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.
For more information on specific hunt rules and policies
Activity | Season | Division | Special Regulations |
Migratory Bird Hunting | Allowed in accordance with state season and state and federal regulation | Slim & Haps Island Division | See Blinds section |
Migratory Bird Hunting from Blinds | Allowed in accordance with state season and state and federal regulations | Long Island Division | Hunting ONLY on blinds sites posted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
Upland Game | State seasons and regulations | Fox Island, Long Island, Slim & Haps Island Divisions | State regulations apply. If using a shotgun, must use and possess non toxic shot only. |
Upland Game Shotgun ONLY | State seasons and regulations | Cherry Box Division | ONLY with shotgun using nontoxic shot |
Furbearer Hunting | Allowed ONLY from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset during state season | Cherry Box, Fox Island, Long Island, Slim & Haps Island Divisions | |
Deer Hunting | Allowed in accordance with Illinois state seasons & regulations. | Long Island Division | State regulations apply. See Tree Stands section |
Deer Archery | Allowed ONLY during the statewide archery deer season in accordance with state regulations. Closed during state firearm season. | Cherry Box Division, Fox Island Division, and Slim & Haps Island Division | NO firearms deer hunting allowed. See Tree Stands section |
TurkeyHunting | State seasons and regulations | Cherry Box Division, Fox Island Division, and Slim & Haps Island Division | Possession and use of approved nontoxic shot shells only. |
Trapping | Muskrat, beaver, and raccoon trapping permitted | Cherry Box, Fox Island, Long Island, Slim & Haps Island Divisions | Special regulations apply and requires a Refuge Special Use Permit |
