The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Waterfowl Hunting at Emiquon

The Emiquon Preserve is located about 40 minutes southwest of Peoria and six miles southeast of Lewistown in Fulton County.

The Nature Conservancy is restoring and managing Emiquon as part of an effort to conserve ecological processes and the plant and animal communities of the Illinois River ecosystem. The Illinois River Valley is a major stopover site for migrating waterfowl in the Midwest. Sustainable hunting opportunities are offered as a public service and to share some of the many multiple-use benefits provided by restored wetlands.

Emiquon Waterfowl Hunting Rules and Regulations

Any and all decisions of Conservancy staff or designees at Emiquon are final, and anyone failing to abide by written rules or instructions from Conservancy staff or designees may have hunting privileges at this preserve revoked. The Conservancy retains the right to modify these rules and to terminate this program without prior notice.

There are four types of hunting at Emiquon:

Daily Drawing Hunts

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

Disabled Individuals Waterfowl Hunt

Special Waterfowl Hunt

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current waterfowl density and diversity?
Waterfowl density and diversity at Emiquon is tracked through the Illinois Natural History Survey and can be found here.

What are the hunting regulations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s adjacent Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge?
You can find these hunting regulations and a map of hunting boundaries on the USFWS web site here.

What do I do in case of an emergency?
The nearest hospital is approximately 6 miles from Emiquon—Mason District Hospital in Havana, 309-543-4431 or dial 911.To contact Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, call the Fulton County Sheriff at 309-547-2277.

Who should I contact for additional information?
Contact the Illinois River Program Office at Emiquon during business hours Monday through Thursday at 309-547-2730.