Location: Marshall County; Headquarters located 5 miles
south of Lacon on State Route 26, or 30 miles north of Peoria on Route 26.
Description: Approximately 3,000 acres of Illinois River
backwaters related to waterfowl management at the Marshall Unit. Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.
Available Species:
Species | Seasons | Hunting
Hours | Harvest
Reporting |
Teal | Statewide | Statewide | Windshield
Card |
Early
Goose | Central
Zone | Statewide | Windshield
Card |
Youth
Waterfowl | Central
Zone | Legal
Opening to 1:00 PM | Check
Station Sign Out Box |
Regular
Waterfowl | Central
Zone | Legal
Opening to 1:00 PM | Check
Station Sign Out Box |
Regular
Late Goose | Central
Zone | Statewide | Windshield
Card |
Conservation
Order Light Goose | Central
Zone | Statewide | Windshield
Card |
Regular Waterfowl and
Youth Waterfowl:
- All statewide regulations apply unless there are more restrictive
site-specific regulations.
- Waterfowl hunting sites are awarded by annual draw.
- All hunters using this area must report to check station to fill
out information cards.
- Awarded blind builders desiring to claim their blinds must report
to check station at least one (1) hour before opening shooting time each day.
Blinds not claimed by annual blind builders at this hour will be assigned by
draw. Hunters missing this drawing will have a thirty-minute grace period from
the draw time to claim any unclaimed blind. A second standby drawing will be
held from 8 - 11:00 AM, after which time the waterfowl area is closed to
further entry.
- All hunting will be from registered blinds and hunters must occupy
blinds within one (1) hour after registering.
- All hunting will cease at 1:00 PM during the regular waterfowl
season.
- Upon vacating a blind, hunters must report to check station within
one (1) hour to sign out and report any harvested waterfowl.
- All parties must hunt over a minimum of twelve (12) decoys, which
must be removed upon termination of hunt.
- At no time are hunters permitted to enter designated waterfowl
refuges or rest areas.
- Hunters 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a
responsible adult.
- No more than four (4) persons shall occupy a blind at one time.
- Severe weather and safety conditions can result in closing all or
part of Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area.
Seasons Before and
After Youth and Regular Waterfowl:
- All statewide regulations
apply unless there are more restrictive site-specific regulations.
- Hunting from a completed
blind or staked site is waived during seasons held before the regular duck
season or for seasons held after the regular Canada goose season.
- Hunters must obtain a
windshield card online from dnr2.illinois.gov/Windshieldcard/. This
windshield card must be visible in your windshield and the pocket card portion
in your possession while hunting at the site. Hunters must report their annual harvest
online (even if you did not hunt) by February 15th. Hunters shall forfeit
hunting privileges at the site for the following year if they fail to report by
the prescribed deadline.
Other facilities available: Camping, Picnicking, Hiking, and Fishing.
See Main Area Fact Sheet for upland hunting information.
Note: LOW WATER conditions due to siltation of
the Illinois River backwaters may make access to certain blinds difficult or
nearly impossible during segments of the waterfowl season. Please note that
airboats, hovercraft, etc. are not allowed at this site. Shallow-water drive or
"mud motors" are recommended when conditions warrant. Further
information on water levels and blind accessibility can be obtained from the site
office.
For further information,
contact: Marshall State Fish
& Wildlife Area, 236 State Route 26, Lacon, IL 61540
Phone: (309) 246-8351
