Pekin Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Description: Total area: 1,181 acres. Huntable acres: 305. This area is a bottomland of sloughs, lakes, and low timbered ridges. Practically all of the area is subject to and conditioned by periodic flooding of the Illinois River. As time and budget allow, this area is targeted for restoration activities and enhancement of wildlife habitat.

Available Game Species:

All statewide regulations apply unless there are more restrictive site-specific regulations.

All hunters must obtain a windshield card available online at ​dnr2.illinois.gov/Windshieldcard. Hunters must report their harvest and hunter trips online prior to February 15th each year. Failure to report harvest will result in loss of hunting privileges at this site for the following year.

Species Specific Regulations:

Waterfowl

• Duck Season
• Hunting sites are awarded by annual draw.
• Staked blind sites not legally occupied by blind builders or partners by 1/2 hour before legal shooting time may be claimed on a first-come basis.
• Claiming or attempting to claim a staked blind site which is legally occupied, and or harassing in any manner the occupants of a blind site which has been legally claimed is unlawful.
• All parties must hunt over a minimum of twelve (12) decoys of a least standard size which must be removed upon termination of the days hunt.
• All hunting will be from portable boat blinds. No more than (3) persons may occupy a boat blind at one time. Boat blinds must be anchored within 10 yards of a staked blind site.
• Due to geographical limitations, use of boats on the area is usually restricted to portable type with overland access from the Illinois River
• Windshield card required
• Teal, Early, Late Goose, and Conservation Order Light Goose
• Hunting from a staked site is waived during seasons
• Windshield card required

Archery Deer

• Archery deer hunting will be allowed only in the area north of Lick Creek, south of the above ground water line, east of the Illinois river and west of the railroad right of way
• Only one tree stand or ground blind is allowed per deer permit holder. It is unlawful to construct or use any tree stand using nails, screws or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed. Tree stands and ground blinds must be portable and removed at the end of each day with the exception that they may be left unattended from September 15 through January 31. Any tree stand or ground blind left unattended must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number, or site assigned identification number.
• Open to archery deer hunting without regard to firearm deer season
• Windshield card required

Furbearer Trapping

• Allowed by site permit allocated at drawing in October at Spring Lake SFWA.
• 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 4½ inches or less and square body-gripping traps with a 10 inch jaw spread may be used for water sets; snares may be used for water sets
• No trapping is permitted in subimpoundments or designated waterfowl management units during duck season.
• .22 caliber or smaller rimfire firearms permitted

Site Regulations:

• It is unlawful to ride horses on this site or allow horses to enter this site.
• It is unlawful for any person to trespass for any purpose upon areas posted as Waterfowl Refuge or Waterfowl Rest Area.
• It is unlawful to use any off-road vehicle of any type on this area unless given specific permission by site personnel.

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

For further information contact: Site Superintendent, Spring Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area, 7982 South Park Road, Manito, IL 61546. Phone: 309-968-7135.