Ferne Clyffe

2022-2023 Season

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Name: Ferne Clyffe Hunting Area (Ferne Clyffe State Park)

Location: 1 mile South of Goreville, IL (Johnson County)

Description: The hunting area is a mixture of forested habitat and open spaces. Twenty wildlife openings vary in size from ½ acre to 10 acres and are rotated between wildlife forage and idle residual habitat. Forested habitat contains mature mixed hardwoods, pine plantations and mesic forest. Habitat varies across the site with some areas being very steep with box canyons and bluffs. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year at this site. 

Huntable Acres - 450              Water Acres - 2              Timber Acres - 408              Open - 40

General Area Regulations:

  1. All hunters must SIGN IN and OUT and report harvest each day at the registration boxes before leaving the site.
  2. Hunting is restricted to those portions of the area posted as open to hunting.
  3. All hunting must be by shotgun or archery equipment with the exception that muzzle loading rifles and handguns may be used to hunt deer during the firearm deer seasons. Only muzzle loading riles may be used during the muzzle loader deer season.
Species Specific Information:

Deer (Archery/Muzzleloader/Youth)

  1. Statewide regulations
  2. It is illegal to construct or use any tree stand or tree climbing equipment, using nails, screws or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed or used. Tree stands that are used for hunting deer must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number when left unattended. Tree stands may be left unattended from Sept. 15 - Jan. 31. Only one tree stand per hunter.
  3. It is unlawful to drive deer, or participate in a deer drive, on all Department owned or managed properties during all deer seasons.
  4. It is unlawful to use or occupy a ground blind during any firearm deer season on public land unless at least 400 square inches of solid vivid blaze orange material is securely attached to the uppermost portion of the blind and a substantial amount of orange is visible for 360 degrees.
  5. This area will be open for the Youth Firearm Deer Season only if indicated via public announcement.

Deer (Firearm)

  1. Site-specific permits available through statewide lottery. 15 ES permits available

Squirrel

  1. Squirrel season does not begin until sunrise, the day after Labor Day.
  2. Shotgun only

Turkey (Spring/Fall/Youth)

  1. Spring and youth turkey hunting is available through applying for site-specific permit through statewide lottery.  There are 2 permits available per season.
  2. Fall turkey hunting is via statewide regulations.

Dove

  1. Statewide regulations

Rabbit/Quail/Pheasant/Woodcock

  1. Statewide regulations
  2. On all DNR sites during pheasant, rabbit, quail, and partridge season, hunters and trappers are required to wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches while trapping or hunting pheasant, quail, Hungarian partridge, rabbit, snipe, rail, and woodcock.

Furbearer Hunting

  1. There is no fox, coyote, skunk, groundhog, raccoon, opossum or crow hunting allowed.

Furbearer Trapping

  1. Not available

For further information contact: Site Superintendent, Ferne Clyffe State Park, P.O. Box 10, Goreville, IL 62939; Phone (618) 995-2411​​

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.