National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge lies in Mason County, Illinois, with about 6,576 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 810 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
810huntable acres
6.6KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Chautauqua NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Chautauqua NWR

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

More than 100,000 ducks use Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge each fall, which means waterfowl hunters will see lots of birds. But getting them can be an entirely different matter.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Illinois regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 810 (12%)Closed: 5,767 (88%)810huntable acres
  • Special regulations810 ac 12%
  • Closed5,767 ac 88%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
5,767 ac
Liverpool Lake
810 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Liverpool Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 810 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,767 —

Chautauqua NWR by the numbers

With about 810 huntable acres, Chautauqua NWR ranks #7 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Illinois and #365 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 12% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Liverpool Lake (810 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 5,767 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 6,576 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 35 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Chautauqua NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Illinois sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Illinois hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Chautauqua NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Sportfishing is permitted on any refuges waters. Popular species include bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Please see the Rules and Policy page for more details on regulations.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Chautauqua NWR

Navigate

Destination: Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.37573, -90.00115
DMS
40°22′32.6″N 90°00′04.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Havana, IL6.1 mi NE of town
  • Peoria, IL31 mi SW of town
  • Springfield, IL44 mi NW of town
  • Quincy, IL80 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • PIA Peoria Intl26 mi
  • MLI Quad Cities Intl79 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Chautauqua NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM7:34 PM13h 08m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM7:11 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM6:44 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:21 PM11h 12m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:58 PM10h 30m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM4:44 PM9h 59m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:35 PM9h 32m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM4:34 PM9h 19m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:43 PM9h 20m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:56 PM9h 35m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:16 PM10h 06m

Computed for 40.376, -90.001 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Chautauqua NWR

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Chautauqua NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Chautauqua NWR?

Yes. Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (810 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Chautauqua NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Chautauqua NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Chautauqua NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Chautauqua NWR located?

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge is in Mason County, Illinois, about 6 miles NE of Havana, IL (straight-line). GPS: 40.37573, -90.00115.

What are legal shooting hours at Chautauqua NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Emiquon NWR

Fulton County, IL · 5.9 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

894 huntable acres

Meredosia NWR

Morgan County, IL · 46 mi SW

2 closed
🎣

Great River NWR

Adams County, IL · 81 mi W

5 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.3K huntable acres

Port Louisa NWR

Louisa County, IA · 82 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Clarence Cannon NWR

Pike County, MO · 87 mi SW

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Two Rivers NWR

Calhoun County, IL · 102 mi S

8 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9K huntable acres

All refuges in Illinois →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.