Carlyle Lake offers abundant public hunting!

11,000 acres of public land surround Carlyle Lake, providing excellent access to the Lake and to public hunting grounds.  The City of Carlyle is the gateway to the Lake, providing everything you need from lodging, supplies, food, and entertainment to supplement your hunting trip here.

 

Contact Information

Prior to any hunting trip to Carlyle Lake, contacting local park staff is a must.  Local park staff and rangers will be able to help you understand special rules and regulations applicable to hunting Carlyle Lake.  They will also be very helpful in pointing you to the right location for the species you are interested in hunting.

Dept. Natural Resources Staff at Eldon Hazlet can be contacted at 618-594-3015. 

U.S. Army Corps Staff at Carlyle Lake can be contacted at 618-594-2484.

You may be interested in downloading the Carlyle Lake Fishing & Hunting Guide, (PDF, 1.75MB) published by DNR and the Corps.  The Guide provides very helpful information to get you started on rules and regulations.  The Guide also provides a detailed map of the Lake with good information on the location of parking areas to access the area of the Lake you are visiting.

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park

Located about 5 miles north of Carlyle, Eldon Hazlet State Park offers hunting for deer, pheasant, and waterfowl, among other species.  A youth pheasant hunt is held every year, typically, in November.  Trapping is permitted in certain parts of the Park.  In total, about 400 acres of State Park property are open to public hunting.

Before taking a hunting trip to Carlyle Lake, you may choose to contact Eldon Hazlet staff a call at 618-594-3015 for more information and tips.  In addition, you may want to download the following:

The Eldon Hazlet Hunter Fact Sheet details information on site regulations and hunt-able species.  The current sheet is current for the 2009-10 season. 

The Eldon Hazlet Hunting Map (PDF, 353KB) provides some detailed information on the areas of the Park that are open for hunting.  Some areas of the Park are strictly prohibited for hunting.

 

South Shore State Park

South Shore State Park is located about 3 miles east of Carlyle and offers bow-hunting opportunities for deer and turkey only.  About 139 acres of public property is open for public hunting, consisting of multiple grasslands, interspersed woodlands, and restored savanna habitats.

The South Shore State Park Hunter Fact Sheet details information on site regulations and hunt-able species.  The current sheet is current for the 2009-10 season. 

 

U.S. Army Corps Hunting

Outside of the State parks located at Carlyle Lake, hunting is permitted on ground owned by the U.S. Army Corps except where posted and if the area is not within 100 yards of a developed recreation area or a residence. 

The Corps manages four wetland restoration areas of interest to waterfowl hunters at Boulder Flats, Saddle Dam III, Grasher Creek, and the James Hawn areas. 

Trapping is also permitted on Corps grounds, except where posted.

Don't forget to contact the Corps if you are interested in or planning a hunting trip to Corps grounds.  They can be contacted at 618-594-2484, or information can be found on their website. 

 

Carlyle Lake Fish & Wildlife Management Area

The Carlyle Lake Fish & Wildlife Management Area is maintained by the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources.  It is located approximately 25 miles north of Carlyle and consists of about 3,700 acres of woodland, grassland, and cropland, and 5,800 acres of open water and wetlands.  Although primary hunting is for waterfowl, the Area is also good for deer, turkey, and trapping.

The Area's Hunter's Fact Sheet current for the 2009-10 hunting season, can be downloaded here.  A site map (PDF, 890KB), detailing the locations of parking and other useful areas, can also be downloaded from this site.

 

Carlyle Shops & Services

The City of Carlyle offers everything you need to facilitate your hunting trip to Carlyle Lake.

More information on lodging at the Mariner's Village or Super 8 can be found by clicking here.

Henkel's Hook & Arrow (618-594-4818, 951 12th Street) stocks a wide array of hunting gear.  Talk to Steve if you also have any questions or a need for tips.  Walmart also stocks hunting gear you may need. 

Carlyle is also home to 16 sit-down and fast-food restaurants, two grocery stores, and five gas and convenience stores that stock everything you might need to make your hunting trip comfortable (click on any of the following links to download a KML in Google Earth).