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Oakwood Bottoms
A favorite with waterfowl hunters, Oakwood Bottoms offers so much more from excellent bird watching to fishing opportunities and primitive camping at Turkey Bayou Campground. Picnic with your family or youth group at Oakwood Bottoms picnic site and take a short walk into the bottoms on the wooden boardwalk trail that loops back to the picnic area. The site also has a large picnic shelter next to a large pond, where you can enjoy watching ducks and other birds visit the pond in search of food.
Big Muddy Boat Launch also offers one of the few locations to launch your boat or kayak onto the Big Muddy River.
Visit our Oakwood Bottoms Hunting Page for hunting regulations, current flood compartment map and the Designated Waterfowl Refuge restrictions.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | Open year-round |
|---|---|
| Reservations: | Campground is first come-first served. No reservations. |
| Area Amenities: | Accessible, Boat ramp, Tent camping, Camping trailer, Picnic tables, Parking |
| Fees: | Turkey Bayou is a no-fee campground. Hunting licenses & fees follow Illinois State law. For more information and to obtain hunting licenses, tags, waterfowl stamps, etc. visit Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources website . |
| Permit Info: | Hunting licenses & fees follow Illinois State law. For more information and to obtain hunting licenses, tags, waterfowl stamps, etc. visit Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources website . |
| Restrictions: | Designated Waterfowl Refuge Area Closed 14 days prior to start of waterfowl hunting season (Illinois' southern central zone) to the end of waterfowl hunting season. No walking access or hunting is permitted during the closure period in the designated waterfowl refuge. |
| Closest Towns: | Gorham, IL 62940 |
| Restroom: | none |
| Information Center: | Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District (618) 833-8576 |
General Information
Directions:To Oakwood Bottoms Picnic Area:
From Murphysboro: Take Highway 149 west 7 miles to Highway 3; then south 5.5 miles on Hwy 3 to Oakwood Bottoms Road. Turn east (left) onto Oakwood Bottoms Rd. and continue 1 mile to Oakwood Bottoms.
From Jonesboro: Take Highway 146 west 8 miles to Highway 3, then north 8 miles on Hwy 3 to John Spur Road. Turn east (right) onto Oakwood Bottoms and continue 1 mile to Oakwood Bottoms.
To Turkey Bayou Campground:
From Murphysboro: Take Highway 149 west 7 miles to Highway 3; then south 5.5 miles on Hwy 3 to Oakwood Bottoms Road. Turn east (left) onto Oakwood Bottoms Rd. and continue 4 miles to the campground.
From Jonesboro: Take Highway 146 west 8 miles to Highway 3, then north 8 miles on Hwy 3 to Oakwood Bottoms Road. Turn east (right) onto Oakwood Bottoms Rd. and continue 4 miles to the campground.
To Big Muddy Boat Launch:
From Murphysboro: Take Highway 149 west 7 miles to Highway 3; then south 5.5 miles on Hwy 3 to Oakwood Bottoms Road. Turn east (left) onto Oakwood Bottoms Rd. and go 3.5 miles, boat launch is straight ahead at curve.
From Jonesboro: Take Highway 146 west 8 miles to Highway 3, then north 8 miles on Hwy 3 to Oakwood Bottoms Road. Turn east (right) onto Oakwood Bottoms Rd. and go 3.5 miles, boat launch is straight ahead at curve.
General Notes:
Turkey Bayou Campground
Located in Oakwood Bottoms, Turkey Bayou Campground is a great location outdoor activities including waterfowl hunting, deer hunting, trapping, fishing, nature watching and bird watching. The campground is next to a 20-acre lake on the Big Muddy River with close proximity to the Big Muddy boat launch and the Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir. There is no charge for camping at Turkey Bayou, but there is a 14-day maximum stay. The campground does not have water or toilets. The site frequently floods during heavy rain periods.
Our partner, Friends of Turkey Bayou helps maintain Turkey Bayou Campground.
Fishing Regulations:
Lg./Smallmouth bass -16” min. Daily limit=3
Pure Muskellunge – 48” minimum length
White/Black or Hybrid Crappie – 9: min. Daily limit=25
For site specific regulations or to obtain a fishing license go to Illinois fishing regulations.
Watercraft Motor Restriction on Turkey Bayou Lake is electric only.
Parking:
Do not block roads; do not park where you would cause resource damage.
Activities
Dispersed Camping
Lake and Pond Fishing
River and Stream Fishing
Day Hiking
| Status: | Open |
|---|---|
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Big Game Hunting
Small Game Hunting
Game Bird/Waterfowl
Trapping
Viewing Wildlife
Picnicking
Group Picnicking
Boating - Non-Motorized
Amenities
| Camping trailer: | Turkey Bayou Campground |
|---|---|
| Picnic tables: | picnic shelter |
| Tent camping: | Turkey Bayou Campground |
| Parking: | |
| Accessible: | picnic shelter and fishing piers |
| Boat ramp: | Big Muddy Boat Launch |
Quick Links
Location
