Sand Prairie Hunter Fact Sheet

2012 Season

MAP

The Sand Prairie Habitat Area was purchased with a combination of revenues generated through the sale of the Illinois Pheasant Stamp and with Natural Areas Acquisition money. This area will be managed to develop and restore the existing high quality natural areas and to provide hunting opportunity for Illinois Sportsmen.

The Sand Prairie Habitat Area is comprised of 316 acres located in extreme southwest Lee County, 4.5 miles north and one mile west of Walnut on the Whiteside County line. Except for a small area around the parking lot, the entire area is open to hunting. Cover types include native prairie on the rolling sand hills interspersed with fields of established native grasses and domestic grass-legumes along with wildlife food patches, sunflower fields, and agricultural crops. Several small wildlife ponds and wetlands are also scattered across the site.

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. Managed as part of the Green River State Wildlife Area program - permit required first five days of season. Check-in-time: 9:00 AM - 11:00AM
2. Sign in, sign out and reporting of harvest is required at the registration box located in site parking lot. Hunter quota is 20 hunters at one time - first come, first served. Check in time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
3. Only non toxic shot (no lead shot) may be possessed when dove hunting on this site. The non toxic shot must be #6, or smaller steel shot; or #7½ or smaller bismuth shot.
4. All hunting must be with shotgun or bow and arrow (For upland game, flu - flu arrows only and no broadheads).
5. Hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches.
6. Hunting by permit only. Special permits are allocated by the Department of Natural Resources Springfield Permit Office. Dates to submit permit applications for the drawing will be publicly announced. Further information can be found in the Illinois Hunting Digest or by contacting 217/782-6384. One permit will be issued for each day of the hunt; each permit holder may be accompanied by 5 hunting partners, allowing for a maximum of 6 hunters per day.
7. 2012 Free Permit Hunting Dates: November 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28. December 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23
8. Each permit holder must complete and return a hunter harvest survey report to the Department of Natural Resources by February 15, 2013. Failure to submit the report will result in loss of hunting privileges on pheasant habitat areas for the following year.
9. 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.
2. To park anywhere on the site except in the designated parking lots or for unauthorized vehicles to enter upon any trail.
3. To hunt with anything other than a shotgun or bow and arrow.
4. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Green River State Wildlife Area; 375 Game Rd.; Harmon, IL. 61042 (815) 379-2324

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.