National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Fulton County, Illinois, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 2,710 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 894 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
894huntable acres
2.7KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Emiquon 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 Emiquon NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Big bucks roam the wooded areas that line the old oxbow lakes of Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, a fact not lost on area bowhunters. They set up temporary blinds along the white-tailed deer trails that run along refuge backwaters.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland 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: 894 (34%)Closed: 1,736 (66%)894huntable acres
  • Special regulations894 ac 34%
  • Closed1,736 ac 66%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
1,736 ac
Open
894 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 894 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,736 —

Emiquon NWR by the numbers

With about 894 huntable acres, Emiquon NWR ranks #6 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Illinois and #360 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 34% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (894 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 1,736 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Emiquon 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 — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 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 Emiquon NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge has one boat launch where visitors can enter the Spoon River to fish and canoe. Species include bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish.

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

How to get to Emiquon NWR

Navigate

Destination: Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.32895, -90.09414
DMS
40°19′44.2″N 90°05′38.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Havana, IL2.7 mi NW of town
  • Peoria, IL36 mi SW of town
  • Springfield, IL44 mi NW of town
  • Quincy, IL75 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • PIA Peoria Intl31 mi
  • MLI Quad Cities Intl80 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 Emiquon 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, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM6:44 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM6:22 PM11h 13m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:59 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 AM4:35 PM9h 19m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM4:43 PM9h 21m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM4:56 PM9h 36m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:16 PM10h 07m

Computed for 40.329, -90.094 (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 Emiquon NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

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…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, 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…

Emiquon NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Emiquon NWR?

Yes. Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (894 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Emiquon NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Emiquon 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 Emiquon NWR?

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

Where is Emiquon NWR located?

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is in Fulton County, Illinois, about 3 miles NW of Havana, IL (straight-line). GPS: 40.32895, -90.09414.

What are legal shooting hours at Emiquon 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

Chautauqua NWR

Mason County, IL · 5.9 mi NE

1 special1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

810 huntable acres

Meredosia NWR

Morgan County, IL · 40 mi SW

2 closed
🎣

Great River NWR

Adams County, IL · 76 mi W

5 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

11.3K huntable acres

Port Louisa NWR

Louisa County, IA · 81 mi NW

4 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

15.4K huntable acres

Clarence Cannon NWR

Pike County, MO · 82 mi SW

1 open2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

3.9K huntable acres

Two Rivers NWR

Calhoun County, IL · 98 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.