Illinois pheasant program alive

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Controlled pheasant hunting opportunities will be available at 18 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sites this fall, and the 2008-09 season dates and permit reservation information are now available online.

Fourteen of the sites will be operated by the IDNR (applications accepted starting Aug. 4th), while four other sites will continue to be operated in a public/private partnership arrangement between the IDNR and concessionaire T. Miller, Inc. (applications now being accepted). 

Click here for pheasant hunting permit information. Click here for more information.

“We are pleased to announce that the controlled pheasant hunting program will again be available to hunters in Illinois this fall,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.  “The program has been a popular one over the years and we continue to hear from hunters who value this hunting opportunity.  I encourage hunters to check our IDNR website now for details on the upcoming season and how they can reserve their permits.”

The controlled pheasant program is continuing for the 2008-09 season with nearly 78,000 birds produced at IDNR pheasant propagation facilities during Fiscal Year 2008.  T. Miller, Inc provides an additional nearly 20,000 pheasants acquired from other sources for the public/private partnership areas.  Funding for the controlled pheasant program next year may be subject to approval of proposed fee increases for the program that are pending in the Illinois General Assembly.

The online permit reservation system for the 14 IDNR-operated sites opens Aug. 4, and permit information, season dates, and other information are now available.  Detailed information and permit reservations are now available for the four sites managed by T. Miller, Inc.  Hunters need to review the application instructions and season information accessible online prior to submitting an application.

The public/private partnership controlled pheasant hunting areas are Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County, Silver Springs State Park in Kendall County, Ramsey Lake State Park in Fayette County, and Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County.  Information about controlled pheasant hunting at these sites is available on the concessionaire’s website at http://www.tmillerinc.com or via a link on the IDNR controlled pheasant hunting website at http://www.LRSIDNRPermits.com.

Of the fourteen sites operated by the IDNR, four offer only the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt opportunity for young hunters between the ages of 10-15.  Those four sites are the Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Tazewell County, Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in DeWitt County, Edward Madigan State Park in Logan County and Sangchris Lake State Park in Christian and Sangamon Counties.

Nine sites provide lengthy hunting seasons for hunters as well as special hunting days for young hunters.  Those nine sites are Johnson Sauk Trail State Park in Henry County, the Des Plaines Conservation Area in Will County, Kankakee River State Park in Kankakee County, the Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, Moraine View State Recreation Area in McLean County, Sand Ridge State Forest in Mason County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County, Eldon Hazlet State Park in Clinton County, and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park in Jefferson and Franklin Counties. 

The Green River State Wildlife Area in Lee County provides 13 days of controlled pheasant hunting during a season that extends from early November through mid-December. 

At Des Plaines, Moraine View and Eldon Hazlet hunting opportunities are available for hunters with disabilities where special vehicles are provided to assist with the hunt.

Online permit reservations for the first drawing period on IDNR-operated sites will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. on August 4 through midnight on August 17.  Two additional drawing periods are scheduled thereafter.  Hunters need to review the application instructions and season information on the controlled pheasant hunting website at http://www.LRSIDNRPermits.com prior to submitting an application.

IDNR-operated controlled pheasant hunting sites will continue to have a portion of their hunter quota allocated to standby hunters.  Standby hunters acquire permits and pay permit fees at the site hunter check station on the day of the hunt.  For those sites involved in the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt, standby permits are only available at Edward Madigan State Park and Sangchris Lake State Park. 

Hunters without computers are encouraged to gain access to the controlled pheasant hunting online reservation systems by checking with family or friends or by using a computer at their local public library.  Completing a permit reservation online should take less than five minutes.