Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA to allow more pheasant hunters

Up to 15 additional pheasant hunters per day will be allowed in the controlled pheasant hunting unit at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area starting Dec. 10.

The increased quota of hunters, from 55 to 70 per day, will continue through the end of the hunting season.

Jim Edgar Panther Creek is located in Cass County 11 miles northwest of Ashland. 

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said the hunter quota increase is due to very strong interest in controlled pheasant hunting at the site.

The controlled pheasant hunting unit at Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA consists of 5,500 acres of grassland habitat interspersed with crop fields and woodlots.

DNR encourages hunters to use its online reservation system.

Visit http://www.dnr.illinois.gov to secure permits. Reserved permits ensure hunters will have the opportunity to hunt.

Standby permits also available at the site, although standby hunting opportunities are limited.

To access the reservation system:

Click on the “Hunting/Trapping” button on the toolbar on the DNR home page.

Then click on the pheasant icon.

Then click on “Controlled Pheasant Areas” under the “Quick Links” heading.

The daily permit fee for controlled pheasant hunting is $25 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. 

Hunters can register up to 24 hours before an available hunt date and the process takes less than five minutes.

Standby hunters pay daily permit fees at the site hunter check station.

Standby hunters need to be prepared to pay permit fees with cash.