For Immediate Release – October 12, 2026
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County to host trapping permit drawing on Oct. 18
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will hold a public drawing for trapping permits at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Registration begins at 1 p.m. at the site headquarters southeast of Chandlerville.
One permit for each of the six trapping zones will be allocated through a lottery-style drawing. Applicants must be present and have a valid 2026-2027 trapping license in their possession to enter the drawing.
Dog-proof traps, live traps and traps of similar action may be used. Homemade dog-proof traps must be designed with a foothold trap no larger than a No. 2 enclosed in a wood, metal or durable plastic container with a single access opening no larger than 1.5 inches in diameter. All body-gripping traps must be completely submerged.
All successful applicants must obtain a free windshield card permit online. Trappers must report harvest and hunter trips online no later than Feb. 15 each year, or within two weeks after the season closes, ending after Feb. 1. Failure to report as required for two consecutive years will result in forfeiture of hunting privileges at the site for the following year.
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area is at 9430 County Highway 11 in Chandlerville. For more information call 217-452-7741.
About IDNR
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
