Lake Springfield Archery Deer Hunting

The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) conducts controlled archery deer hunting on city-owned property on specific sites around densely deer-populated areas around Lake Springfield.

• Sites are available to experienced archery deer hunters who are willing to harvest at least three deer in a two-week time period.
  

• Two antlerless deer must be harvested first before an antlered deer can be harvested.
  

• Successful hunters are required to submit an IRAP survey and harvest report after each harvest.
  

• Hunters are encouraged to donate at least one deer to the food bank through a designated meat processor in Springfield.
  

Who: Any legally licensed and EXPERIENCED archery deer hunter who resides in Sangamon, Macoupin, Morgan, Menard, Macon, Christian, Logan or Montgomery County who has completed their hunter safety course (if born in 1980 or after) and who is willing to harvest at least three or more deer may apply.

When: IRAP has four different hunting periods, allowing the participant 15 or 16 days of hunting access on the site. A successful applicant will be assigned to one hunting period.

• Period 1: October 1-15
• Period 2: October 16-31
• Period 3: November 1-15
• Period 4: December 16-31

Where: City, Water, Light and Power and IRAP have chosen several specific sites around Lake Springfield. These sites may be located near roads, homes and buildings. Hunters must be aware and keep an appropriate distance from these areas.

What: IRAP's Lake Springfield Archery Deer application will become available on July 1st of each year.  Sites are awarded through a lottery process; date of submission is not a factor as long as the application is received prior to the deadline.  

The Lake Springfield Deer Application deadline is 5 p.m., Sunday, August 9, 2026.

No changes can be made to applications once the application deadline has passed.

New for 2026

This year, there are two separate applications; one application for those who wish to hunt individually and one application for hunters who want to apply to hunt in a group of up to four people. 

If you wish to hunt by yourself, please complete an Individual Hunting Application.  You may apply once per each available hunting period, for a total of up to 4 individual hunting applications submittals.  (A separate lottery is held for individual applications; group hunting applications will not be included in this lottery).

There is one Lake Springfield site that is large enough to accommodate a group of up to four hunters, however a portable watercraft, such as a kayak or canoe, must be carried on site to access the majority of this hunting area.  If you wish to hunt in a group on this site, each member of the group must complete the Group Hunting Application, including the name of a predetermined "group organizer".  It is very important that each member of the group list the same group organizer as groups are determined based on this person's name.  Each group may submit one application for each period, for up to a total of up to 4 group hunting application submittals .  (A separate lottery is held for group hunting applications; group hunting applications will NOT be included in the individual hunting application lotteries.)

Each person is free to submit one Individual Hunting Application for each period and one Group Hunting Application for each period, however no single person may be awarded an individual site and a group hunting site.  Lotteries for the group applications will be completed first and if you are awarded a site as part of a group, any Individual Hunting Application submitted by each group member will NOT be included in the Individual Hunting Application lotteries.  

How it Works: 

Hunters applying for an IRAP Lake Springfield Archery Deer site must complete an online application along with the accompanying liability waiver.

Applicants must agree to tag blinds and equipment being left on site during an assigned hunting period with their name and contact information.  Blinds, equipment and personal belongings must be removed on the last day of an assigned hunting period.

Successful applicants will receive a packet of information, including an IRAP parking and site permit allowing them to hunt city-owned property, a map, and directions to the site approximately 3 weeks before the start of the season applied for.

Applicants may apply for up to 4 different IRAP Lake Springfield Archery Deer hunting periods, but  will only be awarded one single hunter site or one group hunt site per year if successfuly drawn in one of the period lotteries.

Lake Springfield Archery Deer Hunters MUST fill out an online survey within 48 hours of their last day hunted. In addition, an email harvest photo is required to be submitted to DNR.IRAP@illinois.gov the same day of the harvest. Failure to do so may result in loss of future IRAP deer hunting privileges.