Hamilton County

2022-2023 Season

Map                              

Location: Approximately 8 miles east of McLeansboro, Illinois off of State Highway 14

Description: Total Acres: 1,674

Huntable Acres: 1,530   Water Acres: 75      Timber Acres: 230     

Open, cultivated, or fallow field acres: 1,300

The area is one of gently rolling topography. Most of the hunting area is small, open fields bordered by heavy fencerows, border plantings of shrubs, small trees, pines, and small patches of brush and timber. This area provides good upland hunting with an abundance of quality food and cover. The area also provides excellent opportunities for Deer and Turkey hunters. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year at this site. 

​Other Facilities Available: Large picnic areas with tables and fireplaces, fishing and boating on the lake, camping area with gravel pads, electricity, sanitary station for trailers, shower building and rental cabins.

General Site Regulations:

  1. Free Windshield Cards are required for all species as noted. These are available online at www.dnr.illinois.gov. Navigate to "hunting/trapping" and then "public hunting areas" to print these permits. This permit must be displayed in the windshield while hunting. Hunters will be required to return to this website prior to February 15th each year to record harvest information. Failure to report harvest will result in loss of hunting privileges at the site for the following year. Spring Turkey permits are site specific and issued from the Springfield Permit Office via the statewide application process. Springfield permit holders will also need to obtain a windshield card/harvest report form from www.dnr.illinois.gov and return to the website to record harvest information prior to February 15th each year. Springfield issued permits are not Hamilton County permits, but site specific permits issued for Hamilton County State Conservation Area only. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site
  2. No hunting may be done in restricted areas, developed recreation areas, or within 100 yards of construction sites or residences.
  3. No permanent tree stands may be constructed nor may any hunting be done from a permanent stand. Any tree stand or ground blind must be portable. No stands or steps that pierce the bark of a tree are allowed.
  4. When hunting or scouting,  ALL VEHICLES MUST BE PARKED AT DESIGNATED AREAS (no ATV access)
  5. It is unlawful for any person to consume, possess, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs while on site property for the purpose of hunting or trapping.  Any person who violates site specific regulations shall be guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor

Species Specific Regulations:

Deer (Archery)

  1. Statewide regulations.
  2. Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended.  Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended overnight must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number or site assigned identification number.
  3. No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of archery deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting. 

Deer (Firearm)

  1. Hunters must possess a County Permit to hunt the site.
  2. Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended.  Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended overnight must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number or site assigned identification number.
  3. No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of Firearm deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting. 

Deer (Youth Firearm)

  1. Statewide Regulations
  2. Hunters are required to have a youth permit for that county.  

Deer (Muzzleloading Rifle)

  1. Hunters must possess a County Permit to hunt the site.
  2. Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. Tree stands and ground blinds may be left unattended.  Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended overnight must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number or site assigned identification number.
  3. No hunter shall place a tree stand or ground blind prior to two weeks before the opening of muzzleloading deer season and all hunters must remove their stands no later than two weeks after the final day of legal deer hunting. 

Squirrel

  1. Statewide regulations
  2. Hunting with  shotgun only

Turkey (Spring) 

  1. Hunters must apply to Springfield Permit office for permits. Permits are nontransferable.
  2. Six (6) permit hunters per season will be allowed.

Turkey (Youth Spring)

  1. Statewide regulations
  2. Hunters are required to have a youth permit for that County.   

Turkey (Fall Archery) 

  1. Statewide regulations

Turkey (Fall Gun)

  1. Hunters must apply to Springfield Permit office for permits. Permits are nontransferable.
  2. Six (6) permit hunters will be allowed to hunt the site.

Furbearer Hunting

  1. Statewide regulations.
  2. Season is open only during the statewide fox season.
  3. .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms are permitted from sunset to sunrise.

Furbearer Trapping

  1. Statewide regulations.
  2. Only Egg Traps, D-P(Dog-Proof) Traps, Lil Grizz Get'rz, box traps, cage traps and traps of similar design may be used for land sets; only body gripping traps with a jaw spread of 5 inches or less, foothold traps with a jaw spread of 4 1/2 inches or less and square body gripping traps with a 10 jaw spread may be used for water sets; snares may be used for water sets. 
  3. Trappers must stay in their assigned areas. All traps must be tagged with the trappers name or IDNR customer number.
  4. Closed during the firearms deer season.

Upland Game

  1. Statewide regulations

Crow

  1. Statewide regulations.
  2. Crow hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
  3. Season is October 28th through the next February 28th.
  4. All harvested crows must be removed from State property and disposed of properly.
  5. There is no shot size restriction or non- toxic shot requirement. No centerfire rifles allowed.

Woodcock, Snipe and Rail Hunting

  1. Statewide regulations
  2. Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset until rabbit season, then 8:00am to 4:00pm.
  3. It shall be unlawful while attempting to take snipe or rail to have in possession any shotgun shell not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations.

For further information contact: Site Superintendent, Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area, 10279 Sunrise Point Rd., McLeansboro, IL 62859, phone: 618/773-4340; or District Wildlife Biologist, 13999 E. Game-Farm Rd., Mt. Vernon, IL 62864, phone: 618/242-2062.​​​


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.