Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area is an Illinois state park on in Marshall County, Illinois, United States.
Natural features
The land for the Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area was first purchased in 1925. It has since grown to approximately, half land and half water. Terrain types include ravines, bluffs, bottomland lakes, islands, sloughs, and upland forest.The bluffs contain hardwood timber of oaks, hickories, and walnuts with wildflowers and shrubs. Wildlife includes red squirrels, gray squirrels, flying squirrels, white-tailed deer, rabbits, and other woodland species native to Illinois. Songbirds, owls, hawks, woodpeckers, and other woodland species are common types of birds.
Most of the terrain is bottomland forest and backwater lakes. Cottonwood, silver maple, and willow are common types of trees in low-lying areas and islands. Deer, fox, raccoon, muskrat, mink, and beaver can be found here. Waterfowl still frequent the area during migration, although heavy siltation makes the site less attractive to them. The wood duck nests during the summer. Great blue heron and eagles can be spotted fishing in the shallow waters.
Units
The Marshall Unit contains the headquarters, campground, boat ramp, fishing channel, hunter check station, and hiking trails. It is located on the east side of the Illinois River along IL 26.The Spring Beach Unit is located on the west side of the Illinois River between Sparland and Chillicothe along IL 29. It has a 6-acre picnic area, fishing, hunting, and hiking trails.
The Sparland Unit is primarily a waterfowl hunting and fishing area along IL 29 near Sparland. With shallow backwater, boat access is difficult during low water levels.
The Aitchison Waterfowl Refuge, located on the south end of Bab Slough, is also part of the Marshall SFWA.
The Duck Ranch unit is a waterfowl hunting area.