The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) manages Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) for a variety of active recreational uses, including boating, fishing, and hunting. The park centers on
Ramsey Lake, a long, artificial
reservoir begun in 1947. The reservoir is named after Ramsey Creek, a tributary of the
Kaskaskia River. Before the creation of the state park, this parcel of property was called the
Old Fox Chase Grounds; and Ramsey Lake occupies a valley named
Fox Hunt Hollow in honor of the annual
fox hunts that were hosted here by the Central Illinois Foxhunter's Association. Hunting today centers on
whitetail deer, which are hunted by bow only, upland birds such as
mourning doves,
pheasants,
quail, and
wild turkey, and small game such as
coyotes,
raccoons, and
squirrels. Ramsey Lake is stocked with
largemouth bass,
bluegill,
catfish,
crappie, and
sunfish. There is a power limit on the lake (electric motors only). The state park also contains six small fishing ponds and 24 small vernal ponds and patches of non-fishing wetland managed for
frogs and other amphibia. Other outdoor recreation opportunities are provided by a network of state park trails, headed by the Equestrian Trail and the Old Fox Chase Grounds Trail. ==Illinois Natural Area==