Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve Hunter Fact Sheet

2012 - 2013 Season

Location:  4 miles east of Chauncey, Illinois, in Northern Lawrence County

Description: The core of this area located in the Embarrass River bottoms is the Chauncey Marsh Nature Preserve, the best remaining example of a marsh ecosystem in the Wabash valley. The area also includes other sloughs, mature oak-hickory woodland (upland and bottomland), tree plantings, and restored prairie.

Legal Game Species:

Area Regulations: Statewide rules and regulations apply at this site, unless otherwise specified. The area is posted open to hunting except for the dedicated Nature Preserve, where deer hunting only is allowed.

1. Hunters are required to have a Site Permit, in addition to licenses, stamps, and species permits necessary for the game being hunted. Site Permits 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. (Spring Turkey hunters are required to obtain permits through the statewide lottery system.)
2. The Site Permit Parking Card must be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle used while hunting at the site. Vehicles must remain on designated roads and parking areas. No off-road vehicle use allowed.
3. Hunters must maintain accurate records of each hunt on the Harvest Report form provided.
4. Hunters that fail to return a Harvest Report by February 15th, even if not hunting was done, will not be provided with a Site Permit the following year. (The Spring Turkey Harvest Report is to be returned at season's end.)
5. Hunting is to be done with shotgun or bow and arrow only, with the exceptions that .22 or smaller rimfire rifles may be used for squirrel and furbearers, and muzzle-loading rifles may be used during the Firearm and Muzzleloader deer seasons. Legal handguns may be used for firearm and late winter deer seasons.
6. Blaze orange is required while upland game and during firearm deer seasons.
7. Dove hunters are required to use size 7-1/2, 8, or 9 lead or bismuth shot, or size 6 or smaller steel shot.
8. Permanent tree stands are prohibited. Portable tree stands are allowed and may be left unattended overnight during the period September 15 through January 31. Only one stand is allowed per hunter. Each stand must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number when left unattended. No nails, screws, or other devices are allowed to pierce trees.
9. Night hunting for furbearers is allowed; permit required, see above.
10. The site is not currently open for Fall Firearm Turkey hunting. (Fall Archery Turkey hunting is permitted.)

For further information, contact: Site Superintendent, Red Hills State Park, RR #2 Box 252 ‘A’, Sumner, IL 62466, phone: 618/936-2469; or, District Wildlife Biologist, P.O. Box 313, Olney, IL 62450, phone: 618/393-6732.

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 nonmerit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal Opportunity Officer, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067, TTY 217/782-9175