Spring Lake - Bottoms Unit (Waterfowl)

LOCATION: Adjacent to Spring Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area, five miles northwest of Manito,15 miles southwest of Pekin.

DESCRIPTION: Total area - 411 acres which includes four moist soil wetland impoundments managed to provide habitat for migratory birds.

AVAILABLE GAME SPECIES: 

HUNTING REGULATIONS:

1. Waterfowl hunting will be with permit issued by lottery drawing from the Springfield Permit Office that can be found here. Each permit holder will be allowed to bring three hunting or non-hunting partners, total of four people per blind. Permit holder and hunting partners must check in and complete hunter information cards at the Spring Lake Waterfowl check station no later than one hour before legal shooting time; after that time permits are void. Blinds not claimed by permit holders by this hour will be assigned by draw until 11:00 AM each day. Upon vacating blind, hunters must report to check station within one hour to check out and report their harvest. A $10.00 Daily Usage Stamp must be purchased by all hunters except those under 16 years of age.
2. Hunting will be allowed opening day and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday during the Central Zone Duck Season. A Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be held the second Sunday in November. Season dates will be announced to the public as soon as they are set by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
3. This area is a walk-in area. Hunters are responsible for bringing their own decoys. Hunters must carry their own decoys and hunting equipment/gear with them to their blinds. Hunter will be required to wade to their blinds and when retrieving harvested birds.
4. All hunting will end at 1:00 PM. and all hunters must report to the check station within one hour to check out and report harvested birds. All hunting parties must hunt over a spread of at least 12 decoys.
5. All hunting will be from platform blinds. Hunters must notify check station attendant before changing blinds.
6. All Waterfowl Refuge Areas are closed to public access.
7. Hunting will be allowed only during the Central Zone Duck Season. No goose or teal hunting prior to duck season. No goose hunting after duck season.
8. Hunters under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult of legal age.
9. Severe weather and safety conditions can result in closing all or part of the area.
10. It shall be unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages while hunting on this area.
11. Permit applications/reservations shall be accepted starting in August. Acceptance dates and methods will be publicly announced.
12. The permit shall be for the use of the entire blind. It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring three partners, hunters or non-hunters, four person per blind.
13. Permits are non-transferable.
14. A Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be held the second Sunday in November. Youth hunters must be between the ages of 10 -15 inclusive on the date of the hunt. The Youth Waterfowl Permit shall be for the use of the entire blind and it shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring one supervising adult who may also hunt. Each youth and supervising adult may be accompanied by a non-hunting guide. Maximum number of people in a blind is two hunting youths, two hunting adults, and a non-hunting guide. The supervising adults shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party, and be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law. Youth Waterfowl Permits are publicly announced. Applicants must be between the ages of 10-15 inclusive on the date of the hunt.
15. It shall be unlawful to operate an ATV or ride horses on this area.

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

Other Facilities: Located at Spring Lake State fish & Wildlife Area including camping, picnicking, fishing and hiking.

For further information, please contact: Spring Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area at 7982 South Park Road, Manito, IL 61546 (309) 968-7135.​​