Donnelley State Fish & Wildlife Area

Location: Putnam County, two (2) miles north of Hennepin and IL Route 71, on County Highway 1.

Description: Total area is approximately 676 acres. Blind sites are located on Coleman Lake and are built by site personnel. Blinds are allocated daily, one hour prior to shooting time at the check station via a random draw. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

All regulations found in the Illinois Wildlife Code, Federal Regulations and Administrative Orders will apply unless area regulations are more restrictive.

Special Area Regulations:

1. Hunting is prohibited on Tuesdays and Wednesdays except on opening day.
2. The first weekend and the third Saturday of the regular duck season are designated as youth hunting days. There is no charge for youth on these days. Those blinds not allocated to youth hunting parties shall be available to adults on those days during the regular duck season. 
3. No teal or goose seasons outside the regular statewide duck season at Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area.
4. All hunters must report to the check station for blind assignments.
5. A $10.00 daily usage stamp must be purchased to hunt this area.
6. No outboard motors are allowed by the public. Only authorized Department of Natural Resources personnel may use outboard motors.
7. No more than three (3) persons shall occupy a blind at any one time. Blind capacity for the youth hunts shall include no more than two (2) youths age 15 and under.
8. All hunting shall be from designated blinds only. Refilling or changing blinds is not permitted.
9. All parties are required to report to the check station within one (1) hour after termination of the hunt or no later than 2:00pm. 

Hunting Regulations - General

• All parties must hunt over a minimum of six (6) decoys and a maximum of 48 decoys may be used.  Decoys must be removed upon termination of the hunt.
• Severe weather and safety conditions may result in closing all or part of the site.
• Hunters under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

It Shall Be Unlawful:

• For any person to consume any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs or to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while on the area for the purpose of hunting.
• To enter the waterfowl refuge unless given permission from an authorized Department of Natural Resources representative.
• While attempting to take migratory waterfowl or coots to have in possession any shotgun shells not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations.
• To possess any shotgun shell loaded with a shot size larger than steel T or BBB in other kinds of non-toxic shot while attempting to take waterfowl in Illinois.

For further information contact: Site Superintendent - Lake DePue SFWA; P.O. Box 286; DePue, IL 61322

Phone: (815) 447-2353