No special permit for Weldon Springs-Piatt unit

Archery deer hunters no longer need to apply for a special site permit to hunt deer for the 2009-2010 archery deer season at the IDNR Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit. 

To assist in managing the large number of deer at the site, the Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit will be open to hunters with a statewide archery deer permit. Firearm deer permits for the Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit will still be issued through the permit office lottery drawing. 

IDNR biologists are interested in monitoring and managing the site’s deer herd in coordination with the University of Illinois Allerton Park ongoing deer study. IDNR will still require that all archery deer hunters harvest an antlerless deer prior to taking an antlered deer at the Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit.

In addition, successful archery deer hunters are being asked to voluntarily check their deer at the Allerton Park deer check station. At the check station, tissue samples and other measurements will be taken in order to gather data on the local deer herd. 

For more information, contact the Weldon Springs State Park office at 217/935-2644.