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National refuge · 2026-27
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: Rules, Seasons and Permits
National wildlife refuge in Fulton County (893 acres in the record).
Hunting gear
Photo: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: owner, acreage and counties
Hunters find Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, a national wildlife refuge managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, in our public land list. Of the 13 Illinois refuge records on this site, each lists its own open units, species and access rules. 893 acres is the size printed by the Fish and Wildlife Service hunt-unit map. The land lies in Fulton County, in the IDNR Northwest region. On the IDNR district map, Fulton County belongs to the Lux district, staffed by Jake Lux.
Open Unit only (Forgotten Road, Wilder and Oxbow Units); Illinois state seasons with harvest limits; not open for the conservation order light goose season; non-toxic shot required for migratory birds. Hunters are told to expect: deer, turkey, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel and crow.
U.S. FWSManager
893Acres
FultonCounty
NorthwestIDNR region
None listedSite permit
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: access terms and rules
Access terms as published: 200-yard spacing between hunt parties recommended; licensed motor vehicles only in existing parking areas; no ATVs or UTVs.
Keep these statewide basics in mind at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer clothing | 400 square inches orange |
| Ground blinds, firearm season | 400 square inches orange |
| Hunter safety card | Born on or after 1980 |
| Habitat stamp | Required to hunt |
| Baiting or feeding deer | Illegal |
| Sunday hunting | Not stated in sources |
Digest rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); orange rule at IDNR hunter orange page; baiting at IDNR baiting page; Sunday rule: IDNR Sunday page. Site rules from the record source. Checked November 13, 2026.
Units, parts and programs tied to Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge appears on the federal hunt-unit layer as 2 parts.
| Part | Hunting status | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Closed | No | 1,736 |
| Open | Special Regulations Apply | 894 |
Fish and Wildlife Service Public Hunt Units layer (GIS acres, 2026) and 50 CFR 32.32 (eCFR); checked November 13, 2026.
Fulton County dates behind Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Rows marked Deer permit need a county lottery win or a leftover permit bought over the counter after October 20.
| Animal | Hunt type | What to buy | Covers | Begins | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Firearm | Deer permit | Youth counties | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – first season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – second season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 3, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 11, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late-Winter Antlerless | Late-winter permit | Late-winter counties | Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Archery turkey permit | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall shotgun | Turkey permit | Map counties | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey permit | Statewide | Mar 27, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 1 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 12, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 2 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 22, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 3 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 23, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 4 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 29, 2027 | May 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 5 | Turkey permit | North Zone | May 6, 2027 | May 13, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Eastern cottontail and swamp rabbit | Rabbit | License | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray and fox squirrel | Squirrel | License | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Waterfowl stamps | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | North and Central Zones | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Conservation Order | HIP and license | North Zone | Jan 27, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Conservation Order | HIP and license | Central and South Zones | Feb 1, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | HIP and license | All zones | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Rails (sora and Virginia) | Rails | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wilson's snipe | Snipe | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 9, 2027 | |
| American woodcock | Woodcock | HIP and license | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| American crow | Crow | License | Statewide | Oct 28, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | License | Statewide (except closed zone) | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck (groundhog) | Hunting | License | Statewide | Jun 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: deer permits, CWD and turkey zone
Illinois has no hunting units, so Fulton County is the unit that sets deer permits, CWD rules and turkey zones for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. CWD has not been confirmed in Fulton County according to the list we use.
| County | Firearm season | Leftovers | CWD | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton | Open | 2,034 | None found | North |
County guide with permit counts and harvest tables: Fulton County.
County rules from the Digest, IDNR CWD counties and the leftover permit list (IDNR permit page); checked November 13, 2026.
Closed IDNR sites around Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Several IDNR sites close to Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge carry no public hunting; do not mistake them for huntable ground.
| Closed place | Kind | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois River Biological Station | IDNR site | 2 miles | Mason |
| Dickson Mounds | IDNR site | 2 miles | Fulton |
| Havana Field Headquarters | IDNR site | 3 miles | Mason |
| Matanzas Prairie | Natural area | 7 miles | Mason |
| Mason State Tree Nursery | IDNR site | 11 miles | Mason |
| Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery | Fish hatchery | 13 miles | Mason |
Closed rows are IDNR sites with no Hunt Illinois fact sheet and no hunting flag on the land-use layer; see the full closed list. Checked November 13, 2026.
Nearest towns and an IDNR site for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Havana, 3 miles off, is the closest town on this site. Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge appears on the town pages of Bath, Goofy Ridge, Havana and Lewistown. Nearest IDNR listing: Jubilee College State Park in Brimfield, 37 miles.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havana | Mason | 2,826 | 3 miles | southeast |
| Lewistown | Fulton | 1,960 | 6 miles | northwest |
| Bath | Mason | 265 | 9 miles | south |
| Goofy Ridge | Mason | – | 10 miles | northeast |
| Dunfermline | Fulton | 252 | 12 miles | north |
Jubilee College State Park IDNR site
American Sport sporting goods
Skunkblaster Gunsmithing sporting goods
Oak Tree Outfitters of Illinois guide or outfitter
Tater Creek Whitetail Outfitters guide or outfitter
Backwoods Whitetails Outfitters guide or outfitter
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); IDNR sites from the CWD sampling list and the IDNR contact page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 13, 2026.
What sits near Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge on the land map
A 6 miles hop northeast brings you to Chautauqua NWR, the next public land on this site. The nearest six break down as 3 fish and wildlife areas, 1 national refuge and 1 nature preserve.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chautauqua NWR | National refuge | 809 | Mason | 6 miles | northeast |
| Henry Allen Gleason NP | Nature preserve | 120 | Mason | 10 miles | northeast |
| Anderson Lake SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 1,900 | Fulton | 10 miles | southwest |
| Sand Ridge State Forest | State forest | 6,600 | Mason | 13 miles | east |
| Rice Lake SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 2,500 | Fulton | 13 miles | northeast |
| Spring Lake SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 1,500 | Tazewell | 15 miles | northeast |
Point: FWS Public Hunt Units layer (centroid of the Illinois huntable units of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the clock runs at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: legal hours
All of Illinois keeps Central Time, which falls back on November 1, 2026 and returns on March 14, 2027; watch the clock jump in the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge rows.
| Date | Marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks, geese | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:55 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:04 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:36 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:52 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:13 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:19 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:23 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:28 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 13, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
What to carry onto Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
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Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: ranges within a drive
At 13 miles, Sand Ridge (IDNR site) is the closest range to Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge; read its access line before going. Rifle hunters look to Tac Shack, 41 miles off, since these three list no rifle line.
From the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Goldenrod on riprap above the open water and marsh at EmiquonPhoto: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
A big flock of snow geese resting on a mudflat at EmiquonPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: questions and answers
Is there a lottery or reservation for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
The records show no site-specific permit at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. Statewide licenses, stamps and county permits still apply.
What kinds of hunting happen at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
Game on the list: deer, turkey, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, crow, waterfowl, rails, snipe and woodcock. Seasons and limits come from the Digest.
Is deer season open at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
Use the statewide season calendar for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. Season calendar.
How big is Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and where is it?
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge: 893 acres, Fulton County. IDNR region: Northwest.
Who manages Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, and who do I call?
The Fish and Wildlife Service handles it. The record lists no phone or address. Official page.
How much game came off Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge last season?
No area-level counts exist in the report for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. County totals: Fulton County.
What town should I use as a base for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
Havana is nearest, about 3 miles in a straight line. Next: Lewistown (6 miles) and Bath (9 miles). Havana hunting page.
Is hunter orange required at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
During firearm deer seasons in open counties, a solid blaze orange or pink cap and an upper outer garment with at least 400 square inches of orange or pink are required. Ground blinds on IDNR land need orange on top in firearm season. Source.
What do county rules mean for hunting Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
Fulton County is open to firearm deer. On CWD, no confirmed chronic wasting disease finding is on the list. Leftover either-sex firearm permits after round 3: 2,034. Fulton County page.
What does the Digest say about Sunday hunting at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
Neither the Digest nor the IDNR pages we checked say anything about Sunday hunting. IDNR page.
Which nearby sites are closed to hunting?
6 closed sites lie within 25 miles; Illinois River Biological Station is the nearest. The page lists each one.
Until what time can I hunt at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour either side of sunrise and sunset, spring turkey to 1 pm, and ducks and geese to sunset. Site rules can be tighter. Hours for every county.
Before the truck leaves for Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
Posted signs outrank any map, so confirm boundaries on the ground at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest. Checked November 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0).