Horseshoe Lake State Park Hunter Fact Sheet

2012 - 2013 Season

MAP

NAME: Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

DESCRIPTIONS:

Total Acres: 11, 692  Water Acres: 2,400    Huntable Acres: 4,190

Timber Acres: 4,995    Open, Cultivated, or Fallow Land Acres: 3,250

This area is located in the Lower Mississippi River Bottomlands Division of lllinois. The topography is flat with shallow sloughs. Horseshoe Lake, noted for its large stands of bald cypress, tupelo gum, and swamp cottonwood, is reminiscent of the deep south. This 2,400 acre body of water has a maximum depth of six feet.

AVAILABLE GAME SPECIES:

Canada Geese     Squirrels     Ducks    Doves

This area is managed primarily for waterfowl. Many species of waterfowl stop here during the annual spring and fall migrations. White-tailed deer, bald eagles, and many other forms of wildlife are commonly observed by visitors to the area. A portion of the Public Hunting Area is managed primarily for duck hunting. The Controlled Duck Hunting area is operated on a permit basis with $10 permits being issued from the Springfield office upon application by interested hunters. Blinds will be assigned by a daily drawing and hunters will be transported to the blinds via trucks. A total of 20 blinds can accommodate 40 hunters each day. Check with the Area Headquarters or the local Conservation Police Officer for seasons, bag limits, etc.

OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE: 

Fishing (six launching ramps); Camping (electricity , water, pit toilets, shower building); Picnicking (four areas; one has playground)

AREA REGULATIONS:

  1. All hunters must sign in and out and report harvest.
  2. Archery deer hunting is allowed on the Controlled Duck Hunting Area from Oct. 1 until 7 days prior to the opening of goose season.
  3. Dove hunting is allowed on the Public Hunting Area (steel shot, size 6 or smaller only). Sept 1 - 15, the shooting hours are noon - 5 p.m. Sept. 6 - 30th, shooting hours are sunrise - sunset.
  4. Squirrel hunting is allowed during the statewide season in the Public Hunting Area and from Aug. 1-Oct. 31. All squirrel hunting is by .22 rifle or shotguns using non-toxic shot.
  5. Trolling motors are permitted year-round; outboards (10 hp limit) may be used from March 1-Oct. 15.
  6. With the exception of the Controlled Duck Hunting Area, firearm and muzzleloader deer hunting is allowed during the statewide season in the Public Hunting Area.
  7. No permanent blinds or pits may be dug or constructed. All blinds must be portable or established with natural vegetation and must be removed or dismantled at the end of each day's hunt.
  8. Portable stands only for deer hunting. No permanent stands, screw-in steps or other devices that pierce the bark of trees. Treestands must be legibly marked with the owners name, address, and telephone number when left unattended. Treestands may be left unattended only from Sept. 15 through January 31. Only one treestand per hunter.
  9. Duck and goose hunting is allowed in other portions of the Public Hunting Area (Poor Farm, Section 11, Triangle Woods, Big Fill Bottoms, Sink's Tract) Wednesday through Sunday (No waterfowl hunting is allowed on Mondays and Tuesdays). Waterfowl hours are from legal opening hours to 1 p.m. After duck season, all goose hunters must abide by a shell limit of 5 shells per Canada goose allowed in the daily bag.
  10. Night hunting is prohibited in the Controlled Duck Hunting Area.
  11. This area is closed to goose hunting during any September goose season.
  12. Check at the Area Headquarters for additional regulations.

For further information, contact the Site Superintendent, Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area, Box 85, Miller City , IL 62962, Phone (618)776-5689 .

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, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source's civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, 1 Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.