Facility Rules and Policies

Great River National Wildlife Refuge is open for general use during daylight hours only, except in the case of lawful hunting activities which may occur from ½ hour before legal sunrise to ½ hour after legal sunset. Please check the hunting and fishing regulations brochure for other specific regulations regarding general use of the refuge.

  • The refuge is open to public use during daylight hours only, except in the case of lawful hunting activities which may occur from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset based on state regulations
  • Hiking is allowed on refuge roads and trails, unless otherwise posted
  • ATVs are not allowed on the refuges
  • Dogs must be on a leash except when used for the purpose of hunting where hunting is allowed
  • Berry and mushroom gathering are allowed for personal consumption only, not for resale or other commercial use
  • Collecting shed deer antlers is not permitted
  • Firearms are allowed on the refuge during authorized hunting activities. When transporting firearms on refuge roads or waters, firearms must be unloaded and either dismantled or cased, unless in compliance with state concealed/carry regulations.
  • For hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting wild turkey
  • Camping or fires are not permitted
  • To help meet the primary refuge purpose of providing an inviolate refuge for migratory birds, areas within the refuge may be closed to public use due to breeding and/or migration
  • Special group trips (school groups, scouts, etc.) are encouraged. Guided group tours may sometimes be arranged in advance by contacting the refuge office.
Hunting

Printable Hunt Brochure

Public Use Information

  • Delair Division - NO public use allowed, except during state-managed deer hunt.
  • All Other Divisions - Where applicable, refuge lands are open for fishing and general use from ½ hour before legal sunrise to ½ hour after legal sunset. For authorized hunting activities, the refuge is open to access two hours before legal sunrise until one hour after legal sunset and in accordance with state seasons and regulations.
  • Hiking allowed on refuge roads and trails, unless otherwise posted. ATVs/UTVs not allowed on the refuge.
  • Dogs must be on a leash except for hunting purposes (where hunting allowed).
  • Berry and mushroom gathering allowed for personal consumption only, not for resale or other commercial use.
  • Electric motors and non-motorized watercraft allowed in designated areas for hunting and accessibility.

Migratory Bird Hunting

Fox Island, Delair and Cherry Box Division – CLOSED to migratory bird hunting.

  • Long Island Division open to waterfowl hunting only from blinds constructed on sites posted by IDNR.
  • Slim & Haps Island open in accordance with state and federal seasons and regulations

Upland Game

Allowed for small game, furbearers, and game birds other than waterfowl in accordance with state seasons and regulations subject to the following
conditions:

  • Hunting of furbearers allowed ONLY from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset.
  • When using a shotgun, hunters must only possess and use nontoxic shot

Tree Stands

  • Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds or platforms is prohibited. Portable tree stands and blinds are allowed from September 1st though January 31st. The hunter’s state generated hunter ID number must be permanently attached in a visible location on the stand or blind. Limit one stand or blind per hunter.
  • Placing tree stands in dead trees is prohibited.
  • Trees or limbs greater than 1” in diameter may not be trimmed.
  • Deer drives are prohibited.

Firearms

  • Allowed only during authorized hunting activities. Must be unloaded & either dismantled or cased when transporting on refuge roads or waters, unless in compliance with state concealed/carry regulations.
  • Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.
  • When using a shotgun, hunters must only possess and use nontoxic shot.

Prohibited Activities

By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted.

  • Possession of alcoholic beverages
  • Camping and Fires
  • Searching for or removal of any natural items such as antlers, plants, historic, and archaeological features, are protected by Federal law.
  • Gas boat motors prohibited on refuges.
  • Marking or fagging any tree or other Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance.
  • Permanent tree stands, nails, screw-in steps, or other items that penetrate the outer bark of a tree.
  • Construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or platforms prohibited.
  • Target shooting or any non-hunting discharge of firearms prohibited.
  • Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of any public use facility
Fishing

Delair and Cherry Box Division - Closed to ALL fishing

Fox Island Division – fishing allowed along any portion of the Fox River ONLY in accordance with state seasons and regulations.

Long Island Division and Slim & Haps Island Division – fishing allowed in accordance with state seasons and regulations.

  • Must remove all fishing devices at the end of the day’s fishing activity.
  • Fishing is allowed from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
  • The taking of any mussel, clam, crayfsh, leach, frog, and turtle species is prohibited.