Controlled Pheasant Hunting Season Extended at Four IDNR Sites

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced that the controlled pheasant hunting season has been extended at four IDNR sites, and hunters can make reservations now for additional hunting opportunities this month.

See below for more information from the DNR press release:
The four sites with extended controlled pheasant seasons are Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area in Henry County, and the Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Ten hunting days - Wednesday, January 11 through Sunday, January 22 – have been added to the seasons at Eldon Hazlet SRA and Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA. Five days – Wednesday, January 11 through Sunday, January 15 – have been added to the season at Johnson-Sauk Trail SRA. Ten days – Wednesday, January 18 through Sunday, January 29 – have been added to the season at Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA.

Hunters are encouraged to use the online Controlled Pheasant Hunting Reservation System at www.dnr.illinois.gov to obtain permits for these additional hunt dates. Reserved permits ensure hunters will have the opportunity to hunt. Hunters using reserved permits also ensure that site staff on these sites can release two pheasants per hunter each day, which is the Department’s objective for pheasants released on each hunt date. Standby permits are also available at the site, although standby hunting opportunities may be limited or unavailable if the hunter quota for a hunt date is filled by reserved permit hunters.

To access the reservation system:
1. Access the "Hunt/Trap" drop down list from the toolbar on the IDNR Home Page
2. Then click on “Upland Game”
3. Then click on "Controlled Pheasant Areas" under the “Licenses and permits” heading

Hunters are reminded that the daily permit fee for controlled pheasant hunting is $30 for resident hunters and $35 for nonresident hunters. The daily permit fee applies to each hunter. Reserved Permits are paid for via credit card during the application process. Completing a permit reservation online can be accomplished as late as 24 hours before an available hunt date and takes less than five minutes. Standby hunters pay daily permit fees at the site hunter check station on the hunt date. Standby hunters need to be prepared to pay permit fees with cash.