Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area

[The Area] [The Lake] [The Natural Scene] [Facilities] [Hunting] [For Your Info]

The Area

Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area, also known as Dolan Lake, is in Hamilton County about 8 miles southeast of McLeansboro off Route 14. The park was established at the urging of the McLeansboro Kiwanis Club. In 1960 the state made its initial acquisition of 99 acres of land. Subsequent purchases have brought the total acreage to 1,683, of which 76 acres are water.

The Lake

Dolan Lake is the main attraction of the park. The earthen dam was constructed in 1962 and the lake was filled shortly thereafter. The lake has a shoreline of 3 miles and a maximum depth of 18 feet.

The Natural Scene

The site is one of gently rolling hills. Most of the hunting area is small open fields bordered by heavy fence rows, border plantings or multi-flora rose, autumn olive, lespedeza, and pine trees with small patches of brush and timber. Food for the upland game is supplied by patch planting in the area.

Facilities

Picnicking - There are large, shaded picnic areas with tables, outdoor stoves and drinking water.

Camping - Tent and trailer sites avaliable, with electricity and sanitary dump stations for the trailers. Campers need to obtain a permit from the site personnel when they arrive at the area.

Fishing - The lake contains largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, and bullheads. Winter fishing is allowed when the ice is thick enough.

Boating - A launching ramp and rental boats are provided. Motors are limited to 10 h.p.

Hunting Regulations

1. Hunting is restricted to those portions of the areas posted as open to hunting.

2. Check station is present on the area, and all hunters, except squirrel and deer hunters, shall check in and secure a back patch to be displayed at all times while hunting in the area.

3.All hunters, including squirrel and deer hunters, are to check out and report thier day's take.

4. All hunting to be with shotgun or bow and arrow only.

Check with the site manager for upland game species and hunting dates. The area is heavily used by upland game hunters and as a field trial area. Approximately 1,300 acres of lan are available for hunting.

For Your Information

Admittance will not be granted to groups of 25 or more persons to any state site unless permission from the site manager has been secured to use the facilities. It is also required that groups of minors have adequate supervision and that at least one responsible adult accompany each group not exceeding 15 minors. All pets must be on a leash.

Numerous state sites are withing easy access of every part of Illinois. Lodges, cabins and dining rooms are important features of Illinois Beach, Starved Rock, Pere Marquette and Giant City. White Pines Forest has cabins and dining rooms only; and Black Hawk has dining rooms only. Reservations for lodging should be made with lodge managers.

Most state sites are open year around, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. When weather conditions necessitate the closing of roads during freezing and thawing periods, access to facilities is by foot only.

For more details about this site, contact site manager, Hamilton County, Fish and Wildlife Area, R.R. #4, McLeansboro, Illinois 62859, phone (618) 773-4340.

For informaiton on other Public Lands, write the Illinois Department of Conservation, Bureau of Public Lands, 524 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62706.