No Reason Not to Hunt Pheasants this Year in Illinois

There's no reason for hunters not to go pheasant hunting this year.  With already extended season at four state sites, the Illinois DNR has extended the season at two state facilities.  Below you'll find the IDNR press release that contains the information on how and where to obtain permits.  

More Hunting Days Added to the Controlled Pheasant Season at two IDNR Sites

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced that five hunting days have been added to the controlled pheasant hunting season at two IDNR sites, and hunters can make reservations now for additional hunting opportunities for the last week of this month.

The two sites with an additional week of controlled pheasant hunting are Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County and the Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Five hunting days –Wednesday, January 25 through Sunday, January 29 – have been added to the seasons at the Eldon Hazlet and Wayne Fitzgerrell SRAs.

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 sites, 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.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe