Beaver Dam

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
14548 Beaver Dam Lane, Plainview, IL 62676
(217) 854-8020

Location: The park is located 7 miles southwest of Carlinville, 8 miles northwest of Shipman, IL, in Macoupin County.

Description: The hunting area consists of 430 acres. Approximately 67 acres of cropland and 38 acres of grassland and old-field​ are surrounded and interspersed by gently rolling hills of timber and brushy draws. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site. 

Site Specific Regulations:

1. Site hunting permits are required for all hunters. Squirrel hunters will be required to register online at https://dnr2.illinois.gov/windshieldcard/ and obtain their site permit and windshield card. All hunters must possess and display a Site permit on the dash of the vehicle while hunting.
2. Squirrel hunters will be required to report their harvest and hunter trips to the online system prior to February 15th or the hunter will forfeit hunting privileges at the Site the following year.
3. It is unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages while on the Site property for purposes of hunting or trapping.
4. No hunting will be permitted within 300 feet of developed recreation areas or residences.
5. Parking is allowed only in designated parking lots shown on the Site map.
6. Management activities including, but not limited to prescribed burning and herbicide treatments may occur on site at any time. 
   

Turkey (Spring)

1. Permits are allocated by the Springfield Permit Office from applications. Windshield card also required.
2. The permit allows for taking one wild turkey by shotgun or bow and arrow.
3. Two permits are allocated during each season. Permits are not transferable.
4. Statewide hunting hours of ½ hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. are in effect.
5. Hunting is allowed only on park property west of the vacated township road. (Area #1 on map)

Deer (Archery)

1. Deer archery seaon has now gone to statewide regulations, with the exception of anterless deer must be harvested at the site prior to the harvest of an anterlered deer. All deer harvested ust be reported to the IL Check System per Statewide regulations. There is no limit on the number of anterless deer that may be harvested with the proper permits. 
2. Hunters will be required to sign in and out and report harvest at the site office. Reporting must occur at the end of each hunt/day.
3. It is unlawful to construct or use any tree stand using nails, screws, wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree which it is installed. All tree stands must be portable. One stand per hunter. Any stand left unattended must be tagged and labeled with name, address and telephone number. NO PERMANENT TREE STANDS ALLOWED.
4. Archery hunting will be allowed during the firearm season. This stie is also open to archery hunting during the Youth, Muzzleloader, and Late Winter Firearm Deer seasons. All hunters must wear a solid blaze orange cap and vest as required for firearm deer hunting during these seasons. 
5. Statewide hunting hours are in effect.
6. Disabled hunting is available in the designated blind location upon request and reservation. Class P2A. Disabled hunters are required to be accompanied by a non-disabled partner, who may also hunt from the same blind location. 
7. Disabled hunting is available in the designated blind location upon request and reservation. Class P2A disabled hunters are required to be accompanied by a non-disabled partner, who may also hunt from the same blind location. 

Turkey (Fall Archery)

1. Statewide hunting hours and regulations are in effect. It will be unlawful to construct or to use any tree stand using nails, screws, wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed. All tree stands must be portable. One stand per hunter. Any stand left unattended during the week hunted must be tagged and labeled with name, address, and telephone number. NO PERMANENT TREE STANDS ALLOWED. 
2. Disabled hunting is available in the designated blind location upon request and reservation.  Class P2A disabled hunters are required to be accompanied by a non-disabled partner, who may also hunt from the same blind location. 
   

Squirrel

1. Statewide opening until September 30. Hunting with shotgun only in the specified are of the park (Area #1 on map).

Furbearer Hunting

1. Statewide regulations but must obtain permit from the site. Bow and arrow only.

Furbearer Trapping

1. A valid Site permit is required for trapping. Permits are issued via a public drawing held at the Site office on the last Monday of October at 11 a.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m. All persons entering the drawing must have a current or previous year trapping license and Habitat Stamp in their possession and must be present at the time of the drawing. Statewide regulations. Trappers may have a partner, provided their name is on the registration card prior to the drawing. Trappers must stay in their assigned trapping area. Trappers must submit a harvest report to the Site office within 20 days following the close of the site trapping program. Failure to report harvest shall result in the trapper being ineligible to trap at this Site the following season.

Other facilities available: Trailer and tent camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing and boating on the 57-acre lake.​

For further information, contact: Beaver Dam State Park at (217) 854-8020 or email: dnr.beaverdam@illinois.gov