Marseilles State Fish & Wildlife Area

Hunter Fact Sheet - Upland Game / Furbearer

2012 - 2013 Season

All hunting programs at this site are dependent on national security considerations. In the event that heightened security measures are necessary, these hunting programs will be closed with little or no notice. Any closure will be posted at the site, on the department website (www.dnr.state.il.us), and will be announced through press release.

LOCATION: LaSalle County, 5 miles south of Interstate 80, 2 miles south of the city of Marseilles.

DESCRIPTION: This site occupies 2,515 acres, approximately 2,239 acres are huntable. The site is predominately wooded and the terrain is fairly rugged. There is no interior vehicle access for the public. Hunters who use this area should be ready for strenuous walking if they hunt the interior. The Illinois National Guard has jurisdictional use of this site for the months of February through October. It is through their cooperation that we are able to hunt here during the months of September and October. We are pleased that the Guard has worked with us so we can bring you these hunts at all during these times of heightened military security. Please help us keep our good relationship with the Guard intact by following the rules. It is to your own benefit to do so.

All regulations found in the Illinois Wildlife Code, Federal Regulations and Administrative Orders will apply unless area regulations are more restrictive.

Special Area Regulations:

1. All hunters must check in and out at the manned hunter check station at Gate 60 and are required to report their harvest immediately after the conclusion of the hunt at the Gate 60 hunter check station.
2. One half hour before sunrise to sunset.
3. Only size #3 or smaller steel shot or size #5 or smaller lead, tungsten or bismuth shot may be possessed.
4. During pheasant, rabbit, quail, shotgun deer, and muzzleloader deer seasons, hunters are required to wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches while hunting pheasant, quail, rabbit, and deer.
5. Closed during firearm and muzzleloader deer seasons, except coyotes may be taken with slugs, handguns, or muzzleloading rifle by hunters with an unused firearm or muzzleloader deer permit in possession during the deer season for which the deer permit is valid. Slugs, handguns, or rifles may not be used other than during the site firearm and muzzleloader deer seasons.
6. The National Guard trains more heavily on weekends and for that reason the site is closed to hunting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Sept 1st to October 31st of each year except Labor Day weekend. Squirrel season: Monday - Thursday through Oct. 31 then daily through the end of the site archery deer season; site squirrel season closes when site archery deer closes.
7. Coyote season is open when the site is open to hunting.
8. Further restrictions may exist. See regulations posted at the site before hunting.

It Shall Be Unlawful:

1. To hunt in any area not designated as being open to hunting or to hunt off IDNR property. Anybody found in a Restricted Area for any reason will be ticketed. Unauthorized personnel may not be on the site outside of the check station operating hours.
2. To park anywhere on the site except in the designated parking lots or for unauthorized vehicles to enter upon any trail. Hunters may only enter the site from designated parking lots.
3. To hunt with other than a shotgun or bow and arrow with flu-flu arrows without broadheads.
4. To possess firearms, bows, arrows, or ammunition that are not legal for use during hunting seasons currently open on the site.
5. For any person to consume any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs or to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while on the area for the purpose of hunting.
6. To possess weapons in the field except during hunting hours.
7. To hunt while the check station is closed.
   

For further information contact: Site Superintendent; Illini State Park; 2660 E. 2350th Rd.; Marseilles, IL 61341  Phone: 815/795-2448

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, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175.