Hunting

Great River National Wildlife Refuge offers various hunting opportunities on five of its six divisions. (Canton Division is closed to all hunting.) The Delair Division is closed to the public all year, except during the annual deer hunt managed by a drawing through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Long Island Division is open to all public hunting, but waterfowl hunting is allowed only from blinds constructed on sites posted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Fox Island Division is open to turkey hunting during the spring firearm, youth firearm and fall archery seasons, as well as for all upland game seasons. Deer hunting is open only during Missouri’s fall archery season. Slim & Haps Island Division is open to deer hunting during the fall archery season, and turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting and upland game hunting in accordance with state seasons and regulations. Cherry Box Division is open to deer hunting during the fall archery seasons, and turkey hunting during the spring firearm and fall archery seasons. Upland game hunting is allowed by shotgun only.

Divisions

• Delair Division (Pike County, IL)
• Cherry Box Division (Shelby County, MO)
• Fox Island Division (Clark County, MO)
• Long Island Division (Adams County, IL)
• Slim & Haps Island Division (Pike County, MO)

Public Use Information

• Delair Division - NO public use allowed, except during state-managed deer hunt.
• All Other Divisions - the refuge is open for authorized hunting activities, one hour before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset and in accordance with state seasons and regulations.
• Hiking allowed on refuge roads and trails, unless otherwise posted. ATVs/UTVs and Biking use (pedal or electric) not allowed on the refuge.
• Biking use (pedal or electric) allowed on refuge roads open to public vehicular traffic only.
• Dogs must be on a leash except for hunting purposes (where hunting allowed).
• Berry and mushroom gathering allowed for personal consumption only, not for resale or other commercial use.
• Electric motors and non-motorized watercraft allowed in designated areas for hunting and accessibility.

Firearms

• Allowed only during authorized hunting activities. Must be unloaded & either dismantled or cased when transporting on refuge roads or waters, unless in compliance with state concealed/carry regulations.
• Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.
• When using a shotgun, hunters must only possess and use nontoxic shot.

Fishing

• Delair and Cherry Box Division - Closed to ALL fishing
• Fox Island Division – fishing allowed along any portion of the Fox River ONLY in accordance with state seasons and regulations.
• Long Island Division and Slim & Haps Island Division – fishing allowed in accordance with state seasons and regulations.
• Must remove all fishing devices at the end of the day’s fishing activity.
• Fishing is allowed from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
• The taking of any mussel, clam, crayfish, leach, frog, and turtle species is prohibited.

Migratory Bird Hunting

• Delair Division – CLOSED to migratory bird hunting.
• Long Island Division open to waterfowl hunting only from blinds constructed on sites posted by IDNR.
• Slim and Haps Island, Fox Island and Cherry Box open in accordance with state and federal seasons and regulations.

Upland Game

• Allowed for small game, furbearers, and game birds other than waterfowl in accordance with state seasons and regulations subject to the following conditions:
• Hunting of furbearers allowed ONLY from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to 1/2 hour after legal sunset.
• When using a shotgun, hunters must only possess and use nontoxic shot

Tree Stands

• Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds or platforms is prohibited.
• Portable tree stands and blinds are allowed from September 1st though January 31st. The hunter’s state generated hunter ID number must be permanently attached in a visible location on the stand or blind. Limit one stand or blind per hunter.
• Placing tree stands in dead trees is prohibited.
• Trees or limbs greater than 1” in diameter may not be trimmed.
• Deer drives are prohibited.

Blinds

• Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or platforms prohibited.
• Boats, blinds, blind materials, decoys, and other hunting equipment must be removed from the refuge at the end of each day.

Prohibited Activities

• By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted.
• Possession of alcoholic beverages
• Camping and Fires
• No trail cameras allowed
• Searching for or removal of any natural items such as antlers, plants, historic, and archaeological features which are protected by Federal law.
• Gas boat motors prohibited on refuges.
• Marking or flagging any tree or other Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance.
• Permanent tree stands, nails, screw-in steps, or other items that penetrate the outer bark of a tree.
• Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or platforms prohibited.
• Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.
• Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of any public use facility.