State Parks and National Parks

The goal of the Donnelley/DePue State Fish and Wildlife complex is to preserve and expand habitat for migratory waterfowl.

The area borders the Illinois River and contains a variety of wetland habitats critical to migratory waterfowl. Consequently, much of the 3,015-acre complex is managed for waterfowl feeding, nesting, resting, harvesting and viewing.

Boating, fishing and hunting are also popular. Anglers fish for walleye, sauger, white bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, drum, crappie, bullhead and carp.

The Donnelley Wildlife Area is open to the public during waterfowl season and open to school and study groups by appointment. Most of the year it is closed to public use to protect nesting waterfowl.

Donnelley offers two youth hunts a year; the dates are announced annually. The area also has a wheelchair-accessible blind.

Since 1970, when the state established the park, it has added several properties, expanding the backwater lakes and wetlands to 2,350 acres.