transferrable.

 

6)         Permits will be issued from the Springfield Permit Office for permit‑controlled sites.  For other information write to:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Permit Office − Waterfowl

P.O. Box 19457

Springfield IL  62794-9457

 

c)         General Regulations

 

1)         All use other than permit hunting as defined in subsection (b)(3) is prohibited at:

 

A)        Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area from 2 weeks before duck season through close of Central Zone Canada goose season (except for archery deer hunting).

 

B)         Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area from October 1 through the close of the Central Zone Duck hunting season.

 

2)         Hours, Permits and Stamp Charges

 

A)        Hunting hours are from legal opening time until 1:00 p.m., except at Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area, which close at 12 noon.  Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit will have statewide hours for early and late goose seasons.

 

B)        At Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area from opening day through November 30, all hunters must register at the check station by 5:00 a.m.  Permits are void after 5:00 a.m.  From December 1 through December 31, all hunters must register at the check station by 5:30 a.m.  Permits are void after 5:30 a.m.  From January 1 through the close of goose season, all hunters must register at the check station by 6:00 a.m.  Permits are void after 6:00 a.m. 

 

C)        At Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Walk-in Units and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area hunters with permit reservations are required to check in at the check station between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.  Permits are void after 5:00 a.m.  A drawing may be held to allocate blind sites at all sites.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

D)        At Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit, hunters are required to check in at the check station no later than one hour before legal shooting time; after that time, permits are void.

 

E)        At Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area, hunters must check in by 4:30 a.m. at the Rice Lake check station.  Permits are void after 4:30 a.m.  Check out is required at all sites listed in this Section.

 

F)         At Clinton Lake State Recreation Area – Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area, hunting hours are from legal shooting time to 1:00 p.m.  Permit hunters have sole access to the assigned, permanent blind sites for the day and may occupy the site as desired during legal access hours but may not leave and re-enter the site.

 

G)        At Kidd Lake State Natural Area, hunters may arrive at hunt sites 1 hour prior to legal shooting time until 1:00 p.m. when shooting must cease.  Hunters must remove all hunting materials and vacate the area by 2:00 p.m.  Only hunters with Public Duck and Goose Hunting Area Permits and their partners may hunt the site.

 

H)        A $15 Daily Usage Stamp must be purchased at Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area.  Partners between 16 and 20 years of age must pay daily usage stamp fee.  Partners under 16 are not required to purchase a daily usage stamp.

 

I)         A $10 Daily Usage Stamp must be purchased at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit, Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − Spring Lake Bottoms Unit, Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area.  Non‑hunting partners between 16 and 20 years of age must pay daily usage stamp fee.  All partners under 16 are not required to purchase a daily usage stamp.

 

J)         At Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area, hunters may arrive at hunt sites 1 hour prior to legal shooting time until 1:00 p.m. when shooting must cease.  Hunters must remove all hunting materials and vacate the area by 3:00 p.m.  Only hunters with Public Duck and Goose Hunting Area Permits and their partners may hunt the site.

 

K)        At Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, permits will be valid each day the check station is open during regular duck season.  Drawing for blinds may take place 90 minutes before shooting time and hunting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

3)         Hunting shall be done from assigned locations (blinds, stakes, areas or pits) only and hunters shall not move from assigned location to another location or leave the assigned location and return.

 

4)         Guns must be unloaded and encased at all times when not hunting. Except at Union County and Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Areas, all hunting parties shall hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys during duck season and Canada goose season. The decoys shall be staked, placed or floating, be individually visible, be at least 8 inches long, and not be within a boat, blind or container.

 

5)         The legal hunting seasons for Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area are the dates of the South Zone duck and goose hunting seasons except that these areas shall be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays (except for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunt) and December 24 through 28.  (These sites shall be open only for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunt on December 28, pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 685.110.)

 

6)         The legal hunting season at Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area is the dates of the Central Zone goose hunting season except that the area shall be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and December 24, 25 and 26.

 

7)         The legal hunting season at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area and Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Walk-in Units is the dates of the Central Zone duck hunting season.

 

8)         The legal hunting season at Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit is the opening day of the Central Zone duck hunting season and every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of the Central Zone duck hunting season, except the second Sunday in November, which is closed due to the Youth Hunt.

 

9)         The legal permit hunting season at Double T State Conservation Area will be every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday of the Central Zone duck hunting season.

 

10)         The legal hunting season at Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit is every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the Central Zone duck season.

 

11)         At Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area, during duck season hunters shall not possess more than 25 shot shells.  When duck season is closed, hunters shall not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit.  During the Conservation Order Light Goose Season hunters may possess 25 shot shells at Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.  At Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area, hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit.

 

12)         At Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area hunters may bring up to 3 dozen decoys per party.  No full bodied or supermagnum shell decoys are allowed.

 

13)         At Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area hunters cannot take guns from the blind to retrieve wounded waterfowl.

 

14)         Hunters must be at least 16 years of age (except for the Illinois Youth Goose/Duck Hunt) to draw for a pit or blind.  Each person under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

 

15)         At Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Walk-in Units, hunting shall be by walk-in or boats without motors only.

 

16)         The legal hunting season for Clinton Lake State Recreation Area – Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area will be every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the Central Zone regular duck season.

 

17)         The permit dates for Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area will be every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the waterfowl hunting zone the site is in (Central Zone).  Permit holders will have first choice of West Point Walk-in area stakes or unclaimed yearly allocation blinds that would otherwise go in the daily drawing.  All site specific regulations apply.

 

18)         The legal hunting season for Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area will be every Sunday in October and November and every Saturday in December and January of the regular Illinois duck hunting season in the waterfowl hunting zone in which the site is located.

 

19)         The legal hunting season for Kidd Lake State Natural Area – units west of the railroad tracks only will be every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the regular Illinois duck hunting season in the waterfowl hunting zone in which the site is located.

 

20)         The legal hunting season for Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the regular Illinois duck hunting season (except for the youth waterfowl season) in the Waterfowl Hunting Zone in which the site is located.  There will be no waterfowl hunting during shotgun deer and deer muzzleloader seasons.

 

21)         The legal hunting season for Black Crown Marsh State Natural Area (marsh hunting area) will be Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of the regular Illinois duck hunting season in the waterfowl hunting zone where the site is located.  The legal hunting season for the Black Crown Marsh State Natural Area (land hunting area) will be Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of the regular Illinois duck and goose hunting seasons in the waterfowl hunting zone where the site is located.  Walk-in hunting only.  Hunters may construct temporary blinds that must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.  Hunting hours are from legal opening until 1:00 p.m.  Hunters must be off the site by 2:00 p.m.  Sign-in/sign-out and report harvest at parking area kiosk.

 

22)         The legal hunting season for Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the regular Illinois duck hunting season in the waterfowl zone where the site is located.  Walk-in hunting only.  Hunters may construct temporary blinds that must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.  Hunting hours are from legal opening until 1:00 p.m.  Hunters must be off the waterfowl hunting site by 2:00 p.m.  Sign-in, sign-out and reporting of harvest required.

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.25  Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit Requirements (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 25 Ill. Reg. 14131, effective October 22, 2001)

 

Section 590.26  Illinois Youth Duck Hunting Permit Requirements (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 19 Ill. Reg. 13209, effective September 11, 1995)

 

Section 590.30  Duck, Goose and Coot General Hunting Regulations on all Department-Owned and -Managed Sites (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 19 Ill. Reg. 13209, effective September 11, 1995)

 

Section 590.40  Check Station Department Sites Only – Duck, Goose and Coot Hunting

 

a)         The sites listed in this Section conform to Statewide Regulations (Section 590.10) and General Department Regulations (Section 590.15), except as noted in parentheses and in the remainder of this Section.  Daily hunting hours close at 1:00 p.m. unless otherwise indicated in parentheses below.

 

1)         Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – All Management Units (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet, felt paper, plastic snow fence or any mesh material will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds)

 

2)         Batchtown State Wildlife Management Area(3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period; all interior lakes and sloughs located on Turner Island will be noted as walk-in or boats without motors only; no permanent blinds are allowed; hunting parties shall not hunt over fewer than 12 decoys or more than 24 decoys in the walk-in area; decoys must be picked up daily; no vehicles are allowed in the walk-in area; walk-in shooting hours end at 12:00 p.m. CST daily)

 

3)         Calhoun Point State Wildlife Management Area (3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period)

 

4)         The Glades State Wildlife Management Area (3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period; all interior lakes and sloughs located on 12 Mile Island will be noted as walk-in; only boats without motors are allowed in the management area; no permanent blinds are allowed; hunting parties shall not hunt over fewer than 12 decoys or more than 24 decoys; decoys must be picked up daily; no vehicles are allowed in the walk-in area; walk-in shooting hours end at 12:00 p.m. daily)

 

5)         Godar-Diamond State Wildlife Management Area (3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period)

 

6)         Horseshoe Lake State Park – Madison County (3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation)

 

7)         Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area and Lake DePue Walk-in Unit (aka 3I)

 

8)         Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet and plastic snow fence or mesh will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; previous year's blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials; hunting hours for early and late goose seasons will end at sunset)

 

9)         Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area (previous years blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials; goose hunting prohibited before and after duck season; closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

 

10)         Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet, felt paper, plastic snow fence or any mesh material will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; previous year's blind builders have until May 1 to remove their blinds)

 

11)         Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (check station and walk-in areas, hunters are not required to hunt from a blind site during goose seasons held after the duck season)

 

12)         Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet, felt paper, plastic snow fence or any mesh material will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; waterfowl hunters will have the option to either construct a platform blind (4' x 8' with boat hide) or a boat hide blind no less than 7.5' x 18' in dimension and fully enclosed on all four sides, must include four shooting holes or ports and brushed (doors capable of being closed are permitted for boat access); hunters choosing to construct a boat type of blind will not be required to construct a dog hide; blind numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 must be removed in their entirety by May 1, but may be removed beginning November 21; blinds 1, 3, 4, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 must be removed in their entirety by the previous year's blind builder no later than 7 days after the next allocation period; hunting from boat blinds is permitted within 10 feet from any numbered stake if the blind has not been constructed, or beginning November 21, at locations where the blind has been dismantled; goose hunting prohibited prior to the regular duck season)

 

13)         Stump Lake State Wildlife Management Area (3:30 p.m. closing) (except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period)

 

14)         Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet and plastic snow fence or mesh will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; previous year's blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials; hunting hours for early and late goose seasons will end at sunset; hunting at the Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area – Forest Wetland Unit will take place every Wednesday and Saturday during the Central Zone duck hunting season; 2 blinds may be available by a drawing held at the site office 60 minutes prior to shooting hours (1½ hours before sunrise); hunters with disabilities classified under 15 ILCS 335/4A as P2a disabilities, as demonstrated by an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card, will draw for blinds first; blinds not claimed by hunters with disabilities may be drawn by other hunters).  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

15)        William Powers State Recreation Area (all waterfowl hunting prohibited before youth waterfowl season; closed Mondays and Tuesdays; blinds must be removed in their entirety by May 1; all non-blind builders will be assigned blinds on a first-come, first-served basis)

 

b)         The following regulations apply to all sites listed in this Section under subsection (a):

 

1)         All hunters must report to the check station to fill out information cards, show hunting licenses or valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license, etc.) and receive all required materials before proceeding to blinds.  Beginning the day after duck season ends, when the check station is not operating, unclaimed blinds shall be allocated on a first come-first served basis, as per Section 590.50(b)(1), (2) and (3).  Goose hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out and report their harvest at the end of each day's hunt.

 

2)         Registered blind builders or partners desiring to claim their blinds must report to the check station at least one hour before hunting hour each day and occupy that blind for at least one hour.  Hunters wishing to move to another blind during their daily hunt must report back to the check station for reassignment.

 

3)         All hunting must be from registered blinds only and hunters must occupy their blinds within one hour after registering at the check station.

 

4)         All hunters must be checked out within one hour of the close of the legal hunting hours.  To complete the check out process, all hunters must complete the hunter harvest card/sheet and deposit it in the box provided. At Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26, hunters must be checked out within one hour after leaving their blinds.

 

5)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season as posted at the site.  At Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 and Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) it shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated duck hunting area 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.

 

6)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season, except on areas of Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26, Batchtown State Wildlife Management Area, Crull Hollow and Godar Refuge State Wildlife Area, which reopen the day after regular duck season closes.

 

7)         No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except on the statewide Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day, as authorized in Section 590.15(f), 5 persons may occupy a blind at one time only if the party is comprised of 2 youth hunters, their non-hunting parents and one non-hunting guide.

 

8)         Blind sites shall be allocated for a period of one year unless otherwise noted in parentheses under subsection (a).

 

9)         During duck season, blinds not claimed by the builder or partners by one hour before hunting time may be assigned by a drawing at this time and during the hours from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., except at Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area and Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area, any blinds left unclaimed after completion of the daily drawing will be assigned on a first come-first served basis up to 30 minutes after the drawing and from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Once 4 hunters have occupied a blind, all original occupants of the blind must check out at the check station before any additional hunters may occupy that blind.  Blinds may be reallocated on a first-come, first-served basis or, if multiple parties arrive at the check station at 8:00 a.m., there may be a second drawing, except at Batchtown State Wildlife Management Area, Calhoun Point State Wildlife Management Area, The Glades State Wildlife Management Area, Godar-Diamond State Wildlife Management Area, Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) and Stump Lake State Wildlife Management Area (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.), after which time the area shall be closed to additional hunters.  If no drawing occurs pursuant to this paragraph, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

10)         Previous year's blind builders shall have until 7 days after the next allocation period drawing to salvage materials from their blinds, except as listed in parentheses under subsection (a).  After this date, all materials become the property of the new blind builder or the Department.  

 

11)         For those sites listed in this subsection (b) that have 3 year blind allocation periods, re-registration of blind sites during the non-draw years must be accomplished in person during a publicly announced period.  Failure to re‑register during the prescribed period will result in the loss of blind site. Registrants must present current year's Illinois hunting license and State waterfowl stamp for each blind builder.  Blinds not re-registered will be allocated by a drawing.  No waterfowl blind may be removed until after the close of the waterfowl season.

 

12)         Any person who violates any provision of this Part shall be subject to arrest and/or removal from the premises under applicable statutes, including Section 21-5 of the Criminal Code (Criminal Trespass to State Supported Land).

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3899, effective March 1, 2024)

 

Section 590.50  Non-Check Station Department Sites Only – Duck, Goose and Coot Hunting

 

a)         The following sites conform to Statewide Regulations (Section 590.10) and General Department Regulations (Section 590.15), except as noted in the remainder of this Section.  Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (2).

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − West Point Management Unit (walk-in or boat; staked sites; daily draw)

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (for goose seasons prior to duck season, hunting allowed from numbered blind sites only and blinds need not be completed; blinds must be removed in their entirety, including support posts, by April 1; failure to comply will result in the blind builder and partners for that blind losing the privilege of being a blind builder or partner at this site for the following year)

 

Clear Lake State Wildlife Management Area (one year blind allocation)

 

Des Plaines River State Conservation Area (goose hunting permitted during special goose season prior to regular waterfowl season; during special goose season hunting allowed from numbered blind sites only and blinds do not have to be completed; previous years blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials)

 

Fuller Lake State Fish and Wildlife Management Area (daily hunting hours close at 3:30 p.m., except the last 3 days of duck season and the last 3 days of regular Canada goose season shall close at sunset; 3 year blind allocation period)

 

Helmbold Slough State Wildlife Management Area (3 year blind allocation period)

 

Illinois River – Pool 26 (3 year blind allocation period)

 

Kankakee River State Park (no boat hide required; no goose hunting permitted prior to duck season; previous years blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials; land based waterfowl hunting area only-no hunting allowed until the Department stakes hunting locations; hunters must hunt within 10' of Department stake; no more than 2 hunters per stake; portable blinds only; all hunter items must be removed daily; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 6 decoys; first-come, first-served; season stays open through the close of the goose season in the zone where the site is located) (2)

 

Lake Sinnissippi State Fish and Wildlife Area (Department Owned Land; the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; waterfowl hunters allocated blind numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32 will have the option to either construct a platform blind (4' x 8' with boat hide) or a boat hide blind no less than 7.5' x 18' in dimension fully enclosed on all four sides, must include 4 shooting holes or ports and brushed (doors capable of being closed are permitted for boat access); hunters choosing to construct a boat hide type of blind will not be required to construct a dog hide; blind numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 must be removed in their entirety no later than 10 days after the close of the Northern Zone waterfowl season, but may be removed beginning November 15; backwater blinds 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 and 25 must be removed in their entirety by the previous years' blind builder by no later than 7 days after the next allocation period; hunting from boat blinds is permitted within 10 feet from any numbered stake if the blind has not been constructed)

 

Marshall State Conservation Area – Sparland Unit (the use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, carpet, and plastic snow fence or mesh will be prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds; previous year's blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials) (2)

 

Matthiessen State Park (land based waterfowl hunting only; closed during all site firearm deer seasons; no hunting allowed until IDNR stakes hunting locations; hunters must hunt within 10' of IDNR stake; no more than 3 hunters per stake; portable blinds only; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 12 decoys; all hunter items must be removed daily; first-come, first-served; sign in/out and report of harvest required)

 

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area (land based waterfowl hunting area; no hunting allowed until the Department stakes hunting locations; hunters must hunt within 10' of Department stake; no more than 4 hunters per stake; portable blinds only; all hunter items must be removed daily; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 6 decoys; first-come, first-served; must check out in person by 1:00 p.m., season stays open through the close of the goose season in the zone where the site is located) (2)

 

Meredosia Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2 year marked hunting site allocation period) – Rules and Regulations will be publicly announced

 

Mississippi River Pool 16 (federal lands; no permanent blinds – temporary blinds only above Velie Chute except for Goose Pond, Sunfish Slough, and Milan Bottoms (landward area upriver from River Mile 474); 2 year hunting site allocation period; scull boat hunting for waterfowl is permitted but hunters must not get closer than 200 yards from a marked hunting site or in areas posted as closed to scull hunting; permanent blinds are not required at marked hunting sites (including those in Goose Pond, Sunfish Slough, and Milan Bottoms; temporary or boat blinds are allowed)  (Flood rules for marked hunting site areas will be determined from the Rock Island gauge.  At 15.0 feet hunters will retain site hunting privileges, and hunting must take place from original marked hunting sites.  At 20.0 feet hunting may take place from any location, first-come, first serve, hunting parties must stay 200 yards apart)

 

Mississippi River Pool 17 (federal lands; scull boat hunting for waterfowl is permitted but hunters must not get closer than 200 yards from a marked hunting site or in areas posted as closed to scull hunting; permanent blinds are not required at marked hunting sites; temporary or boat blinds are allowed; 2 year hunting site allocation period) (Flood rules for marked hunting site areas will be determined from the Muscatine gauge.  At 16.0 feet hunters will retain site hunting privileges, and hunting must take place from original marked hunting sites.  At 20.0 feet hunting may take place from any location, first-come, first-serve, hunting parties must stay 200 yards apart.)

 

Mississippi River Pool 18 (federal lands; scull boat hunting for waterfowl is permitted but hunters must not get closer than 200 yards from a marked hunting site or in areas posted as closed to scull hunting; permanent blinds are not required at marked hunting sites; temporary or boat blinds are allowed; 2 year hunting site allocation period) (Flood rules for marked hunting site areas will be determined from the Keithsburg gauge.  At 14.0 feet hunters will retain site hunting privileges, and hunting must take place from original marked hunting sites.  At 17.0 feet hunting may take place from any location, first-come, first-serve, hunting parties must stay 200 yards apart.)

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24 (federal lands; hunting allowed from a portable blind or anchored boat, in Illinois waters, maintaining > 200 yard intervals at the following locations:  Pool 21 – west of Long Island (river mile 332.5-340.5), Pool 22 – entire pool, except river miles 309-314 (north of Shuck Island to north end of Armstrong Island), Pool 24 – west of Denmark Island (river mile 291.0-294.5); permanent blinds not required at marked sites (excluding Quincy Bay); temporary or boat blinds allowed; 2 year blind/hunting site allocation period for registered blinds/hunting sites; floating blinds required at sites identified in the site's Hunter Fact Sheet)  (Flood rules for allocation marked hunting site areas (excluding Quincy Bay) will commence at Moderate Flood Stage (Pool 21:  Quincy gauge; 22.0 feet, Pool 22; Hannibal gauge; 22.0 feet, Pool 24; Louisiana gauge; 20.0 feet).  Hunting may take place from any location, first-come, first-serve, hunting parties must stay 200 yards apart.

 

Mississippi River Pools 25, 26 (federal lands; 3 year blind allocation period; all interior lakes and sloughs located on Kelly Island will be noted as walk-in or boats without motors only; no permanent blinds are allowed; hunting parties shall not hunt over fewer than 12 decoys or more than 24 decoys in the walk-in area; decoys must be picked up daily; no vehicles are allowed in the walk-in area; walk-in shooting hours end at 12:00 p.m. daily)

 

Momence Wetlands State Natural Area (hunting allowed from a portable blind or anchored boat blind only; no more than 3 persons per blind site; no hunting during firearm deer seasons)

 

Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (all hunting must be from portable boat blinds within 10 yards of the assigned numbered stake or buoy; no more than 3 persons shall use one blind; exceptions will be announced at the site's annual duck blind drawing) (2)

 

Piasa Island State Wildlife Management Area (3 year blind allocation period)

 

Quincy Bay (Mississippi River Pool 21) (during regular duck season hunting hours are legal opening to 1:00 p.m. for blinds 1 through 25)

 

Red's Landing State Wildlife Management Area (3 year blind allocation period; that portion of Red's Landing that is north of the access road will be noted as a walk-in or boats without motors area only; no permanent blinds; daily hunting hours will close at 12:00 p.m.; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 12 decoys nor more than 24 decoys)

 

Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area (closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays except that hunting will be allowed on opening day of duck season; no goose hunting except during duck season; previous years blind builders shall have until February 1 to salvage blind materials; daily hunting hours will close at 1:00 p.m.; hunting from boat blinds is permitted within 10 feet of marked blind sites)

 

Redwing Slough State Natural Area Land based waterfowl hunting (1 hunting party allowed of no more than 4 hunters; portable blinds only; all hunter items must be removed daily; first-come, first-served; sign in/out and report of harvest required)

 

Riprap Landing State Wildlife Management Area (3 year blind allocation period; that portion of Riprap Landing that is south of blind 5, known as Rust Land Company, will be noted as a walk-in; boats without motors in area only; no permanent blinds; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 12 decoys or more than 24 decoys; decoys must be picked up daily; no vehicles allowed; walk-in area shooting hours end at 12:00 p.m. daily)

 

Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area (hunting will be allowed between November 1 and December 31 but only when the North Zone duck and/or Canada goose seasons are open; permanent, pre-constructed blinds will be awarded for either November or December; boat and dog hides are not required; persons awarded blinds at the drawing, or their partners, must claim their blinds one hour before legal shooting hours; hunting hours will end at 1:00 p.m. daily)

 

b)         The following regulations apply to all sites listed in this Section under subsection (a).

 

1)         Blind builders or partners must occupy their blinds by one-half hour before opening hunting hour each day in order to claim their blind for the day.  Blinds not legally occupied may be claimed on a first come-first served basis.

 

2)         Attempts to claim blinds by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part and shall be cause for arrest.  The insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind.

 

3)         All hunting must be from registered blinds only unless otherwise noted in parentheses under subsection (a).

 

4)         Blind sites shall be allocated for a period of one year unless otherwise noted in parentheses under subsection (a).

 

5)         Previous year's blind builders shall have until 7 days after the next allocation period drawing to salvage materials from their blinds, except as listed in parentheses under subsection (a).  After that date, blinds become the property of the new blind builders.  

 

6)         No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time, except on Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22 and 24.

 

7)         For those sites listed in subsection (a) that have 3 year blind allocation periods, re-registration of blind sites during the non-draw years must be accomplished in person during a publicly announced period.  Failure to re‑register during the prescribed period will result in the loss of blind site.  Registrants must present current year's Illinois hunting license and State waterfowl stamp for each blind builder.  Blinds not re-registered will be allocated by a drawing.  No waterfowl blind may be removed until after the close of the waterfowl season.

 

8)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season as posted at the site.

 

9)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the waterfowl season as posted at the site.  At Mississippi River Area Pools 25 and 26 it shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated waterfowl hunting area between sunset of the Sunday immediately preceding the opening date of regular duck season through the day before regular duck season as posted at the site.

 

10)         Any person who violates any provision of this Part shall be subject to arrest and/or removal from the premises under applicable statutes, including Section 21-5 of the Criminal Code (Criminal Trespass to State Supported Land).

 

c)         Blind winners on the following sites will be provided forms for the purpose of maintaining waterfowl harvest records.  The forms must be completed and returned within 15 days after the close of the site's waterfowl season or the blind builder and partners for that blind shall not be allowed to be a blind builder or partner at these sites for the following year.

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park

 

Clear Lake State Wildlife Management Area

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area

 

Kankakee River State Park

 

Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area

 

Starved Rock State Park

 

Illinois River Area:  The use of any metal, with the exception of fasteners less than 12 inches in length, is prohibited in the construction of waterfowl blinds.  Blind removal may begin November 15; thereafter, a boat blind is permitted within 10 feet of the stake site.  All blinds must be removed in their entirety no later than 10 days after the close of the Central Zone duck season.  Blind builders and their partners who fail to remove the blind in its entirety will not be allowed to be a builder or partner the following year.

 

Land based waterfowl hunting: closed during all site firearm deer seasons; no hunting allowed until IDNR stakes hunting locations; hunters must hunt within 10 feet of the IDNR stake; no more than 3 hunters per stake; portable blinds only; hunting parties shall not hunt over fewer than 12 decoys; all hunter items must be removed daily; first-come, first-served; sign in/out and report of harvest required

 

d)         Violation of this Section is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.20).

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.60  Various Other Department Sites – Duck, Goose and Coot Hunting

 

The sites listed in this Section conform to Statewide Regulations (Section 590.10) and the following regulations, except as noted.

 

a)         Regulations

 

1)         Hunting hours are from legal opening to 1:00 p.m., except hunting shall be permitted until sunset on those sites indicated by (1) following the location in subsection (b).  Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (2).

 

2)         No permanent blinds allowed, except for Department constructed blinds; all blinds must be of a portable nature and constructed with natural vegetation at the blind site and no pits can be dug.  All materials must be removed or dismantled at the end on the day's hunt.

 

3)         Portable boat blinds must have been completed, including final brushing, before entering the water and must be removed at the end of the day's hunt.

 

4)         Waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties, except for Department constructed blinds or staked locations.

 

5)         No hunting is permitted within 200 yards of developed recreation areas, public use facilities, and construction or industrial sites.

 

6)         No check station is operated nor is any check in/check out required, except as indicated in the remainder of this Section.

 

7)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl rest areas or refuges from 2 weeks prior to the start of regular duck season through the close of regular duck and Canada goose season except as indicated in the remainder of this Section.

 

8)         It shall be unlawful to trespass upon the designated waterfowl hunting area during the 7 days prior to the regular duck season unless otherwise posted at the site.

 

b)         Site Specific Regulations

 

1)         Apple River Canyon State Park – Salem and Thompson Units – Land based waterfowl hunting only; all hunter items must be removed daily; hunting parties shall not hunt over less than 6 decoys; season open through the close of the goose season in the zone where the site is located.  Hunting in grain crop fields can only be done after crops are harvested; hunting in forage crops (hay, alfalfa) can be done at any time.  (1) (2)

 

2)         Boston Bay (Mississippi River Pool 18)

No permanent blinds may be built; temporary blinds only; 200 yards apart.

 

3)         Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (no one may enter the site before 4:00 a.m.  Hunters must park at the stake's designated parking location.

 

A)        Hunting from staked sites only.

 

B)        Island Lake waterfowl rest area closed November 1 – February 28.

 

C)        No fishing allowed in the waterfowl hunting areas during the waterfowl hunting season.

 

4)         Cache River State Natural Area (hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out and report their harvest at the end of each day) (1)

 

5)         Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

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

 

7)         Carlyle Lake Project Lands and Waters

 

A)        No one may enter the subimpoundment area (except for parking areas) to hunt waterfowl before 4:30 a.m. each day of the waterfowl hunting season, or remain in the area after 3:00 p.m. each day of the waterfowl hunting season, except during the last 3 days of the Canada goose season and during any goose seasons that occur before or after Canada goose season, hunters must be out of the area by one hour after sunset and not return until 4:30 a.m. 

 

B)        The waters of Carlyle Lake are defined as the lake and that portion of the Kaskaskia River, North Fork, East Fork, Peppenhorst Branch and Allen Branch and Hurricane Creek that are within the boundaries of the Carlyle Lake property.

 

C)        Walk-in hunting shall be permitted in subimpoundment areas.  Boats with no motors are allowed in the subimpoundments.  Department personnel will designate boat launching locations.

 

D)        When the water level in the subimpoundment area is too high (due to flooding) to allow walk-in hunting, Department personnel shall post that the area is open to boats with motors (no airboats) operating at no wake speed and will designate boat launching locations.

 

E)        Known eagle protection areas will be posted by the Site Superintendent and will be closed to waterfowl hunting.

 

F)         Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  Decoys shall not be left out unattended or after 3:00 p.m. each day of the waterfowl season, except during the last 3 days of the Canada goose season and during any goose seasons that occur after Canada goose season, decoys shall not be left out unattended or later than one hour after sunset.

 

G)        All waterfowl hunters must register prior to hunting each day of the waterfowl hunting season at the nearest accessible registration box.  All hunters must sign out and record their harvest daily before they exit the area.

 

H)        The Army Corps of Engineers may build blinds on Corps managed lands and waters for management purposes only.

 

I)         During the last 3 days of Canada goose season, hunting hours shall close at sunset daily.

 

J)         Waterfowl hunters may not possess more than 25 non-toxic rounds of ammunitions while hunting within the subimpoundment areas during regular duck and goose seasons.

 

8)         Cave-In-Rock State Park – Kaegi Tract (2)

 

9)         Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (2)

 

10)       Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (1) (2)

 

A)        Except as described in subsections (b)(10)(C) and (E), hunting is allowed only from anchored portable blinds, except that no waterfowl hunting is permitted in the area extending from a line between the west side boat ramp and the southern-most point of the central peninsula to the Davenport Bridge.

 

B)        Waterfowl hunting is also permitted from the shore in designated walk-in hunting areas on a first-come, first-served basis.  Walk-in or boat hunting only.  No more than 4 hunters per party are permitted.

 

C)        Hunting from permanent land-based blinds is permitted only from Disabled Hunting Program and Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area blinds.  In all Boat Access Only Sites, boat hunters may access land to hunt that is open to upland game and/or forest game (including archery hunting area) hunting.  Hunters may use a boat to access these areas; no walk-in hunting at these sites.  All blind rules in subsection (b)(10)(C) apply.

 

D)        Each party must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  Decoys must be removed from the sites following each day's hunt.  Decoys must not be left unattended.

 

E)        Except for the Handicap Hunting Program facilities and Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area, blinds must be portable or built from material brought in or available at the blind site.  Blinds must be dismantled and removed at the end of each day's hunt.  No trees or bushes may be cut.

 

F)         There will be no hunting within 200 yards of developed areas or construction zones and 300 yards of electrical power lines.

 

G)        Hunting within the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area will, on designated days, be available only through a drawing conducted by the Springfield Permit Office.  Procedures for applying for a permit at the site will be publicly announced.

 

11)       Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out, reporting harvest at the end of each day.

 

B)        Hunting from staked sites only.

 

C)        No permanent blinds.

 

D)        Hunting by boat access only.

 

E)        No cutting vegetation on site.

 

F)         Hunting hours from legal opening to 1 p.m.  No fishing or boating allowed in waterfowl hunting areas during waterfowl season.

 

G)        Four hunters per blind site.

 

H)        No hunting during firearm deer seasons.

 

I)         All hunters must be checked out at sign in box by 2:00 p.m.

 

12)       Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

13)       Cypress Pond State Natural Area (1)

Hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out reporting harvest at the end of each day.

 

14)       Deer Pond State Natural Area (1)

Hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out reporting harvest at end of each day.

 

15)       Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

16)       Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

17)       Donnelley State Wildlife Area

 

A)        Hunting is prohibited on Tuesdays and Wednesdays except open on opening day and on the first Sunday immediately preceding the first firearm deer season as set forth in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.10 except as indicated in Section 590.25.

 

B)        Goose hunting is prohibited after the close of the duck season.

 

C)        All hunting shall be from designated blinds only.  Refilling or changing blinds is not permitted.

 

D)        All hunters must report to the check station to fill out an information card and turn in hunting licenses or valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license) before proceeding to blinds.

 

E)        A hunter may bring one or 2 hunting partners under the age of 21.

 

F)         $10 daily usage stamp must be purchased to hunt this area.  Non‑hunting partners between 16 and 20 years of age must pay daily usage stamp fee.  Non-hunting partners under 16 are not required to purchase a daily usage stamp.

 

G)        No outboard motors are allowed by public – only by authorized DNR personnel.

 

H)        No more than 3 persons shall occupy a blind at any one time.

 

I)         All parties are required to report to check station within one hour after termination of hunt or no later than 2:00 p.m.

 

J)         All parties must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys and a maximum of 48 decoys can be used, which must be removed upon the termination of the hunt.

 

K)        The first weekend and the third Saturday of the regular duck season shall be designated as youth hunt days.  This shall consist of youth or youths 15 and under plus one adult per blind.  There shall be no charge for the youth on these days.  Those blinds not allocated to youths shall be available to adults on those days.

 

L)        One blind shall be made available by priority claim to "disabled" persons (as defined in Section 2.33 of the Wildlife Code).

 

18)       Dug Hill State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out before leaving the site)

 

19)       Eagle Creek State Park (land hunting only allowed along the shoreline of Lake Shelbyville) (1)

 

20)       Eldon Hazlet State Park

 

A)        Three designated blind sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Walk-in hunting only is permitted with a maximum of 4 hunters per site.  All hunting must be from one blind site located between identically numbered stakes.

 

B)        Hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out and report their harvest at the end of each day.  All hunters must be checked out by 2:00 p.m. daily, except the last 3 days of the Canada goose season, and during any goose seasons that may occur after the Canada goose season, hunters must be checked out by one hour after sunset.

 

C)        Decoys shall not be left out unattended.

 

D)        When the lake floods this area and designated blind sites are not usable for walk-in hunting, the Department, by public announcement and/or posting, will open the affected area to hunting from boats per Carlyle Lake Project Lands and Waters’ rules.

 

21)       Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (1)

 

A)        Hunting is allowed from anchored, portable boat blinds only on a first come-first served basis.

 

B)        Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys which must be removed at the end of each hunting day.

 

C)        No hunting is allowed during firearm deer season.

 

22)       Fort Massac State Park (Kerr Farm Unit Only) (1) (2)

 

23)       Fox Ridge State Park (1) (2)

Hunting restricted to Embarras River and its flood waters.

 

24)       Fox River (1)

 

A)        Waterfowl hunting is prohibited on that portion of the Fox River running from the Kendall-Kane County line downstream to a line extending from the intersection of Route 71 and Douglas Street in Oswego, across the Fox River to the intersection of Hickory Lane and Riverview Drive.

 

B)        Waterfowl hunting shall be from Department designated sites only on that portion of the Fox River downstream from the line extending from the intersection of Route 71 and Douglas Street in Oswego, across the Fox River to the intersection of Hickory Lane and Riverview Drive downstream to the Fox River Drive Bridge.  Hunting at the designated sites will be on a first-come, first-served basis.  Statewide regulations shall be in effect with no other Sections of this Part being applicable.

 

25)       Fox River – Chain of Lakes (Lake and McHenry Counties) (1)

Waterfowl blind regulations of the Fox Waterway Agency are in full force and effect on those public waters under their jurisdiction.  Failure to comply with such regulations constitutes a violation of this Section. 

 

26)       Freeman Mine State Habitat Area

Hunting regulations will be publicly announced.

 

27)       Hackmatack State Natural Area (hunting allowed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only; 1 hunting party allowed of no more than 4 hunters; portable blinds only; all hunter items must be removed daily; first-come, first-served; sign in/out and report of harvest required) (1)

 

28)       Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area, Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area and Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Blind sites may be allocated on a daily draw basis conducted at the check stations 60 minutes before hunting time.  Hunters shall register as parties for the drawing; each party drawn shall be allowed to select blind site in order drawn; only those hunters registered in party shall be allowed to hunt with their party; no more than 3 hunters per party; persons under the age of 16 shall not be allowed to hunt unless accompanied by an adult.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

B)        Blind sites not selected during the drawing shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  Vacant blind sites shall not be allocated after the drawing until one hour after legal hunting time.  No blind sites shall be allocated after 10:00 a.m.  Hunters wishing to move to another blind site must report this move to the check station attendant in person before such a move.

 

C)        Access to water blind sites must be by boat only and from designated boat launch sites.

 

D)        All hunting must be from portable boat blinds, within 10 yards of the assigned numbered stake or buoy.  No more than 3 persons shall use one blind.

 

E)        Upon vacating blind sites, all hunters must report to the check station within one hour.  At this time, waterfowl bagged must be checked in and displayed to the station operator and hunting licenses returned.

 

F)         Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  Decoys must be picked up immediately after the hunt is over.

 

G)        Heidecke Lake and Braidwood Lake shall be closed to all fishing and boat traffic except for legal waterfowl hunters from 10 days prior to regular duck season until the close of the regular duck and Canada goose season.  Powerton Lake shall be closed to boat traffic from 7 days prior to opening of regular duck season until February 15, except for legal waterfowl hunters, and closed to all unauthorized entry during the regular duck season.

 

H)        No hunting on Monday and Tuesday at Heidecke and Braidwood Lakes.  No hunting at Powerton Lake on Monday through Thursday except hunting permitted on State holidays.

 

I)         It is unlawful to hunt waterfowl on the water area in any watercraft less than 16 feet long and 60 inches in beam and without a gas-powered motor.

 

J)         No guns may be carried from water blinds to retrieve waterfowl that fall on land.

 

K)        Hunting is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

 

L)        All water areas not posted with blind site numbers shall be refuge and are closed to all boat traffic except by authorized personnel.

 

M)       It is unlawful to shoot across any dike.

 

N)        Waterfowl hunting shall close with the conclusion of the duck season at Powerton Lake.  At Heidecke and Braidwood Lakes, waterfowl hunting closes at the end of duck or goose season, whichever is later.  No goose hunting is allowed prior to duck season.

 

29)       Henderson Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

30)       Hidden Springs State Forest (hunting restricted to Richland Creek and its floodwaters) (1) (2)

 

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

 

A)        Closed to waterfowl hunting on Mondays and Tuesdays.

 

B)        When duck season is closed, goose hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit.

 

32)       Horseshoe Lake Refuge

No hunting allowed, no boat motors except trolling motors will be allowed on Horseshoe Lake from October 15 to March 1.

 

33)       Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) – Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Unit Site permit required.

 

34)       Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Waterfowl hunting within agricultural fields in the Controlled Hunting Unit allowed on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning the opening day of the controlled pheasant hunting season until the close of the statewide waterfowl season.

 

B)        Waterfowl hunting on Prairie Lake will be allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning the opening day of the controlled pheasant hunting season until the close of the controlled pheasant hunting season.  Hunting hours on Prairie Lake will be legal opening shooting hours for Jim Edgar Panther Creek’s respective Illinois waterfowl zone to 12:00 p.m.

 

C)        Staked hunting sites may be allocated on a daily draw basis conducted at 5:00 a.m. at the site office.  Hunters shall register as parties for the drawing; each party drawn shall be allowed to select a hunt stake in order drawn; only those hunters registered in the party shall be allowed to hunt with the party; no more than 4 hunters per party; persons under the age of 16 shall not be allowed to hunt unless accompanied by an adult.  If no drawing occurs, the modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

D)        Access to water hunt stakes must be by boat only and from designated boat launch sites.

 

E)        Upon vacating hunt stakes, all hunters must report to the site office within one hour to sign out and report harvest.

 

F)         Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  Decoys must be picked up immediately after the hunt is over.

 

G)        Hunting shall take place from boats anchored within 10 yards of Department assigned hunt stakes only.  Hunters must occupy hunt stakes within one hour after registering at the check station.  No guns may be carried from hunt stakes to retrieve waterfowl that fall on land.

 

H)        Hunting is closed Christmas Day (December 25).

 

I)         Hunting parties may move to unoccupied hunting stakes after 10:00 a.m.  Hunting location moves need to be recorded when hunters check out after the hunt.

 

J)         When it is deemed necessary, the Department shall remove, move or close hunt stakes in order to carry out the operations of the overall management program.

 

35)       Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

The last 3 days of both the duck season and the regular Canada goose season.

 

A)        No waterfowl hunters may remain in the area after 3:00 p.m.  During the second firearm deer season, no waterfowl hunters may remain in the area after 12:00 p.m.  For those lands lying south of Illinois Route 154 and north of Illinois Route 13, the legal hunting hours shall be from statewide opening hour until statewide closing hour.

 

B)        All waterfowl hunting parties must use at least 6 decoys.  Hunting is allowed on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

C)        It is unlawful to leave duck and goose decoys unattended.  Decoys must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt.

 

D)        All waterfowl hunters must register prior to hunting each day of the waterfowl season at the nearest check station, and must sign out and record their harvest daily before they exit the area.

 

E)        The following regulations apply to the Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area:

 

i)          No waterfowl hunters may enter the area before 4:30 a.m. each day of the waterfowl hunting season.  No waterfowl hunters may remain in the area after 3:00 p.m.

 

ii)         Only waterfowl, coot, archery deer and fall archery turkey hunting (as provided by 17 Ill. Adm. Code 670 and 720) allowed in this area during the duck hunting season.

 

iii)        For the first 4 days of the duck season, all waterfowl hunting must occur within 10 yards of an assigned, numbered stake. Staked hunting locations may be allocated on a daily draw basis at the Highway 154 Boat Ramp at 4:00 a.m.  Hunters shall register as parties for the drawing; each party drawn shall be allowed to select a staked location in order drawn; only those hunters registered in a party shall be allowed to hunt with their party; no less than 2 hunters and no more than 4 hunters per party; moving from staked location to staked location is not allowed.  Staked locations not allocated during the drawing will not be hunted that day.  Starting on day 5 and for the remainder of the waterfowl season, hunting is allowed on a first-come, first-served basis and hunting need not occur by a stake.  Waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties.  If no drawing occurs pursuant to this subsection, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

iv)        Electric trolling motors only may be used.  All other motors must be removed or made inoperable.

 

F)         Disabled accessible waterfowl hunting blind (Dry Lake Access Area)

 

i)          Application for hunting dates should be received at the site office September 1-10 and will be allocated on a first request basis or via a drawing, if needed.

 

ii)         Three hunters are allowed in the blind.  At least one hunter must have a P-2 disabled certification.

 

iii)        Hunters must sign in/out and report harvest at check station after hunting.

 

36)       Kickapoo State Recreation Area (2)

 

A)        Hunting permitted only within 10 yards of staked sites.

 

B)        Hunters must hunt in parties of no more than 4 hunters per party.

 

C)        Hunters must sign in, sign out, and report harvest.

 

D)        Hunting hours are from legal opening to 1:00 p.m. during regular Illinois duck hunting season and statewide hours from the day after duck season closes until Canada goose season closes in the waterfowl hunting zone in which the site is located.

 

37)       Kidd Lake State Natural Area (west of railroad tracks only)

 

A)        Hunters must park in designated parking lots.

 

B)        Hunting permitted within 50 yards of staked sites only.

 

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

 

39)       Lake Calumet and entrance channel to Calumet River (1)

 

40)       Lake Michigan (1)

 

41)       Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Hunting hours are from legal opening until 1:00 p.m. each day, except the last 3 days of duck season, when hunting shall be allowed until sunset.

 

B)        Manned check station will be closed Christmas Day and every Sunday and Monday during regular duck hunting season.  Walk-in hunting will be allowed on Sundays and Mondays.

 

C)        Blind/pool sites may be allocated on a daily drawing basis at the manned waterfowl check station 90 minutes before legal hunting time (except Sunday and Monday when the manned check station is closed).  One additional drawing will be held at the manned check station at 9 a.m. for any unoccupied waterfowl blinds/pools.  If no drawing occurs pursuant to this paragraph, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

D)        Hunters shall register as a party/group of up to 4 hunters for the drawing (except on the statewide youth waterfowl hunting day, as authorized in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 685.110(c) when 5 people may occupy a blind/pool at one time if the party includes 2 youth hunters); each party/group drawn shall be allowed to select a blind/pool in the order drawn; only those hunters registered in that party/group shall be allowed to hunt with the party.

 

E)        Upon allocation of blinds/pools, all hunting parties/hunters must accept and hunt the blind/pool chosen, or reject the allocation of the blind/pool immediately.  All those rejecting the allocation of a blind/pool shall be ineligible to hunt within the blind/pool area for the remainder of that day.  Individual hunters, or hunting parties, can only be allocated one blind/pool per day. 

 

F)         Hunters must occupy their blinds/hunting area within one hour after registering at the manned check station.

 

G)        Waterfowl hunters must have their waterfowl hunting tag filled out with the date and blind/stake number or hunting location.  The card must be in possession of the hunter while hunting.  All waterfowl harvested must be reported on the waterfowl hunting tag and returned daily to the drop box at the hunter check station no later than 2:00 p.m.

 

H)        All hunters must park in designated areas only.  All areas are marked with corresponding numbers or area designations.  Only one vehicle per hunting party will be allowed, unless approval is granted by check station operator.

 

I)         Within the blind/pool area, a minimum of 6 decoys per hunting party are required while hunting waterfowl.  No decoys are required within the walk-in areas.  All decoys must be removed from the area at the end of the day's hunt.

 

J)         A 25 shotgun shell limit per hunter, per day, applies on this area.  It is unlawful for a hunter to have in his or her possession more than 25 shotgun shells while on the site.

 

K)        Hunting must be from allocated blind (or within 10 yards of blind) or pool location.  Hunters may hunt other designated waterfowl hunting areas that do not have blinds or pools; however, they must maintain a minimum distance of 200 yards from the nearest blind/pool or other hunting parties.

 

L)        Attempts to claim a blind/pool by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part.  Insertion of a boat into a boat hide and/or the spread of decoys before a blind/pool shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind/pool.

 

M)       Due to safety factors, persons under 16 years of age shall not hunt, or attempt to hunt, unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or person designated by the parent or guardian who is 18 years of age or older.

 

N)        Claiming or attempting to claim any blind/pool that is legally occupied and/or harassing, in any manner, the occupants of a blind/pool that is legally occupied is unlawful.

 

O)        Boats without motors may be used within the walk-in areas.

 

42)       Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

A)        Hunting is restricted to the Vermilion River and its flood waters.

 

B)        Hunters must hunt in parties of no more than 4 hunters per party.

 

C)        Hunters must sign in, sign out, and report harvest.

 

D)        Hunting hours are from legal opening to 1:00 p.m. during regular Illinois duck hunting season and statewide hours from the day after the duck season closes until the Canada goose season closes in the waterfowl hunting zone in which the site is located.

 

43)       Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Blind sites may be allocated by a daily drawing to be conducted at 4:30 a.m.  Blind sites not selected during the drawing (or in the event that personnel are not available to conduct drawing) shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until one hour before shooting time; and then after 9:00 a.m.  All hunters must register before entering the hunting area.  Hunting hours end at 1:00 p.m.; all hunters must be off the water or out of the field by 2:30 p.m. daily.

 

B)        Upon vacating their blinds, all hunters must place their completed harvest cards in the collection box located at the boat ramp or site headquarters.

 

C)        There will be duly posted waterfowl refuges.

 

D)        No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time.

 

E)        The west arm of the lake shall be closed to all waterfowl hunting.

 

F)         Blind sites shall be determined by the Department and marked with numbered stakes.  When it is deemed necessary, the Department shall remove, move or close blind sites in order to carry out the operations of the overall management program.

 

G)        Hunters wishing to move to another vacant blind location may do so on a first-come, first-served basis, providing they include the blind change on the harvest card and report their kill for each blind.  If hunters do not occupy the stake they have drawn by legal shooting time, they forfeit the right to the staked hunting location.

 

H)        Access to water blind sites shall be by boat only and from the east side boat ramps.  Access to land sites shall be by walk-in only and from nearby hunter parking lots.  No parking is allowed along county roads.

 

I)         All water hunting must be from one portable blind or one anchored portable boat blind located between the assigned numbered stakes, no more than 10 yards from shore.  All land hunting must be done from a position within 50 feet of the assigned numbered stake.

 

J)         Wounded waterfowl that fall on land, other than areas designated as refuge, shall be retrieved by foot.  However, no gun may be carried while attempting to recover such birds.

 

K)        Blind site water:  A position between 2 like numbered stakes where a blind may be located.  Blind site land:  A position within 50 feet of numbered stakes where a hunter may set up or a temporary blind may be located.

 

L)        Fishing and boating shall be prohibited in the east arm of the lake during the waterfowl season.

 

M)       Each party must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys, and all decoys must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

N)        When it is deemed necessary for public safety reasons, such as flooding, high winds, or heavy fog, the Department will close the lake area to all fishing and all boating activity except for non-water hunting programs.

 

O)        This site is closed to all users except firearm deer hunters during the firearms deer seasons.

 

P)         During the last 3 days of Canada Goose season, hunting hours shall close at sunset daily.

 

44)       Oakford State Conservation Area (2)

 

45)       Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, East Conant and Galum Units (2)

 

A)        Hunting hours are from legal opening to 1:00 p.m.; hunters must be out of the field by 2:00 p.m.

 

B)        Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys; all decoys must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt.

 

C)        Hunters participating in daily lottery for blinds or staked sites must register as a group not to exceed 4 hunter names per card.  A hunter's name may not appear on more than one lottery card.

 

D)        Blind sites may be allocated by daily drawing during duck season at a location designated by the site beginning at 4:30 a.m. in November, 5:00 a.m. in December and 5:30 a.m. in January.  All hunting must occur within 10 yards of an assigned, numbered stake, except for stakes identified at the check station where hunters may hunt from any place in the wetland in which the stake is located.  There will be no moving to staked locations after initial drawing.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

E)        Successful participants must have their lottery card stamped with the date and blind number.  The card must be in the possession of the hunter or group while hunting.  Waterfowl harvested must be reported on blind selection card and returned daily to a hunter check station box.

 

F)         Waterfowl hunters not participating in daily draw must report their harvest on site hunting permit by February 15.

 

G)        Waterfowl hunters not participating in the daily lottery for staked sites may not access Pyramid State Park property until 4:30 a.m. in November, 5:00 a.m. in December and 5:30 a.m. in January.

 

H)        Waterfowl hunters may not hunt on main lakes other than staked locations, with the exceptions of Goldeneye and Redhead Lakes in the Galum Unit.  Hunters may hunt crop fields and wetlands that have not been staked; however, they must be a minimum of 200 yards from the nearest staked location or another hunter.

 

I)         No waterfowl hunting is allowed within 200 yards of the Captain or Denmark Unit Waterfowl Rest Area.

 

J)         The land and water portion of the Captain and Denmark Unit Waterfowl Rest Area is closed to all entry from October 28 through February 28 and closed to all waterfowl hunting during other periods.

 

K)        After duck season is closed and during the Canada goose hunting season, hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag.

 

L)        The area is closed to waterfowl hunting on Mondays and December 25.

 

46)       Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

47)       Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters

 

A)        All waterfowl hunters and all boats must be out of the Casey Fork and Big Muddy subimpoundments by 2:00 p.m. each day of the waterfowl season and not return until 4:30 a.m., except during the last 3 days of the Canada goose season, hunters must be out of the areas by one hour after sunset and not return until 4:30 a.m.

 

B)        No hunting permitted from the subimpoundment dams.

 

C)        While waterfowl hunting, no one may possess any tool or device designed to cut brush or limbs, except common hunting knives and pocket knives.

 

D)        No waterfowl hunting permitted within 200 yards of the refuge boundary, or within 100 yards of any private property boundary.

 

E)        All boat traffic is prohibited from entering the subimpoundments for 7 days prior to youth waterfowl season until opening day of regular waterfowl season.  Boat access permitted during youth waterfowl season.

 

F)         All waterfowl hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out and report their harvest at the end of each day's hunt.

 

G)        Air boats will not be allowed in the Casey Fork

Subimpoundment, the Big Muddy subimpoundment, and the impoundments on Corps of Engineers' managed areas such as Atchison Creek, Gun Creek and Rend City Wetland during the regular duck, youth waterfowl and Canada goose seasons.  When ice conditions do not allow access at boat ramps by normal watercraft, then air boats can be used in the Casey Fork and Big Muddy subimpoundment.

 

H)        Permanent blinds at the Whistling Wings Access Area shall be regulated as follows:

 

i)          During goose season, a separate drawing may be held for the pits at Whistling Wings.  This drawing will be held at the Cottonwood check station following the drawing for staked hunting sites.  Hunters may not register for more than one drawing per day.  Unsuccessful hunters in the drawing for Whistling Wings pits may select any unclaimed staked location after the drawings.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

ii)         Hunters who wish to hunt together must register as a hunting party and be present at the drawing.

 

iii)        All hunters must have the registration card from the check station in their possession while hunting.

 

iv)        Hunting parties can only hunt from the pit location that they chose in that day's drawing.  No moving to or hunting from any other pit location is allowed.

 

v)         No more than 15 dozen decoys may be used per pit.

 

vi)        No more than 4 hunters will be allowed in a pit or hunting party.

 

I)         Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys at each blind site, and all decoys must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt.  Decoys may not be placed prior to the season opening date.  Decoys must be placed and removed daily and may not be left unattended.

 

J)         During the last 3 days of Canada goose season, hunting hours shall close at sunset daily.

 

K)        The land and water portion of the Rend Lake Refuge is closed to trespassing during waterfowl season.  The location of the Rend Lake Refuge is described as follows:

 

i)          Bounded on the south by a buoy line, approximating the Jefferson-Franklin County Line.

 

ii)         Bounded on the east by a buoy line and/or signs approximating the channel of the Casey Fork Creek.

 

iii)        Bounded on the west by a buoy line and/or signs approximating the channel of the Big Muddy River.

 

iv)        Bounded on the north portion of the Big Muddy River by a buoy line and/or signs approximating a line which would extend west from Ina, Illinois.

 

v)         Bounded on the north portion of the Casey Fork Creek by the Casey Fork Subimpoundment Dam.

 

vi)        Bounded on Nason Point by refuge boundary signs at project limits.

 

L)        Waterfowl Hunters may not possess more than 25 non-toxic rounds of ammunition per person while hunting within the Casey Fork Draw and Big Muddy subimpoundment areas for regular duck and goose seasons.

 

M)       Staked Hunting Areas – Those areas designated as a staked hunting area will be publicly announced and the following regulations will apply:

 

i)          All hunting must occur within 10 yards of an assigned, numbered stake except for stakes identified at the check station where hunters may hunt from any place in the field in which the stake is located.

 

ii)         Stakes may be assigned via a daily drawing held at 4:00 a.m. during November, 4:30 a.m. in December and 5:00 a.m. in January.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510(d)(3) shall apply.

 

iii)        Check station at the Bonnie Dam Access Area may be operated on a daily basis through the second weekend of the waterfowl season.  Thereafter, Bonnie Dam check station will only be open on weekends and holidays as posted at the check station.  Cottonwood Access Area may be operated on a daily basis throughout the waterfowl season for both Bonnie Dam and Cottonwood Hunting Areas.  Hunters who wish to hunt together at a staked location must register as a hunting party and be present for the drawing.  Only those persons in that party may hunt at the assigned stake.  No more than 5 persons shall be in a hunting party.  If check stations are not operated, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

iv)        All hunters must register at the check station. Hunters arriving at the check station after the initial draw will have the opportunity to select any stakes that are still available up to one hour before legal shooting time.  Hunters may enter the subimpoundment up to ½ hour before legal shooting time or between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

 

v)         Hunting parties can only hunt from the staked hunting location that they chose in that day's drawing.  No moving to or hunting from any other staked hunting location is allowed.  Once a staked hunting location is killed out, no other hunting party may hunt from that stake for the remainder of that day.

 

vi)        When hunting parties have killed their legal daily bag limit of ducks (not including coots and mergansers) and/or Canada geese in respect to the legal hunting season dates they must vacate the hunting site.

 

vii)       Hunters must sign in and out and report their harvest on the cards at the access area where they launch.

 

N)        Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys at each blind site, and all decoys must be picked up at the end of the day's hunt.  Decoys may not be placed prior to the season opening date.  Decoys must be placed and removed daily and may not be left unattended.

 

48)       Saline County State Conservation Area (1) (2)

 

A)        Waterfowl hunting is allowed north of the township road only.

 

B)        Walk-in hunting only.

 

49)       Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

50)       Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Hunting locations may be allocated by a daily drawing to be conducted at 4:30 a.m.  Hunters will register at the hunter registration box at the south boat ramp only.  Hunting locations not selected during the drawing (or in the event that personnel are not available to conduct the drawing) shall be allocated on a first-come/first-served basis until one hour before shooting time; and then after 9:00 a.m.  All hunters must register before entering the hunting area.  Hunting hours end at 1:00 p.m.; all hunters must be off the water or out of the field by 2:30 p.m. daily.

 

B)        All hunters must place their completed harvest cards in the collection box located at the boat ramp or site headquarters at the end of the day's hunt.

 

C)        No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at a time.

 

D)        Hunting locations (one each) are located within the left and right lake arms which are divided by the north lake point.

 

E)        Hunters wishing to move to another vacant hunting location may do so on a first-come/first-served basis provided they note the change on the harvest card and report their kill for each stake they hunted.

 

F)         If hunters do not occupy their hunting location by legal shooting time then they forfeit the right to hunt that location.

 

G)        Access to hunting locations shall be accessed by boat and only from the south boat ramps.

 

H)        All hunting must be done from portable blinds or anchored boat blinds within hunting locations only.

 

I)         Wounded waterfowl that fall on land shall be retrieved by hunters on foot.  Carrying shotguns or bow and arrows while attempting to recover wounded waterfowl shall not be permitted.

 

J)         Each party must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  All decoys must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

51)       Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

A)        Hunters using the main walk-in hunting area from opening day of the Central Zone duck season through the first Sunday of the Central Zone duck season must have a permit issued from the site office.  Procedures for issuance of permits will be publicly announced.

 

B)        Hunters using the walk-in area shall use the check station at the headquarters area located 8 miles northwest of Chandlerville just off Route 78.

 

C)        Walk-in waterfowl hunting shall be permitted only in the area posted for this purpose.

 

D)        All hunters using a walk-in area must report to the check station to fill out information cards and to turn in hunting licenses or valid photo identification (example:  Firearm Owner's Identification Card, driver's license) before proceeding to area.

 

E)        Topper's Hole is a walk-in area accessed by boat only, no check-in, check-out, no permanent blinds, hunting parties must stay at least 200 yards apart, hunting parties shall hunt over no less than 6 decoys, daily hunting hours are legal shooting hours through 1:00 p.m. CST.

 

F)         The Baker tract is a lottery-draw walk-in area with 4 separate hunting compartments.  One party of hunters (up to 4 hunters per party) will be permitted to hunt in each hunting compartment.  The allocation of the 4 Baker tract hunting compartments may be by drawing the morning of the hunt, 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to legal shooting hours on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday of the Central Zone waterfowl season, except during firearm deer season, at which time the Baker tract is closed to waterfowl hunting.  Parties must register for the draw together on the same card.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

G)        Upon the completion of hunting, hunters must report to the check station within one hour.

 

H)        Boating and fishing is prohibited in the impoundment areas during the duck season, except that walk-in only access for fishing from the bank is permitted after 1:00 p.m.

 

I)         No person shall trespass on the Barkhausen Refuge during the period from October 1 through end of goose season.

 

J)         No person shall trespass on the Marion-Pickerel Waterfowl Refuge during the period from October 1 through the last day of the waterfowl season, unless prior permission for a specific reason (such as access to private land or to retrieve dead or wounded game) is granted by the Site Superintendent.

 

K)        No person shall enter the Ash Swale Refuge during the period from October 26 through the end of goose season.

 

L)        When the Central Zone goose season extends beyond the duck season, goose hunting shall be permitted with statewide hunting hours in effect.  Hunters need not occupy a blind.  All hunting must be conducted within non-refuge areas.

 

M)       No hunting permitted from the walk-in area subimpoundment levee.

 

N)        Hunters may use boats without motors in the walk-in area; the construction and/or use of permanent blinds in the walk-in area is prohibited.

 

O)        Flood rules will be initiated when the Illinois River reaches 15.0' at the Beardstown gauge.  Flood rules will consist of:

 

i)          No daily drawing will occur at the check station. Hunters may hunt from any area of the site open to hunting. Blind builders may claim their blinds regardless of river stage as long as they occupy the blind 1 hour before legal shooting time. Blinds not claimed by 1 hour prior to legal shooting time are available to other hunters.

 

ii)         Hunters must stay 200 yards apart.

 

iii)        Rest areas and refuges remain closed to hunting and all travel.

 

iv)        Walk-In will be open to outboard motor traffic at 15.0'

 

v)         The Baker Unit will remain as the regular draw days until the river reading reaches 18.0' and then it will be open rules as is the remainder of the site.

 

vi)        All hunting stops at 1:00 p.m.

 

vii)       Lempe Island is closed to hunting.

 

52)       Sangchris Lake State Park

 

A)        During the last 3 days of the regularly scheduled Canada goose season, hunting hours will close at statewide closing.

 

B)        Blind sites may be allocated by a daily drawing to be conducted 90 minutes prior to hunting time.  Blind sites not selected during the drawing (or in the event that personnel are not available to conduct the drawing) shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  (During that portion of the Canada goose season that follows the duck season, the west side goose pit area, the west arm blind sites and east arm blind sites south of power lines shall be available for goose hunting and shall be allocated on a daily drawing basis to be held at 5:30 a.m. daily.)

 

C)        During that portion of the light goose season which follows the regular Canada goose season, the west-side goose pit area blinds, and designated fields west of the west boat ramp shall be available daily on a first-come, first-served basis.  Hunters must sign in at the appropriate parking area no earlier than 5 a.m.

 

D)        All hunting must be from registered blind sites only and hunters must occupy their blinds within one hour after registering at the check station.

 

E)        Upon vacating their blinds, hunters must place their completed harvest cards in the collection boxes located at either the east or west boatdock.

 

F)         There will be a duly posted waterfowl refuge.  These areas shall be closed to all boat traffic (except as allowed in subsection (b)(52)(K)).  Bank fishing along the dam shall be permitted.

 

G)        No more than 4 persons shall occupy a blind at one time.

 

H)        The center arm of the lake shall be closed to all waterfowl hunting.

 

I)         Blind sites shall be determined by the Department and marked with a numbered stake.  When it is deemed necessary, the Department shall remove, move or close blind sites in order to carry out the operations of the overall management program.

 

J)         Hunters wishing to move to another blind location may do so after 10 a.m. providing they include the blind change on the harvest card and report their kill for each blind.

 

K)        Access to water blind sites shall be by boat only and from designated boat launch sites.  Corridors located along the edges of the existing refuge will be established to provide access to all available blind sites as designated by Site Superintendent when conditions warrant.

 

L)        All hunting must be from one portable blind or one anchored portable boat blind located within a numbered cove and between the assigned numbered stakes or from one Department designated blind or pit.

 

M)       Wounded waterfowl that fall on land, other than areas designated as refuge, shall be retrieved by foot.  However, no gun may be carried while attempting to recover such birds.

 

N)        No unauthorized pits or blinds shall be built on State managed land.

 

O)        Blind sites:  A position between 2 like numbered stakes within a cove or other Department designated site where a blind may be located.

 

P)         Fishing and boating shall be prohibited in the east and west arms of the lake during the period from 10 days prior to the duck season through the end of the duck season, unless the youth waterfowl hunt is more than 10 days before the regular duck season, then the east and west arms will be closed to accommodate the youth waterfowl hunt.  Fishing and boating shall be prohibited in the west arm of the lake and the east arm of the lake south of the power lines during that portion of the Canada goose season that follows the duck season.

 

Q)        Each party must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys, and all decoys must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

R)        When it is deemed necessary for public safety reasons, such as flooding, high winds, or heavy fog, the Department will close the lake area to all fishing and all boating activity except for non-water hunting programs.

 

S)         During flood conditions, waterfowl hunters may hunt the tailwaters of Sangchris Lake dam including Clear Creek and the South Fork of the Sangamon River.  Decoys must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

T)         West-side goose pit area blinds will be available every day each week of the regular Canada goose season.

 

U)        Hunters in the west-side goose pit area may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit after the close of the Central Zone duck season.

 

53)       Shawnee National Forest, Upper and Lower Bluff Lakes

 

A)        Legal entry time is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is end of legal shooting time for all hunters.

 

B)        All hunting must be by walking in or boat in only.

 

54)       Shawnee National Forest, LaRue Scatters

 

A)        All hunting must be by walking in or in boats without motors.

 

B)        Legal entry time is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is 2:00 p.m. for all hunters.

 

55)       Shawnee National Forest, Oakwood Bottoms (Green Tree Reservoir west of the Big Muddy levee)

 

A)        All hunting must be by walking into the area.

 

B)        No person shall tamper with or attempt to manipulate any of the gates, pumps or structures in the subimpoundment area.

 

C)        Legal entry time is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is 2:00 p.m. for all hunters in flooded management compartments.

 

D)        Except for youth waterfowl hunters and their chaperones, the site shall be closed to all entry for 7 days prior to opening of duck season for the zone the site is in.

 

E)        It shall be unlawful to trespass upon areas designated as waterfowl refuge from 14 days prior to the start of regular waterfowl season through the close of regular waterfowl season.

 

56)       Shawnee National Forest, Cape Bend Wetlands

 

A)        Legal entry is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is legal shooting hours.

 

B)        All entry and hunting must be by walking into the area.

 

57)       Shawnee National Forest, Sexton Creek Wetlands

 

A)        Legal entry is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is legal shooting hours.

 

B)        All entry and hunting must be by walking into the area.

 

58)       Shawnee National Forest, Big Muddy Wetlands (west of the Big Muddy Levee)

 

A)        Legal entry time is 4:30 a.m. and exit time is 2:00 p.m. for all hunters.

 

B)        All hunting must be done by walking in or boat in only.

 

59)       Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

A)        Waterfowl hunting shall be permitted as described in this subsection (b)(59) except in duly posted restricted and "No Hunting" areas.

 

B)        Waterfowl hunting in the Fish Hook, North Dunn, McGee, and Jonathan Creek Waterfowl Areas may be allotted by a daily drawing for the first 2 days of the regular waterfowl season.  Parties must register for drawings between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Central Standard Time at the check station on those days.  Each party drawn shall be allowed to choose one of the staked sites in the waterfowl area.  Parties must select sites in the order they are drawn.  Maximum party size is 4 persons.  In addition, the following regulations shall apply.

 

i)          All parties must hunt within 10 yards of their assigned stake.

 

ii)         All parties must be in place by ½ hour before hunting time.

 

iii)        All parties are required to report their harvest by 2:00 p.m. following each hunt.

 

iv)        If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

C)        Hunting in the Jonathan Creek, North Dunn and McGee Waterfowl Areas shall be restricted to designated, staked sites on a first-come, first-served basis except as noted in this subsection (b)(59)(C).  Hunting in the Fish Hook Area shall be restricted to designated, staked sites on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 14 days of the Illinois Central Zone duck season, except as noted in this subsection (b)(59)(C).  A hunting party must hunt within 10 yards of the stake.

 

D)        Each hunting party in the Fish Hook, Dunn, Jonathan Creek and McGee Waterfowl Areas is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.

 

E)        Waterfowl hunting only is permitted in the Fish Hook, Dunn, Jonathan Creek and McGee Waterfowl Areas during the regular waterfowl season, except that pheasant, rabbit and quail hunting is permitted after 1:00 p.m. daily beginning the day after the close of the Central Zone Duck Season.

 

F)         During the regular waterfowl season, only licensed waterfowl hunters with valid site waterfowl permits who are in the pursuit of waterfowl are permitted on the Kaskaskia River from the Strickland Boat Access north to the Illinois Central Railroad bridge from ½ hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m.

 

60)       Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (1) (2)

 

61)       Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

 

A)        On the main lake hunting is allowed from a boat blind only in the designated areas.

 

B)        Only walk-in hunting is allowed in the subimpoundment.

 

C)        Hunting shall be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis.  All hunters must use 6 decoys, minimum.

 

D)        Hunters must sign in and out and report harvest.

 

62)     Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (1) (2)

 

A)        Each hunting party is required to hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys at each blind site, and all decoys must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt.

 

B)        Areas designated as Rest Areas are closed to all access during the Canada Goose Season only.

 

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

All hunters must sign in and out and report kill.

 

64)       Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line Waterfowl Management Area)

 

A)        Blind and stake sites may be allocated on a daily draw basis at the site shop building 60 minutes prior to hunting time.  Hunters shall register as parties for the drawing; each party drawn shall be allowed to select a blind or stake site in order drawn; only those hunters registered in a party shall be allowed to hunt with their party; no less than 2 hunters and no more than 4 hunters per party; persons under the age of 16 shall not be allowed to hunt unless accompanied by an adult.  If no drawing occurs, then modifications will be posted at the site and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) shall apply.

 

B)        Blinds and stakes not allocated during the drawing or through a modification pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(d)(3) will not be hunted that day. Moving from location to location is not allowed.

 

C)        Access to hunting sites is from the hunter parking lot located south of the blind area only.

 

D)        Each hunting party must hunt over a minimum of 6 decoys.  Decoys must be picked up immediately after the hunt is over.

 

E)        Hunting hours end at 12:00 p.m. and all hunters must be out of the area by 1:00 p.m.  Daily entry into the area is restricted until after the drawing for hunting sites.

 

F)         Area closed to hunting on Mondays, Tuesdays and December 24-28.  The site shall be open only for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunt on December 28, pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 685.110.

 

G)        When duck season is closed, hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit.

 

65)       Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit (1) (2)

 

66)       Wise Ridge State Natural Area (1)

 

67)       Wolf Creek State Park (land hunting only allowed along the shoreline of Lake Shelbyville) (1)

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.70  Ohio River

 

a)         Waterfowl hunting will be allowed on the Ohio River bordering Illinois. Season dates and bag limits are governed by the regulations which apply to the Southern Zone (Section 590.10(i)(5)).

 

b)         The following areas of the Ohio River shall be designated as waterfowl refuges and shall be closed to all hunting from October 15 through March 15:

 

1)         The Ohio River from Smithland Lock and Dam upstream to a power line crossing the river at approximately River Mile 911.5 and Stewart Island.

 

2)         The Ohio River in the vicinity of the Ballard Wildlife Management Area located in Ballard County, Kentucky, from a point 50 yards upstream from Dam 53, downstream to a line from the confluence of Hodges Creek to a point fifty yards downstream of the downstream boundary of the Ballard Wildlife Management Area.

 

c)         Waterfowl hunting hours shall end at 2:00 p.m. local time daily within areas open to hunting on the Ohio River Islands Wildlife Management Area and the Kentucky portion of the Ohio River from the power line crossing at river mile 911.5 north to Carrsville, Kentucky.

 

d)         Violation of this Section is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.2).

 

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 16457, effective October 8, 2010)

 

Section 590.80  Early and Late Goose (All Species) Hunting Regulations on Department Sites

 

a)         During goose hunting seasons that begin before or extend beyond the regular duck season, statewide regulations and site specific regulations for goose hunting, as indicated in Sections 590.40, 590.50 and 590.60, shall apply to all sites (except those closed in subsections (c), (d), (e) and (f)) with the following exceptions:

 

1)         Check in and check out (or sign in and out) is required only at sites with an asterisk (*).  Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (2).

 

2)         No fees will be charged for hunting for seasons before duck season or for seasons after the regular Canada goose season.

 

3)         No sites are closed to fishing and boating, unless authorized by administrative rule, during seasons before the regular duck season or for seasons after the regular Canada goose season.

 

4)         Hunting from a completed blind or staked site is waived during seasons held before the regular duck season or for seasons held after the regular Canada goose season at sites marked with an @.

 

5)         Hunting from a staked site (blind need not be completed) is required during seasons held before the regular duck season at sites marked with a #.

 

6)         During goose seasons held prior to regular duck season, no hunting is allowed in designated dove management fields or within 100 yards of such fields.

 

7)         During goose seasons held after the Canada goose season all restrictions regarding the use of decoys or the number of shotgun shells that hunters can possess are no longer in force.

 

8)         During goose seasons held after Canada goose season, statewide hunting hours apply.

 

b)         The following sites will be open to all goose hunting seasons:

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area * @

 

Cache River State Natural Area *

 

Carlyle Lake Project Lands and Waters, including North Allen Branch Waterfowl Management Area *

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park #

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (permit required, available at Red Hills State Park) (2)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreational Area – early season goose hunting in waterfowl hunting areas east of Parnell Bridge and North of Route 54 only.  Any goose hunting seasons after the regular Canada goose seasons will close March 15. (2)

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area (2) #

 

Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (2) *

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (2)

 

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) (blind builders or partners must occupy their blinds by 1 hour before opening hunting hour each day in order to claim their blind for the day; attempts to claim blinds by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part; the insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind) # *

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed to hunting) *

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Sparland and Duck Ranch Units @ (2)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Branch and Marshall Units (hunters must report their harvest via the online windshield card system during early Canada goose and regular Canada goose season after duck hunting is closed) * @

 

Meredosia Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area (Pools 25 and 26) (no hunting is allowed in the designated Batchtown Waterfowl Rest Area, Crull Hollow Rest Area and Godar Rest Area; blind builders or partners must occupy their blinds by ½ hour before opening hunting hour each day in order to claim their blind for the day; attempts to claim blinds by any manner other than actual occupation shall be considered in violation of this Part; the insertion of a boat into the boat hide and/or the spreading of decoys before a blind shall not be considered legal occupation of a blind) @

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, and 18 @

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, and 24 @

 

Oakford State Conservation Area (2)

 

Quincy Bay (Mississippi River Pool 21)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area * (2)

 

Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters (waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties) @

 

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (goose seasons held prior to regular duck season shall open with teal season and shooting hours are sunrise until 1:00 p.m.) * @

 

Saline County State Conservation Area * (2)

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area * @

 

Shawnee Forest, LaRue Scatters

 

Shawnee Forest, Oakwood Bottoms

 

Shawnee Forest, Upper Bluff Lake

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (rest areas open to hunting during goose season before and after the regular goose season) (2)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area *

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit *

 

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area * @ (2)

 

c)         The following sites will be open to any goose hunting seasons that occur before the regular duck season through the end of the regular Canada goose season:

 

Apple River Canyon State Park – Salem and Thompson Units (2)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting north of County Road N6^th only; no fishing north of County Road N6^th during this season) * #

 

Eagle Creek State Park (land hunting only allowed along the shoreline of Lake Shelbyville)

 

Lake Shelbyville − West Okaw and Kaskaskia State Fish and Wildlife Area (must have site specific permit)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (open prior to regular duck season only; permit issued through on-site drawing) * #

 

Starved Rock State Park #

 

Wolf Creek State Park (land hunting only allowed along the shoreline of Lake Shelbyville)

 

d)         The following sites will be open to all goose hunting during any Canada goose hunting seasons that occur after the regular duck season:

 

Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area * @

 

Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area (when duck season is closed, goose hunters may not possess more than 5 shot shells for every Canada goose allowed in the daily bag limit) *

 

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunters must check in and out at the self‑check box on the site; hunting from stakes or pits only; 4 persons per stake; hunters cannot check in before 5:00 a.m. the day of the hunt; stakes or pots allocated on a first come-first served basis) *

 

Freeman Mine State Habitat Area *

 

Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area *

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (Open Unit, West Open Unit, and Quail Management Unit only)

 

Kankakee River State Park (2)

 

Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area *

 

Lake Sinnissippi State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area * @

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2) *

 

Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Redwing Slough State Natural Area

 

Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting from registered blinds or within 10 yards of staked blind sites is permitted after the close of the duck season) *

 

William W. Powers State Conservation Area *

 

e)         The following sites will be open to any goose hunting seasons that occur after the regular Canada goose hunting season:

 

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area (from pits or staked blind sites only) *

 

Freeman Mine State Habitat Area *

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (public hunting areas) * @

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) – Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Units (site permit and harvest report required)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (Open Unit, West Open Unit, Quail Management Unit only)

 

Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (East Subunit only; no hunting on or adjacent to lakes or within 200 yards of roads, developed recreation areas, public use facilities and construction or industrial sites; hunting is on a first-come, first-served basis; no entry before 4:30 a.m.; waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties; no permanent blinds allowed; all blinds must be of a portable nature and/or constructed with natural vegetation at the blind site; no pits can be dug; all materials must be removed or dismantled at the end of the day's hunt; all waterfowl hunting parties must use at least 12 decoys that must be attended at all times and must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt) *

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, East Conant and Galum Units (no hunting in Waterfowl Rest Areas) @ (2)

 

Sangchris Lake State Park *

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area *

 

Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (from pits only) *

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line and Controlled Hunting Area) * @

 

f)         The following sites will be closed to all goose hunting seasons that occur outside the regular duck season dates:

 

Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Kidd Lake State Natural Area (units west of the railroad tracks only)

 

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area *

 

Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Redwing Slough/Deer Lake State Natural Area

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11683, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 590.EXHIBIT A  The Non-Toxic Shot Zones of Illinois (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 15 Ill. Reg. 13293, effective September 3, 1991)