National Wildlife Refuge · Illinois · FWS Region 3

Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Iroquois County, Illinois, Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 66 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 1 mapped hunt unit: 1 open with special regulations, covering about 66 huntable acres.

1 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
1hunt units
66huntable acres
66FWS-owned acres
7game categories

Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area 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 Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area

Hunting opportunities include 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.

Hunting is available at more than 400 units of the National Wildlife Refuge System (national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts) and almost 20 national fish hatcheries.

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 (1)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 66 (100%)66huntable acres
  • Special regulations66 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Kolar Savanna Special regs 66 —

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 Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

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

How to get to Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area

Navigate

Destination: Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.00816, -87.53893
DMS
41°00′29.4″N 87°32′20.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Chicago, IL60 mi S of town
  • Champaign, IL72 mi NE of town
  • South Bend, IN81 mi SW of town
  • Terre Haute, IN106 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • ORD Chicago O'Hare70 mi
  • IND Indianapolis Intl111 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 Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area

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, 20265:45 AM6:15 AM7:25 PM13h 09m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM7:01 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM6:34 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:11 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM4:47 PM10h 28m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM4:32 PM9h 56m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM4:23 PM9h 28m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:22 PM9h 15m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM4:31 PM9h 16m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM4:44 PM9h 32m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:05 PM10h 04m

Computed for 41.008, -87.539 (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.

Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area?

Yes. Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area offers hunting in 1 unit (66 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 Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area. 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 Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area?

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

Where is Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area located?

Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is in Iroquois County, Illinois, about 60 miles S of Chicago, IL (straight-line). GPS: 41.00816, -87.53893.

What are legal shooting hours at Kankakee NWR and Conservation Area?

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

Hackmatack NWR

McHenry County, IL · 106 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

655 huntable acres

Chautauqua NWR

Mason County, IL · 136 mi W

1 special1 closed
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810 huntable acres

Emiquon NWR

Fulton County, IL · 142 mi W

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

894 huntable acres

Muscatatuck NWR

Jennings County, IN · 170 mi SE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5.2K huntable acres

Meredosia NWR

Morgan County, IL · 178 mi SW

2 closed
🎣

Big Oaks NWR

Ripley County, IN · 181 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐇🎣

27.3K huntable acres

All refuges in Illinois →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.