Hunting In Sullivan

The Sullivan area is teeming with excellent opportunities for hunting. The forests and open lands around Lake Shelbyville provide plentiful public access for hunting. Approximately 12,000 of the 23,000 land acres at Lake Shelbyville are comprised of Oak/Hickory Forests.

Game species at Lake Shelbyville:

• Dove
  
• Rabbit
  
• Pheasant
  
• White-Tailed Deer
  
• Squirrel
  
• Eastern Wild Turkey
  
• Fox
  
• Coyote
  
• Raccoon
  
• Woodcock
  
• Waterfowl

Major areas for public hunting access include:

• Army Corps
• Eagle Creek State Park (520 acres)
• Eagle Creek State Wildlife Area (785 acres)
• Wolf Creek State Park (500 acres)
• Lake Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area: Kaskaskia Unit (3,000 acres near Allenville) and West Okaw Unit (3,000 acres near Bethany)

For information for hunting licenses and permits for both Illinois residents and non-residents, see the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The Lake Shelbyville Army Corps of Engineers Project Office organizes special hunting events in the fall. Call (217) 774-3951 for more information and exact dates of these events.

• An annual deer hunt is held for persons with disabilities.
• Controlled dove hunting is conducted during the first two days of the dove hunting season in managed sunflower fields. A permit is required for opening day.
• Youth dove hunts and squirrel hunts are occasionally held where an adult and a youth share a day in the field.
• Controlled waterfowl hunting is available at Okaw Wetlands each year. A permit is required.