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Where and When to Hunt Mississippi Palisades State Park
State park in Carroll County with 1,500 acres and 4 seasons on the fact sheet.
Hunting gear
Photo: Phil Roeder (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Mississippi Palisades State Park
Mississippi Palisades State Park: owner, acreage and counties
Mississippi Palisades State Park is a state park run by IDNR. 72 state parks and recreation areas carry a Hunt Illinois fact sheet, and this is one of them. By the Hunt Illinois fact sheet it holds 1,500 acres. It sits within Carroll County, part of IDNR’s Northwest region. Carroll County falls in the Weber wildlife district, where Beth Weber is the biologist.
Fact-sheet habitat note: Oak-hickory woodlands with steep topography of unglaciated ridges and deep ravines interspersed with hill prairies and ridge-top fields. Reach the site through 16327A Il Rt. 84, Savanna, IL 61074 Phone 815-273-2731. Listed amenities: boat ramp and trails.
IDNRManager
1,500Acres
CarrollCounty
NorthwestIDNR region
4 of 13Seasons open here
Yes, lotterySite permit
374Hunter trips
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Mississippi Palisades State Park
Seasons open at Mississippi Palisades State Park
Of 13 possible season lines, Mississippi Palisades State Park offers 4. Grouped, the open seasons are 2 deer and 2 turkey. Closed lines include late winter antlerless, muzzleloader, special cwd, youth firearm and fall shotgun plus 4 others.
| Game | Hunt type | Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Open here |
| Deer | Firearm | Open here |
| Deer | Late Winter Antlerless | Not offered |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Not offered |
| Deer | Special CWD | Not offered |
| Deer | Youth Firearm | Not offered |
| Turkey | Fall Archery | Open here |
| Turkey | Fall Shotgun | Not offered |
| Turkey | Spring | Open here |
| Turkey | Youth Spring | Not offered |
| Waterfowl | Waterfowl (all) | Not offered |
| Upland and small game | Upland and small game (all) | Not offered |
| Furbearers | Furbearers (all) | Not offered |
Exceptions printed for Mississippi Palisades State Park:
- Archery: The season is closed during deer firearm season.
- Firearm: A site-specific permit, obtained through the statewide permit lottery, is required. Note: Permits valid for Carroll Co. are not valid for this site. First and second-firearm deer season permits are available separately. Permit holders must register and show a wildshield card at the park office by 5 am. Stand by hunters must check in for a drawing by 5 am each day.
- Fall Archery: The season is closed during deer firearm season.
- Spring: A site-specific permit, obtained through the statewide permit lottery, is required. Note: Permits valid for Carroll Co. are not valid for this site. Spring turkey hunting is permitted during segments 1 through 4 only. Preference is given to disabled hunters (3 permits in each of the 4 seasons).
Availability and exceptions from the IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheet (record source); statewide dates in the Digest; checked November 13, 2026.
Site rules and access at Mississippi Palisades State Park
Before you hunt Mississippi Palisades State Park, read what the fact sheet adds:
- The site requires the use of a windshield card , displayed on the vehicle dashboard, to report hunting effort and harvest by 15 February.
- Only hunters possessing permits are allowed in the area during days of deer firearm seasons, and only permitted hunters are allowed in the area until 1 pm during shotgun turkey seasons.
- Hunting is restricted to those portions of the area posted as open to hunting, which is east of the main park road.
- Hunters may not possess an uncased bow or loaded/uncased firearm outside of the posted hunting zones.
- Hunters should be cautious about hikers and others in the park area.
- Hunters must park in one of the nine designated parking lots and must not block access to fields or gates.
- A limited number of hunters are allowed to hunt deer and turkey during firearm season. Site-specific permits required.
- Only 1 non-piercing, portable tree stand or blind allowed per hunter. Tree stands, or blinds, may be left unattended from Sept 15 – Jan 31 if legibly marked with the owner's name, address, and telephone number.
Statewide rules also cover Mississippi Palisades State Park, in brief:
| Digest item | Standard |
|---|---|
| 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.
Permits, drawings and reservations for Mississippi Palisades State Park
The source describes the permit route for Mississippi Palisades State Park like this:
- Deer – Firearm: Stand by hunters must check in for a drawing by 5 am each day.
County deer permits are sold through the statewide lottery rounds, while a site permit has its own application. How the lottery works.
Quota basis from the record source; lottery rounds from the IDNR lottery page; checked November 13, 2026.
Mississippi Palisades State Park: 2025-26 hunter trips and harvest
For 2025-26, the area report lists 374 hunter trips at Mississippi Palisades State Park. By trips it stands 91st among 218 areas with a report. The season's reported take was 35, mostly archery deer (14). Hunters averaged about 11 trips per animal reported. On deer alone, 22 reported puts it 95th among 218 areas.
| Hunt | Animals logged |
|---|---|
| Archery deer | 14 |
| Firearm deer | 8 |
| Spring turkey | 13 |
| Fall turkey (archery) | 0 |
IDNR Public Hunting Areas Report 2025-26 (report PDF), row Mississippi Palisades; ranks are counted across the 218 areas with a report. Checked November 13, 2026.
Dated seasons reaching Carroll County
25 species and 56 season lines apply around Carroll County this year, and the last column checks each window against today.
| Species | Window | Permit | Reach | First | Last | Today? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Special CWD | CWD permit | CWD 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.
Which county rules apply to Mississippi Palisades State Park
Carroll County decides the permit, CWD and turkey zone terms behind Mississippi Palisades State Park. Carroll County is on the confirmed CWD list, which brings sampling and possibly check-station rules.
| County | Firearm deer | Leftover permits | CWD | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll | Open | 1,483 | Confirmed | North |
Open the county page for harvest history, towns and more land: Carroll County.
County rules from the Digest, IDNR CWD counties and the leftover permit list (IDNR permit page); checked November 13, 2026.
Closed ground in the Mississippi Palisades State Park area
Do not hunt these sites near Mississippi Palisades State Park: the data lists them as closed.
| Closed site | Type | Straight line | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miller's Hollow | IDNR site | under a mile | Carroll |
| Eagles Landing | Natural area | 10 miles | Jo Daviess |
| Apple River Fort | Historic site | 12 miles | Jo Daviess |
| Mickelson's Landing | IDNR site | 16 miles | Whiteside |
| Millroad Marsh | Habitat area | 21 miles | Whiteside |
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 Mississippi Palisades State Park
Savanna is the nearest town with a page here, 4 miles from Mississippi Palisades State Park in a straight line. Mississippi Palisades State Park appears on the town pages of Hanover and Savanna. The shortest trip to an IDNR location is Savanna, under a mile, at Mississippi Palisades State Park.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savanna | Carroll | 2,713 | 4 miles | southeast |
| Hanover | Jo Daviess | 828 | 9 miles | northwest |
| Mount Carroll | Carroll | 1,433 | 10 miles | east |
| Thomson | Carroll | 1,595 | 12 miles | south |
| Apple Canyon Lake | Jo Daviess | – | 20 miles | north |
Mississippi Palisades State Park IDNR site
Hubble Processing meat processing
D. & D. Firearms sporting goods
Johnson's Processing meat processing
Carroll County Locker meat processing
Millers Sport Center Inc sporting goods
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.
Pinned neighbours of Mississippi Palisades State Park
Rall Woods SNA is the closest neighbour, 5 miles northwest of the Mississippi Palisades State Park point. By type, the six neighbours count as 3 natural areas, 2 national refuges and 1 wildlife area.
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rall Woods SNA | Natural area | 283 | Jo Daviess | 5 miles | northwest |
| Hanover Bluff SNA | Natural area | 500 | Jo Daviess | 9 miles | northwest |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | National refuge | 32,868 | Carroll | 10 miles | south |
| Lost Mound Unit | National refuge | 6,668 | Jo Daviess | 12 miles | northwest |
| French Bluff SNA | Natural area | 342 | Carroll | 13 miles | southeast |
| Iris & Jack Witkowsky SWA | Wildlife area | 1,086 | Jo Daviess | 14 miles | northwest |
Point: Hunt Illinois fact sheet "Site coordinates". Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Legal hunting hours at Mississippi Palisades State Park through the season
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, so the window around Mississippi Palisades State Park below comes from the NOAA solar formula for this spot.
| When | Event | First sun | Last sun | Deer legal | Duck legal | Turkey legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:06 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:40 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:56 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:19 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:26 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:29 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:26 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 5:56 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.
Kit that suits Mississippi Palisades State Park ground
Built around prairie, farm and river country.
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Mississippi Palisades State Park: closest ranges for a zero check
The Site Firearms Training Center, 12 miles from Mississippi Palisades State Park, heads the three nearest range cards.
From the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
The Mississippi River backwaters from the Sentinel trail lookout at Mississippi Palisades State ParkPhoto: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
A train curving along the Mississippi River below wooded bluffs near Mississippi PalisadesPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mississippi Palisades State Park hunting questions, answered from the sources
Is a special permit required for Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Hunting at Mississippi Palisades State Park runs partly through a permit, lottery or reservation. Deer – Firearm: Stand by hunters must check in for a drawing by 5 am each day. Lottery guide.
Which game species does Mississippi Palisades State Park list?
Hunters can pursue deer and turkey, according to the listing. Dates and limits follow state rules.
Which weapons are allowed at Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Open lines: 4; not offered: 9. Deer: archery and firearm. Turkey: fall archery and spring. See the table.
How big is Mississippi Palisades State Park and where is it?
Size: 1,500 acres; location: Carroll County. IDNR region: Northwest.
Who do I contact about Mississippi Palisades State Park?
IDNR handles it. Phone 815-273-2731. Address: 16327A Il Rt. 84, Savanna, IL 61074. Official page.
What was the 2025-26 harvest at Mississippi Palisades State Park?
The report gives 374 trips and a harvest of 35. It ranks 91st of 218 areas by trips.
Where do hunters stay or eat near Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Use Savanna (4 miles) as the base. Next: Hanover (9 miles) and Mount Carroll (10 miles). Savanna hunting page.
What are the blaze orange rules for Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Gun deer seasons call for a blaze orange or pink hat and at least 400 square inches of orange or pink on the upper body. Check the Digest for other seasons. Source.
Do county permit counts affect Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Carroll County is open to firearm deer, and chronic wasting disease is confirmed there. Leftover either-sex firearm permits after round 3: 1,483. Carroll County page.
What does the Digest say about Sunday hunting at Mississippi Palisades State Park?
No Sunday rule appears in the sources, and we will not guess. IDNR page.
Can I hunt every state site near Mississippi Palisades State Park?
No: 5 sites within 25 miles are listed as closed to hunting, such as Miller's Hollow. They stay off the open list.
What time must I stop hunting at Mississippi Palisades State Park?
Deer: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Spring turkey: to 1 pm Regular ducks and geese: sunrise rules to sunset. Site rules can be tighter. Hours for every county.
Pre-trip checklist for Mississippi Palisades State Park
Carry your license, habitat stamp and any site permit, and check the managers for closures before you set off for Mississippi Palisades State Park.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest. Checked November 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Phil Roeder (CC BY 2.0).