Location: Both sides of the Kaskaskia River from the
Mississippi River to Fayetteville. Site office - 4 miles N of Baldwin (Illinois
Hwy 154); 6 miles S of New Athens (Illinois Hwy 13).
Description: The area is a complex of channelized river,
oxbows, sloughs, backwater lakes, bottomland timber, cultivated fields, native
grass patches, brushy areas, and fallow fields. The site also contains Illinois
Power Company's 2000-acre "Baldwin Lake" and surrounding area which
is managed as a waterfowl refuge and public fishing area. A public waterfowl
hunting area, "Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area" (DCWMA),
consists of the lands and waters south of Doza Creek on the east side of the
channelized river. Active habitat management will be occurring
throughout the year on the site.
Total acres: 18,000 | Water acres: 3,500
| Timbered acres: 10,000
|
Huntable acres: 14,000 | Open acres: 4,000
|
|
The area is a complex of channelized river,
oxbows, sloughs, backwater lakes, bottomland timber, cultivated fields, native
grass patches, brushy areas, and fallow fields. The site also contains Illinois
Power Company's 2000-acre "Baldwin Lake" and surrounding area which
is managed as a waterfowl refuge and public fishing area. A public waterfowl
hunting area, "Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area" (DCWMA),
consists of the lands and waters south of Doza Creek on the east side of the
channelized river.
Seasons, Hours, Limits:
Please Note - DCWMA is closed to all public
use 7 days prior to duck season, and only archery deer/turkey hunting and
waterfowl hunting.
SPECIES | SEASON | HOURS | SPECIAL RULES/PERMITS |
Deer* | Statewide | Statewide | (See special note & Duck/Goose/Coot section below) |
| | | No bow hunting within 50 yards of the Baldwin Lake
Waterfowl Rest Area's main north-south road. Within this defined waterfowl
rest area and during the current year archery season, hunters must take an
antlerless deer before taking an antlered deer. Open for the Youth Deer Hunting Season; Special Youth,
Firearm, and Special Firearm Deer Season hunts are available on the defined Baldwin
Lake Waterfowl Rest Area. Late Winter Firearm is closed. Call for
details. |
Turkey* | Statewide | Statewide | No hunting east of and within 50 yards of the defined
Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area's main north-south road, within 100 yards of
any house or building, and south of the Dry Lake access road. Handicapped
hunting facility in this closed area is open. Open for Youth Spring Turkey
Hunting Season. |
Rabbit/Quail | Statewide | Statewide | See Site Regulation # 3 below. |
Squirrel | Statewide | Statewide | .17 and .22 caliber rimfire and .25 caliber or smaller air
rifles allowed |
Dove* | Statewide | 12n-5p, Sept. 1-5 then Statewide | Drawing, if needed. DCWMA closes October 14. |
Teal/Rail/ Snipe/Woodcock | Statewide | Statewide | No permanent blinds. See Site Regulation # 3 below. |
Duck/Goose/Coot* | Statewide | Statewide except between Hwys 13 & 154, which closes
at 1pm.
(Statewide hours apply for the last 3 days of duck & Canada goose
seasons) | No permanent blinds & minimum of 12 decoys between
Hwys 13 & 154 except DCWMA 1st come - 1st served rule. DCWMA:
For the first 4 days of the duck season, all waterfowl hunting must occur
within 10 yards of an assigned, numbered stake. Staked hunting locations
shall be allocated on a daily draw basis at the Highway 154 Boat Ramp
at 4:00 a.m. Hunters shall register as parties for the drawing;
each party drawn shall be allowed to select a staked location in order drawn;
only those hunters registered in a party shall be allowed to hunt with their
party; no less than 2 hunters and no more than 4 hunters per party; moving
from staked location to staked location is not allowed. Staked locations not
allocated during the drawing will not be hunted that day. Starting on day 5
and for the remainder of the waterfowl season, hunting is allowed on a first
come-first served basis and hunting need not occur by a stake. Waterfowl
hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards betwen hunting parties.
Waterfowl hunting closes at 1p. No waterfowl hunters remain in area after 3p
except during last 3 days of duck and Canada goose seasons, |
Youth Waterfowl | Statewide | Statewide | Youth Waterfowl season is held the weekend preceding the
duck season opener - follow statewide regulations. |
Raccoon/Opossum | Statewide | Statewide | .17 and .22 caliber rimfire allowed sunset - sunrise. |
Skunk/Fox/Coyote | Only during Statewide Fox | Statewide | .17 and .22 caliber rimfire allowed sunset - sunrise. |
Trapping | Statewide | Statewide | Water sets only; permit and harvest report required. |
* Handicapped hunting facilities available.
Site Specific Regulations:
1. Trappers must obtain a free site permit online
from the Department website at https://dnr2.illinois.gov/windshieldcard/.
This permit must be displayed under the vehicle windshield, face up, with the
number visible and the pocket portion in possessions while trapping at the
site. Trappers must report their harvest online (even if the trapper did not
trap) by February 15 or two weeks after the season closes for those seasons
ending after February 1.
2. No hunting or trapping is permitted in posted
areas, developed recreation areas, and within 100 yards (waterfowl
hunting - 200 yards) of construction sites, residences, and developed
recreation areas.
3. Hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment
of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches while hunting
rabbit, quail, woodcock, and/or snipe.
4. Construction or use of any tree stand using
nails, screws, or wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree
on which it is installed is unlawful. Any tree stand (portable and one per
hunter) can be left unattended overnight and must be legibly marked with the
owner's name, address, and telephone number.
5. All hunters must check in and out, reporting
their harvest at one of the check stations, each day following hunting.
Other Facilities Available: Picnic areas and boat ramps.
For further information, contact: Mic Middleton,
Site Superintendent, 10981 Conservation Road, Baldwin, IL 62217, (618) 785-2555
Site hunting regulations (administrative rules) can be viewed at: www2.illinois.gov/dnr/adrules
