Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area
🏆🏆🏆 Lincoln Country — Managed wetlands and grasslands near Lincoln’s New Salem — in the heart of Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois
Ten Mile Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area protects managed wetlands and grasslands in Hamilton County. Central Illinois is “Lincoln Country” — Abraham Lincoln spent his formative years (1831–1861) in this region, from New Salem to Springfield. The prairie and timberlands of central Illinois shaped Lincoln’s character — he split rails, worked flatboats, and studied law by firelight before becoming the 16th President and saving the Union.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Hamilton County, IL |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Region | Lincoln Country — rail-splitter’s prairie! |
About Ten Mile Creek
Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Hamilton County provides hunting and fishing on reclaimed mine land in southeastern Illinois. The area features farm ponds and managed grasslands that support upland game birds and deer in the agricultural-mining landscape of the Illinois Interior Low Plateau.
Things to Do
Hunting (deer, quail, dove), fishing in the ponds, and wildlife observation. The managed grasslands support northern bobwhite quail — an increasingly rare species in Illinois.
About Ten Mile Creek
Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Hamilton County provides outdoor recreation in southeastern Illinois. The area preserves wildlife habitat in the agricultural landscape, supporting game species and providing outdoor recreation opportunities for rural communities.
Things to Do
Hunting (deer, turkey, upland birds — seasonal), fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation in southeastern Illinois.
Insider Tips
Hamilton County wildlife: Ten Mile Creek FWA manages bottomland and upland habitat in southern Illinois. Pro tip: The area supports excellent white-tailed deer populations — southern Illinois consistently produces some of the state’s largest bucks. Turkey hunting: Wild turkey populations have rebounded dramatically in Illinois — from near-extinction in the 1950s to over 150,000 birds today.
Best Time to Visit
Fall: Deer hunting season — November rut. Spring: Turkey season — April/May. Summer: Fishing and wildlife viewing. Winter: Deer and small game hunting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did wild turkeys come back?
Wild turkeys were nearly extinct in Illinois by 1950 — habitat loss and overhunting eliminated them. Starting in the 1960s, Illinois DNR trapped and relocated wild turkeys from other states. The program was spectacularly successful — today over 150,000 wild turkeys thrive across Illinois. It’s one of America’s greatest wildlife restoration stories.
Wildlife & Nature
Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area provides managed habitat in the hills of Hamilton County — part of the transition zone between the flat central Illinois prairie and the rugged Shawnee Hills of the south. The area’s mixture of forest, grassland, and wetland supports diverse game species — white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and mourning dove. The creek corridor supports breeding populations of prothonotary warblers — brilliant golden-yellow warblers that are the only eastern warbler to nest in tree cavities. Louisiana waterthrushes — whose loud, ringing song echoes along forest streams — breed along the creek. Red foxes hunt in the brushy areas. The surrounding agricultural landscape provides food sources for wildlife.
Nearby Attractions
McLeansboro — the Hamilton County seat — has the McCoy Memorial Library. Rend Lake — one of Illinois’ premier recreation lakes — is 20 minutes west. Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area provides camping and a lodge. Shawnee National Forest begins 30 miles south. Carmi — on the Little Wabash River — has White County courthouse (1871). Harrisburg provides shopping. Garden of the Gods is 45 minutes southeast. Southern Illinois coal country has heritage sites.
Park Location
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