Clinton Lake Waterfowl, Rail, Snipe, Woodcock
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LOCATION: 10 miles east of Clinton and 2 miles south of DeWitt, IL, DeWitt County
DESCRIPTION: Clinton Lake is the cooling lake for the Exelon Power Station. The IDNR manages recreation on the lake and surrounding lands. Gently rolling grasslands and shrublands in various successional stages make up the majority of the upland habitat. Oak/hickory woodlands and stands of conifers are found throughout the site. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
TOTAL ACRES: 9,300
TIMBERED ACRES: 2,300
HUNTABLE ACRES: 3,693
OPEN ACRES: 2,000
SEASONS, HOURS, LIMITS:
All statewide hunting regulations apply at site unless noted hereafter
SPECIES | SEASON | HOURS | LIMITS | SPECIAL RULES/PERMITS |
---|
Teal
(early season) | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Ducks | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Mergansers | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Coots | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Canada Geese
(early season) | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Canada Geese | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Light Geese | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Brant | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
White-fronted Geese
(Speckle bellies) | Central Zone | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Conservation Order Light Geese | Statewide- March 15 | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Youth Waterfowl | See Below | Statewide- 1:00 p.m. | Statewide | Site Specific Permit required
Hunters ages 10-17 |
Rail
(Virginia and Sora) | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Snipe
(Wilson’s) | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | Free Windshield Card required |
Woodcock | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | Free windshield card required |
Permit must be displayed under the vehicle windshield, face up, with the permit number visible.
Pocket portion must be in possession while hunting at the site.
Hunters must report their annual harvest online (even if the hunter did not hunt) by February 15, or two weeks after the season closes for those seasons ending after February 1.
Hunters shall forfeit their hunting privileges at the site for the following year if they fail to report by the above deadline.
SITE REGULATIONS:
Waterfowl
hunting requires a free windshield card.
Hunting is restricted to those portions of the site posted as open to waterfowl hunting.
Refer to site map for details. Contact the site about current regulations, special rules and site conditions
· Shore hunting is allowed in areas open to forest and upland game hunting, except in closed waterfowl areas.
No waterfowl hunting is permitted:
In the designated fish and waterfowl refuge between the Dewitt Bridge (Friends Creek Road) and the Illinois Route 48 bridge.
On the west side arm of Clinton Lake; in the area extending east from the Westside Boat
Launch, across the lake to the eastern bank and north up to the Davenport Bridge at the North Fork Boat Launch.
Within 300 yards of electrical power lines
Within 200 yards of developed recreation areas, bridges, construction and industrial sites.
Refer to site map for details
Early Canada Goose hunting is permitted only in designated areas east of Parnell Bridge and North of Route 54.
Early Teal hunting is permitted only in designated areas east of Parnell Bridge and North of Route 54.
Any Goose hunting season that extends past the regular Canada goose season, will close March 15.
Waterfowl hunting in the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area and Disabled Hunting Access Area is by special drawing permit only.
No more than 4 hunters per party are permitted.
A minimum of six (6) decoys shall be used.
Temporary shoreline blinds must be:
Portable
Dismantled and removed daily
Built from material brought in or available at the blind site. No vegetation may be cut for construction
Maintain a minimum 200 yard distance between them.
Waterfowl (Youth)
hunt requires a site specific permit and a free windshield card.
Permits are issued via statewide lottery
Season: Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Dates
Hours: Legal opening until 1:00 pm
Hunters 10 – 17 years old
Permit holder must bring one (1) supervising adult.
Each youth and supervising adult may be accompanied by a non-hunting guide.
A minimum of six (6) decoys shall be used.
Rail, Snipe, and/or Woodcock
hunting requires a free windshield card
- Hours: statewide
For further information, please contact:
Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
7251 Ranger Road. DeWitt, IL 61735
Phone: (217) 935-8722
Email: dnr.clintonlake@illinois.gov
For additional information about hunting regulations, license requirements, fees and applications dates.
Equal opportunity to participate in programs of
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and
those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
other agencies is available to all individuals
regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability,
age, religion, or other non-merit factors. If you
believe you have been discriminated against, contact the
funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal
Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural
Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702; (217)785-0067; TTY
(217)782-9175.