Crawford County State Fish & Wildlife Area Hunter Fact Sheet

2012 - 2013 Season

MAP

Location: 2 miles southwest of Hutsonville, Illinois

Description: Total Acres: 1,129     Huntable 1,100    Timber Acres: 608     Open, cultivated: 191      Brushy fields: 330

Being roughly bisected from east to west by Hutson Creek, the area is generally rolling. South of the creek is more steeply rolling, and forms a bluff. About 100 acres of bottomland are located adjacent to the creek, mostly on the north side of the stream. Some open land is farmed to improve wildlife habitat and insure abundant, good quality grain foods for game and other wildlife species. The forested areas are high quality mature oak-hickory type.

Legal Game Species:  Deer  Squirrel   Turkey    Quail   Rabbit   Dove   Woodcock   Common Snipe   Furbearers 

Other Facilities Available: Nine ponds, ranging from 1/4 to 2 acres, may be found on the area. Fishing is permitted with pole and line only. The ponds have largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, and channel catfish. One pond has been involved with the Fisheries Division’s "catchable trout program." A picnic area is available on a first-come basis.

Approximately 75 acres on the northeast side has been declared a natural area by the Natural Areas Section of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). This area represents a southern bottomland forest community near the northern limits of its occurrence in the state. A large number of different types of ferns, wildflowers, and trees are represented here. This area is open to hunting and nature studies. However, no wildflowers, plants, or trees may be picked or disturbed.

Area Regulations:

Statewide rules and regulations apply at this site, unless otherwise specified. The area is all posted as open to hunting except for small restricted areas around the Headquarters building and picnic areas.

  1. ALL HUNTERS must sign-in before hunting in a box at parking lots or Headquarters, and report their kill on forms provided before leaving the area. Spring Turkey hunters must apply for site specific permit through statewide lottery. Hunters are also asked to fill out Turkey Hunter Survey which will be mailed to them. Spring Turkey hunters need not sign-in/out.
  2. Hunters must park in designated areas. No off-road vehicle use allowed.
  3. Hunting is to be done with shotguns or bow and arrow, with the exception that muzzle-loading rifles (MLR) may be used to hunt deer during the shotgun & MLR deer seasons; .22's and MLR’s may be used for furbearers and squirrels; and legal handguns may be used for Firearm and Late Winter Deer hunting only seasons.
  4. Blaze orange is required while upland game hunting and during firearm deer season.
  5. Dove hunters are required to use size 7 1/2, 8, or 9 lead or bismuth shot, or size 6 or smaller steel shot.
  6. Construction and use of permanent tree stands is prohibited. Portable stands may be used for hunting and may be left unattended overnight during the period September 15 through January 31. Each stand must be legibly marked with the owner’s name, address, and telephone number when left unattended overnight. Only one stand is allowed per hunter. No screw-in steps are allowed.
  7. Free Site Hunting Permits (windshield cards) are required for night hunting for furbearers. These are available online at www.dnr.illinois.gov. Navigate to "hunting/trapping: and then "public hunting areas" to print these permits. Hunters will be required to return to this website prior to February 15th each year to record harvest information. Failure to submit data will result in loss of hunting privileges for the following year.

For further information, contact Site Superintendent, Sam Parr State Fish & Wildlife Area, 13225 E. State Highway 33, Newton, IL 62448, phone: 618/783-2661; or District Wildlife Biologist, 129 N Kennedy Blvd, Vandalia IL 62471, phone: 618/283-3070.

Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disabilityy, age, religion or other nonmerit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal Opportunity Officer, IDNR, 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067, TTY 217/782-9175