Mississippi Palisades

Location: Carroll County, 3 miles north of Savanna - 16327 IL Route 84, Savanna, IL 61074

Description: Total Acres: 2,500; Water Acres: 1; Open Acres: 200; Timbered Acres: 2,300; Huntable Acres: 1,500.

The vegetative cover of the area is grasslands, hay fields, and row crops located on ridge tops intermixed within mixed oak-hickory woodlands. The topography is steep, consisting of unglaciated ridges. The area is bordered by private lands with timbered slopes and cultivated valleys and ridge tops. This site is owned and managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Management activities on this site may occur throughout the year, including the hunting seasons. ​

Available Game Species:

General Area Regulations:

1. Think safety first! You should be aware that hikers and other non-hunters may be in area.
2. All statewide regulations apply.
3. Hunters must obtain a Windshield Card online at the IDNR website:  https://dnr2.illinois.gov/Windshieldcard.  This card must be displayed and visible under the vehicle windshield and the pocket portion in your possession while hunting at the site.  Hunters must report their Windshield Card annual harvest online by February 15th (even if the hunter did not hunt) or they forfeit their hunting privileges at the site for the following year.   
4. In addition to Windshield Card reporting, successful deer and turkey hunters are required to record their harvest as instructed on their permit.  
5. Hunting is restricted to those portions of the area posted as open to hunting, which is east of the main park road.  You may not possess an uncased bow or loaded/uncased firearm outside of the posted hunting zones.  
6. Hunters must park in one of the nine designated parking lots.  Do not block access to fields or gates. 
7. It shall be unlawful to construct or to use any tree stand that utilizes nails, screws, wire, or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed.  Only one tree stand or blind is allowed per hunter   Tree stands or blinds may be left unattended from September 15 - January 31 if legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number.  
8. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or to consume beer, wine, intoxicating liquors, or illegal substances while hunting in the area.  
9. You may not enter a restricted area or trespass on private land for any reason without first notifying the park staff or the appropriate landowner. 
10. Hunting is to be allowed with any type of weapon that is legal for statewide deer hunting during the specific season you are hunting.
11. Only permitted hunters are allowed in the area during deer firearm seasons and until 1:00pm during turkey firearm seasons.    

Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations:

• All spring turkey hunters must obtain a Special Hunt Area permit, which will be issued through the Permit Office in Springfield. Permits valid for Carroll Co. will not be valid at Mississippi Palisades State Park.
• Preference is given to disabled hunters for three permits in each of the 4 seasons. 

Firearm Deer Hunting Regulations:

• All firearm deer hunters must obtain a Special Hunt Area permit, which will be issued through the Permit Office in Springfield. Permits valid for Carroll Co. will not be valid at Mississippi Palisades S.P. Permit holders must register and show Windshield Card at the park office by 5:00 am. First and second season permits will be available separately.
• Stand by hunters must check-in for a drawing by 5:00 am each day.  Stand by permits are $5.00 a day.  No refills available.
• Stand by permits will not be issued for special CWD season. Left over permits cannot be used.

Active habitat management will be occurring throughout the year on the site.

For further information contact: Mississippi Palisades State Park, 16327A IL Rte. 84, Savanna, IL 61074. Telephone: 815-273-2731.