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7 records · 36,481 acres
Illinois Corps Lakes and Federal Land
Lake Shelbyville and Carlyle Lake Corps projects plus the federal tracts IDNR manages for hunting, such as Oakwood Bottoms and LaRue Swamp.
Photo: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Overview of the Corps lakes and federal tracts
Federal ground in Illinois is hunted under state seasons, and the two Corps of Engineers lake projects and five federal tracts here come with their own local terms. Counting 7 records (5 federal land and 2 corps lake), the total is 36,481 acres spread over 8 counties. Season grids exist for 4 records: 4 list archery deer, 4 firearm deer and 4 spring turkey. 1 of the 7 records describe a permit, lottery or reservation, so check the permit section on the record before you go. The busiest by 2025-26 hunter trips is Shelbyville Federal Lands with 0.
Every record among the Corps lakes and federal tracts
Type a name or county to narrow the list of 7 records.
| Place | Kind | Counties | Acres | Seasons open | Trips 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluff Lakes Federal Lands | Federal land | Union | 516 | 14 of 20 | – |
| Calhoun Point Federal Lands | Federal land | Calhoun | 2,215 | 20 of 22 | – |
| Carlyle Lake | Corps lake | Clinton, Fayette + | – | – | – |
| LaRue Swamp Federal Lands | Federal land | Union | 1,000 | 12 of 21 | – |
| Lake Shelbyville | Corps lake | Moultrie, Shelby | 23,000 | – | – |
| Oakwood Bottoms Federal Lands | Federal land | Jackson | 3,400 | 16 of 21 | – |
| Shelbyville Federal Lands | Federal land | Moultrie | 6,350 | – | 0 |
Season lines across the Corps lakes and federal tracts
Season grids exist for 4 records; for each line the table counts the records that offer it and those that do not. Deer – Archery is open on 4 of 4 records, the broadest line; deer – late-winter antlerless is the narrowest at 0 of 4.
| Season line | Offered | Not offered | Share offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer – Archery | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Deer – Firearm | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Deer – Late-Winter Antlerless | 0 | 4 | 0 percent |
| Deer – Muzzleloader | 3 | 1 | 75 percent |
| Deer – Special CWD | 0 | 4 | 0 percent |
| Deer – Youth Firearm | 1 | 3 | 25 percent |
| Turkey – Fall Archery | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Turkey – Fall Shotgun | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Turkey – Spring | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Turkey – Youth Spring | 1 | 3 | 25 percent |
| Waterfowl – Ducks, Coots and Mergansers | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Waterfowl – Geese | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Waterfowl – Snipe and Rail | 2 | 2 | 50 percent |
| Waterfowl – Youth | 2 | 2 | 50 percent |
| Upland game birds | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Dove | 2 | 2 | 50 percent |
| Rabbit | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Squirrel | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Woodcock | 2 | 1 | 67 percent |
| Furbearer hunting | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Furbearer trapping | 4 | 0 | 100 percent |
| Crow | 1 | 0 | 100 percent |
Counted from the IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheets in lands.json; checked November 13, 2026.
Pins for the Corps lakes and federal tracts
Each of the 7 pins opens a record page.
Corps lakes and federal tracts region by region
Counting by IDNR region gives the split below.
| IDNR region | Records | Acres listed | Quota-hunt records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northeast | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| East Central | 2 | 29,350 | 0 |
| West Central | 2 | 2,215 | 1 |
| South | 3 | 4,916 | 0 |
Where hunters went most, 2025-26
Trip and harvest counts exist for 1 records. The top eight by trips follow.
| Place | Hunter trips | Animals reported | Deer reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Federal Lands | 0 | 851 | 136 |
IDNR Public Hunting Areas Report 2025-26 (report PDF); checked November 13, 2026.
In the managers' words: the Corps lakes and federal tracts
The 7 cards below carry the first useful line of each source page.
Lake Shelbyville
Gateway page: "excellent crappie fishing and offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including picnicking, camping, swimming, hiking, fishing, and hunting."
Shelbyville Federal Lands
Shelbyville Federal Lands Site has hunting opportunities overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers. The site is contiguous with the Shelbyville SFWA.
Oakwood Bottoms Federal Lands
Hunting hours are from legal opening until 1 p.m., and hunters must be out of the site by 2 pm. No permanent blinds allowed. Waterfowl hunters must maintain a distance of 200 yards between hunting parties.
Calhoun Point Federal Lands
It is unlawful to trespass on areas designated as waterfowl rest areas 14 days prior to duck season and until the end of the conservation light goose season.at Godar Refuge, Crull Impoundment Refuge, Dan Hudgins Rest Area, and…
LaRue Swamp Federal Lands
Contains mesic floodplain forest, shrub swamp and pond communities once characteristic of the Mississippi River bottomlands of southern Illinois, but now nearly all cleared and drained.
Bluff Lakes Federal Lands
Features two small lakes (Upper and Lower Bluff Lakes), numerous shallow sloughs, extensive wetlands, cypress swamps, and inundated timber.
Carlyle Lake
Gateway factoid: "Water-oriented outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, and hunting." The Gateway page gives no acreage.
Wording from each record’s source page; checked November 13, 2026.
Sunset over the Mississippi River at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Snow on the bank of the Ohio River at Locks and Dam 53 near Grand ChainPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Questions about the Corps lakes and federal tracts
Which Corps lakes and federal tracts are included?
There are 7 records; the biggest is Lake Shelbyville.
Which record has the most acres among the Corps lakes and federal tracts?
By listed acres, Lake Shelbyville leads with 23,000. Lake Shelbyville page.
Is a lottery involved at the Corps lakes and federal tracts?
1 records are flagged quota hunts; the rest follow statewide permits. Lottery guide.
What is the source for open and closed seasons?
IDNR fact sheets mark each season line as open or not offered at the site, with exceptions in the managers' words.
Is Sunday hunting allowed at these places?
We found no Sunday statement in the sources, and we will not guess.