Peabody River King Hunter Fact Sheet

2011 - 2012 Season

MAP

Peabody River King State Fish & Wildlife Area (PSFWA) is a surface-mined area located in southern St. Clair County immediately adjacent to the Kaskaskia River SFWA. About 1,800 acres of the area was a gift from Peabody Coal Company (PCC) to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for public use.

LOCATION: ˝ mile E of New Athens via Old Highway 13 and Darmstadt Road

DESCRIPTION: Total acres: 2,000, General Habitats: Open acres: 1,000, Huntable acres: 1,000, Water acres: 500, Timbered acres: 500,  (mostly scattered cottonwood trees)

PSFWA was mined by PCC from the late 1950s to the late 1980s under a series of different surface-mine reclamation laws. This resulted in a variety of habitats and topographic features. The site is divided into four subunits -- East, West, North, and South (see map).

SEASONS, HOURS, LIMITS:
SPECIES SEASON HOURS SPECIAL RULES/PERMITS
Deer Statewide* Statewide Bow hunting only. During firearm deer seasons, blaze orange required. *East Subunit open until Nov. 1st.
Turkey Statewide  (Fall)* Statewide Bow hunting only. During firearm deer seasons, blaze orange required. *East Subunit open until Nov. 1st.
Turkey Statewide (Spring) Statewide South Subunit Closed
Dove Statewide 12n-5p, Sept. 1-5 then Statewide Drawing, if needed; East Subunit only in designated fields.  NON-TOXIC SHOT ONLY!
Rabbit/Quail Statewide Statewide West & North Subunits Only
Squirrel Statewide* Statewide  *East Subunit open until Nov. 1st.
Woodcock Statewide Statewide West Subunit only.
Snow Goose Statewide ** Statewide (see "Special Rules" Section East Subunit only. No hunting on or adjacent to lakes or within 200 yards of raods, developed recration areas, public use facilites, and construction or industrial sites. Hunting is on a first come-first served basis. No entry fefore 4:30 a.m. Waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties. No permanent blinds allowed. All blinds must be of a portable nature and/or constructed with natural vegetation at the blind site and no pits can be dug. All materials must be at least 12 decoys which must be attended at all times and must be picked up at the end of each day's hunt. **after the regular Canada goose hunting season
Raccoon/ Opossum Statewide Statewide West Subunit only.
Skunk/ Fox/ Coyote      
Trapping Statewide Statewide

East, West, and South Subunits only, water sets only, permit and harvest report required.

SITE REGULATIONS: NOTE: No groundhog or waterfowl hunting allowed.

  1. All hunting is by firearm or bow and arrow only.
  2. All hunters must sign in and check out, reporting their harvest at one of the check stations each day following hunting.
  3. No hunting is permitted in posted areas, developed recreation areas, and within 100 yards of construction sites, residences, and developed recreation areas.
  4. Hunters must wear a cap and upper outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange of at least 400 square inches while hunting rabbit, quail, and/or woodcock (and bow deer hunting during firearm deer seasons).
  5. Construction or use of any tree stand using nails, screws, or wire or any device which pierces or cuts the bark of the tree on which it is installed is unlawful. Any tree stand (portable and one per hunter) can be left unattended overnight, and must be legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number.

Site hunting regulations (administrative rules) can be viewed on IDNR's website: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov

OTHER SITE FACILITIES: Fishing lakes/ponds and boat ramps.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mic Middleton, Site Superintendent, 10981 Conservation Road, Baldwin, IL 62217, (618) 785-2555 or 618-475-9339

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.