Goode's Woods Nature Preserve

2023-2024 Season

Map    Archery Deer Application                         
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is responsible for providing outdoor recreational opportunities for the residents of this state. This area is managed by the Department and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as a high-quality dry-mesic upland forest within the Carlinville Section of the Western Forest-Prairie Natural Division. The area is unique to the state and protected by state statute as a dedicated Nature Preserve. Mangement activities including, but not limited to prescribed burning and herbicide treatments may occur on site at any time. 
 
Location: The Nature Preserve is located 12 miles northwest of Carlinville, 4 miles northeast of Palmyra, Illinois, in Macoupin County.
 
Setting: The hunting area consists of 40 acres. The entire acreage consists of rolling hills of oak-hickory woodland.
 
General Site Regulations:
  1. All hunters must obtain a parking permit and harvest report sheet from the Site office prior to archery deer hunting.
  2. Archery deer hunters must possess and display a Site permit on the dash of the vehicle while hunting.
  3. The harvest report form must be returned to the Site office at the conclusion of hunting at the Nature Preserve or by January 31, or the hunter will forfeit hunting privileges at the Site the following season.
  4. It is unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages or leave any trash while on the Nature Preserve property.
  5. Parking is limited and allowed only in the designated parking lot shown on the site map.

Archery Deer:

  1. A Special Permit is required to archery hunt deer at this Site.  Applications are available on-line or at the Park office. Applications will be accepted from March 1 to March 30 and must be in the Park office by close of business March 30.  A drawing will be held on the first week day in April at the Park office to determine successful applicants. Only successful applicants will be notified by mail once the drawing is complete.
  2. One (1) archery hunting permit is allocated per week via the site drawing for each of the thirteen (13) one week sessions.
  3. 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.
  4. An antlerless deer must be harvested at the site prior to the harvest of an antlered deer.  All deer harvested must be reported to the IL Check System per Statewide regulations.  There is no limit on the number of antlerless   deer that may  be harvested with the proper permits.
  5. Open 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.
  6. While held to a minimum, successful applicants should be aware that natural resource management activities such as prescribed burning and non-native plant control may be conducted during the archery season.
  7. Permits are not transferable. 
  8. Statewide hunting hours are in effect. 
  9. Hunting sessions are as follows: 

Session 1 - October 1 - October 7, 2023

Session 2 - October 8 - October 14, 2023

Session 3 - October 15 - October 21, 2023

Session 4 - October 22 - October 28, 2023

Session 5 - October 29 - November 4, 2023

Session 6 - November 5 - November 11, 2023

Session 7 - November 12 - November 16, 2023

Session 8 - November 20 – November 26, 2023

​Session 9 – December 4 - December 11, 2023

​Session 10 - December 12 - December 18, 2023

​Session 11 - December 19 - December 25, 2023

​Session 12 - December 26, 2023 - January 1, 2024

​Session 13 – January 2 - January 8, 2024

Session 14- January 9- January 15, 2024


For more information, contact: Beaver Dam State Park at (217) 854-8020; E-mail: dnr.beaverdam@illinois.gov  


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.