Rock Springs Center for Environmental Discovery

Rock Springs Center is the largest park in the Macon County Conservation District properties with a total of 1,343 acres in the southwest area of Decatur, IL. The Sangamon River runs through Rock Springs and several small ponds dot the landscape. A wide range of terrain including forest, wetland, grassland, and restored Illinois prairie make Rock Springs a destination for nature lovers. Rock Springs is also home to a large nature center, a museum, a restored farmhouse, nearly nine miles of hiking trails, and a paved bike trail. Rock Springs is a favorite for families all year round. Rooms and pavilions are available for rent for meetings and events.

CITY: Decatur

Trailside Museum

Get in touch with nature in this beautiful wooded setting near the Des Plaines River, where you can view local wild animals that have been rescued from the surrounding area.

CITY: River Forest

Camp Shaw

Camp Shaw was established in 1956 and is the best kept secret in all of beautiful Kankakee County! Camp Shaw is also a wonderful place to hold a variety of outdoor and indoor events. It provides overnight accommodation; horseback riding, guided trail rides or group lessons and weekend packages are available. It is also an outdoor, environmental science education program encouraging interest and participation in the balanced management of natural resources.

CITY: Manteno

Wolfe Wildlife Refuge & Bike Path

Explore the natural beauty and animal habitats of this 45-acre wetlands preserve. Nature programs for all ages include bird surveys, seed collections, planting, clean-ups and hiking.

CITY: Oak Lawn

Doctorman's Cache Core Hunting Preserve

Upland game bird hunting from Oct. 1 - April. Dogs & guide service available. Located 3 miles west of Jct. Hwy. 37 & Hwy. 169, or, 4 miles east of I-57 just off Shawnee College Road.

CITY: Ullin

Lake County Forest Preserve

We currently manage 25,268 acres of land and offer innovative educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for all ages. Visitors enjoy nearly 112 miles of trail for a variety of outdoor recreation uses, fishing ponds and lakes, public access to the Fox River, award-winning nature and history education programs and events, and three public golf courses. Facilities of special interest include Independence Grove near Libertyville, Ryerson Conservation Area near Deerfield, Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda, Greenbelt Cultural Center near Waukegan, and three golf courses (Brae Loch near Grayslake, Countryside near Mundelein, and ThunderHawk near Beach Park). Most Forest Preserves are open from 6:30 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year. Special hours apply at the golf courses, Discovery Museum, Greenbelt Cultural Center and Ryerson Woods.

CITY: Libertyville

Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park

This beautiful 715-acre state park with a 40-acre lake derives its name from a combination of the town of Lena and the Latin work for water, aqua. The large tracts of wooded land include oak, hickory, walnut and pine trees. Woodland flowers are on display, especially in the spring and early summer, and wildlife is abundant. There is boating, fishing, a children's fishing pond, swimming, picnic and playground areas, shelters, trails for mountain biking, hiking and cross-country skiing, equestrian trails, sledding, hunting and camping. Camping supplies, bait and boat rental are available at the camp store that is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

CITY: Lena

Thorn Creek Nature Center

Enjoy a day in the country while learning about wildlife through nature displays and exhibits.

CITY: Park Forest

Bow Hunting at Friends Creek Regional Park

Friends Creek has the best park for hunting.

CITY: Decatur

Columbia Woods Forest Preserve

A River Thru History

CITY: Willow Springs

Krause Elk Farm

Tour this farm where the elk roam on 55 acres of the 600-acre spread.

CITY: Evansville

Weinberg-King State Park

William Creek meanders through this park, providing habitat for an abundance of wildlife. Set in 770 acres of rolling terrain and steep hillsides, Weinberg-King is popular in winter for its cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

CITY: Augusta

Plum Creek Nature Center

This center features local natural history exhibits, hands-on displays for children, and family programs that are offered throughout the year. Picnic facilities and camping are available by reservation.

CITY: Beecher

Hickory Knolls Discovery Center

A destination unlike any other--part educational facility and part entertainment venue! LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, indoor turtle pond and wetland exhibit, live animal displays, interactive floor-to-ceiling murals, birthday parties, facility rentals.

CITY: St. Charles

Sandy Pine Elk Farm

Surrounded by a ridge covered with thousands of pine trees, Sandy Pine has some of the largest and top-ranked elk bulls in the Midwest. Take a tour through the pasture and snap some photos.

CITY: Deer Grove

Pikes Hunting Club

Located 1 mile south of Marion on Rt. 37 on west side of road. Hunt from heated pits over flooded corn, natural wetlands food plots, and over 2 miles of levee controlled water on 100 acres. 530 total acres devoted to waterfowl hunting, excellent duck hunting. Corporate rates and custom packages available.

CITY: Marion

Jake & Norb's Gun Club

Bordering the refuge on N.E. corner. Traditional hunting of the highest quality. Only 2 hunters per pit with experienced mandatory guides, two pits, 1-water access, 1000 decoys, free snacks. Over forty-two years as an experienced club.

CITY: Marion

Bow Hunting at Fort Daniel Recreation Area

Located east of Mt. Zion. Ft. Daniel is a 200-acre park, rich in history. The park's background tales of Southern sympathizers during the Civil War, an old stage coach route and a wishing well.

CITY: Mount Zion

Lakewood Forest Preserve

Forest Preserve

CITY: Wauconda

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Largest tall grass prairie in Illinois. Big bluestem, Indian grass, and switchgrass thrive here, as do broad-leafed flowering plants known as forbs. Hiking and cross-country skiing.

CITY: Morris

Ralls Grove Hunting Club

Duck and goose hunting, 1 blind, waterfront, decoys available. Lunch provided.

CITY: Creal Springs

Stage Coach Trails Livery

For those dreaming of harnessing, hitching and driving the big horses, here is your chance to enjoy an afternoon or a week. Stagecoach Trails offers good Belgian horses and good equipment for the beginner or old-timer wishing to relive days gone by. Come along and learn how it was done in days gone by! Our trails are located on some of the old original stagecoach and wagon trails. One most notably is the Frink-Walker Line, which ran from Chicago to Dubuque. On the trails we may find all kinds of wildlife including small game, deer, or perhaps the magnificent wild turkey. Come along, relax, and enjoy God's country.

CITY: Apple River

Fox Creek Outfitters

Located in one of the country's top states for producing Trophy Whitetail Deer, along with the Eastern Wild Turkey. Situated on privately owned land, the cabin is surrounded by hardwood timber, river bottoms, and rich farm fields. Fox Creek offers guided and non-guided deer hunts each season. Several cabins are available for hunters.

CITY: Olney

A.E.C. Outfitters

Is a place to deer hunt. There is archery Deer Hunting on 2000 acres of land.

CITY: Marion

D&M Hunting Club

Located 2.6 miles south of Rt. 37. With five strategically placed dry, heated, concrete pits overlooking water. Hunt in decoyed spreads in excess of 200 dozen, ducks available. Mandatory professional guides.

CITY: Marine

Bobber's River Tap

Bobber's is an open, outdoor, deck bar and picnic area, along the banks of the Pecatonica River. A relaxing stop for travelers by road or river. Bobber's is a converted 95 year old lumberyard. Bring your own pole and boat, or just sit and relax with a cold drink and watch the river flow by.

CITY: Winslow

Macedonia Game Preserve

A state-licensed hunting preserve, we provide hunters with a good environment and quality deer management. Also quail, pheasant,chukar and dove hunting available. Package prices available upon request for walk-in hunts, corporate & business hunts.

CITY: Macedonia

Outdoor Sportsman's Lodge

Outdoor Sportsman's Lodge offers several packages for all individuals. Hunting, fishing, golfing or family getaways can be enjoyed in their luxurious cabins located Southwest of Newton.

CITY: Newton

Illinois Wildlife Connections

Located in rural Jasper County, northeast of Newton, Illinois Wildlife features a lodge for hunters during deer seasons and in the off-seasons hosting meetings, receptions and off-season lodging.

CITY: Newton

Burns Goose Club

Located 1.7 miles west of Illinois Route 148 on Grassy Road just south of the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge. Waterfowl and deer hunting on 960 acres. Guides available. One of the top three harvest clubs in the southern Illinois quota zone.

CITY: Carbondale

Country Kitchen Hunting Club

Waterfowl hunting, goose and ducks. Guides available.

CITY: Marion

Bow Hunting at Sand Creek Recreation Area

Bow hunting of deer by permit only. Herd reduction program runs through November and December.

CITY: Decatur

Skillet Fork Outfitters Inc.

With over 3,500 acres of cropland & 1700 acres of prime woods, this newly formed business is for the trophy whitetail, turkey or coyote hunter. New lodge, hot evening meals, competitive prices; will pickup from Evansville Airport.

CITY: Carmi

Lamont Outdoors

Features over 2000 acres of prime hunting south of Grayville, in White County.

CITY: Crossville

Rogers Hunting Club, Inc.

Established in 1957 - public hunting, plus memberships for pheasant, quail, wild turkey, doves and deer in season. Hunter Safety Course for ages 16 & under - held the second weekend in October.

CITY: Ohio

Glenn's Hunting Club

Clean, dry and heated pits. Yearly membership and day hunting available. Excellent hunting in fields. Plus hunting in 2 pits over water. 3/4 mile on refuge frontage. Guides available.

CITY: Marion

Hunting Unlimited

Trophy Whitetail Deer bow hunts since 1986. Also, spring turkey hunting, sporting clays, trap range, meals, and lodging. Heavily wooded ravines and valleys, magnificent stands of oak, maple and cedar, and grassy meadows.

CITY: Mount Sterling

Quarry Ridge Hunt Club

The premiere, upland-hunting experience in Northern Illinois. Quarry Ridge offers hunting (member or non-member) for rooster pheasant, dove, turkey, deer and moor. Dogs and guides can be provided if needed.

CITY: Lena