State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Illinois

131 named public land units in Illinois from PAD-US 4.1: 58 state wildlife & game areas, 11 forests & grasslands, 12 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 2 lake & reservoir project lands, 48 other public land units. The largest are Shawnee National Forest, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area.

131listed areas
624Kacres (approx.)
58state wildlife & game areas

Deer season 2026–27: archery opens Oct. 1, 2026; firearms Nov. 20, 2026 (First firearm season). All Illinois dates by zone (checked Sep 26, 2026)

Illinois deer season dates for 2026 (from the state agency) · Deer score calculator · How to score a buck

Regulations & licenses: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (58)Forests & grasslands (11)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (12)Lake & reservoir project land (2)Other public land (48)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Illinois.

Photos from Illinois public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Shawnee National Forest
273,722 acres
Photo: usfs_Eastern_Region · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 131 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
Shawnee National Forest
273,722 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Pope County, Jackson County + 7 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
45,513 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Williamson County, Union County + 1 more
Restricted access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area
45,307 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Carroll County, Adams County + 6 more
Open access
National Forest land
Midewin Other
18,229 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Will County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area
16,723 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County, St. Clair County + 1 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
16,712 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Pulaski County, Union County + 2 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
16,544 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cass County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge
12,539 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Jo Daviess County, Carroll County + 2 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area
11,169 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cass County, Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Horseshoe Lake-Alexander State Fish and Wildlife Area
8,373 acres
State: department of natural resources · Alexander County
Open access
National Forest land
Shawnee Purchase Unit
7,733 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Johnson County, Williamson County + 3 more
Open access
State forest
Sand Ridge State Forest
7,538 acres
State: department of natural resources · Mason County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
7,106 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fulton County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
6,624 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Mason County, Marshall County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
6,435 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marshall County, Peoria County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
6,142 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Randolph County, Jackson County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
5,933 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hamilton County, Jefferson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
4,506 acres
State: department of natural resources · Will County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area
4,355 acres
State: department of natural resources · Peoria County, Fulton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area
4,061 acres
State: department of natural resources · Saline County, Williamson County
Open access
National Forest land
Middle Mississippi Purchase Unit
3,882 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Alexander County, Union County + 1 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
3,706 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Morgan County, Cass County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,945 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iroquois County, Kankakee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,809 acres
State: department of natural resources · Kankakee County, Grundy County
Open access
State forest
Big River State Forest
2,798 acres
State: department of natural resources · Henderson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,796 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vermilion County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
2,628 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Fulton County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Green River State Wildlife Area
2,539 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lee County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,488 acres
State: department of natural resources · Knox County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
2,485 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Pike County, Calhoun County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,400 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fulton County, Schuyler County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,378 acres
State: department of natural resources · Schuyler County, Brown County
Open access
State forest
Lowden-Miller State Forest
2,339 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ogle County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,288 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,230 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bureau County
Open access
Other state land
Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area
2,172 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lawrence County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,152 acres
State: department of natural resources · Massac County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chouteau Island State Fish and Wildlife Area
2,107 acres
State: department of natural resources · Madison County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Double "T" State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,961 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fulton County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,874 acres
State: department of natural resources · St. Clair County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,778 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pike County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Piatt County Unit State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,756 acres
State: department of natural resources · Piatt County
Open access
Other state land
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
1,746 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fayette County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,665 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hamilton County, White County
Open access
State forest
Spoon River State Forest
1,641 acres
State: department of natural resources · Knox County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Richland County Wildlife Management Area
1,548 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Richland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Powerton lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,531 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tazewell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Devil's Island tate Fish and Wildlife Area
1,486 acres
State: department of natural resources · Alexander County, Union County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
12 Mile Island Wildlife Management Area - Glades
1,416 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jersey County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,374 acres
State: department of natural resources · Alexander County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area
1,330 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Witkowsky State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,320 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jo Daviess County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Saline County State Conservation Area
1,279 acres
State: department of natural resources · Saline County, Gallatin County
Open access
National Forest land
Kinkaid Lake Purchase Unit
1,252 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Jackson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,251 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fayette County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,170 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jasper County
Open access
Other state land
Randolph County State Recreation Area
1,139 acres
State: department of natural resources · Randolph County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area
1,124 acres
State: department of natural resources · Crawford County
Open access
State forest
Hidden Springs State Forest
1,096 acres
State: department of natural resources · Shelby County
Open access
Other state land
Red Wing Slough
989 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Lake County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area
906 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bureau County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Piasa Island Wildlife Management Area
903 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jersey County, Madison County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
889 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Calhoun County
Restricted access
Other state land
Gabaret Island Open Space
871 acres
State: department of natural resources · Madison County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
830 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grundy County
Open access
Other state land
Volo Bog
792 acres
State: department of conservation · Lake County
Open access
Other state land
Wildcat Hollow State Habitat Area
746 acres
State: department of natural resources · Effingham County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area
734 acres
State: department of natural resources · Woodford County, Tazewell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center
718 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jefferson County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Farmdale Dam Recreation Area
709 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Tazewell County
Open access
Other state land
Saybrook State Habitat Area
646 acres
State: department of natural resources · McLean County
Open access
Other state land
Sibley State Habitat Area
619 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ford County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area
564 acres
State: department of natural resources · Putnam County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
534 acres
State: department of natural resources · Montgomery County
Open access
Other state land
Campbell Pond State Habitat Area
529 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jackson County, Franklin County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mississippi River State Forest Wildlife Area - Mortland
520 acres
State: department of natural resources · Calhoun County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
East Fork Management Unit State Fish and Wildlife Area
406 acres
State: department of natural resources · Clinton County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
392 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · McHenry County
Restricted access
Other state land
Hurricane Creek State Habitat Area
379 acres
State: department of natural resources · Coles County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Meredosia Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
330 acres
State: department of natural resources · Morgan County
Open access
State forest
Sam And Florence Atkinson Forest
324 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Buffalo Prairie State Fish and Wildlife Area
291 acres
State: department of natural resources · Knox County
Open access
Other state land
Heron Woods State Habitat Area
290 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cook County, Kane County
Open access
Other state land
Victoria State Habitat Area
243 acres
State: department of natural resources · Knox County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Putnam County Conservation Area
224 acres
State: department of natural resources · Putnam County
Open access
Other state land
Skinner Farm State Habitat Area
224 acres
State: department of natural resources · Johnson County
Open access
Other state land
Kamp's Glade
216 acres
State: department of natural resources · Calhoun County
Open access
Other state land
Willow Creek State Habitat Area
207 acres
State: department of natural resources · Edgar County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
T-Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
189 acres
State: department of natural resources · Knox County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge
185 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Calhoun County
Restricted access
Other state land
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
183 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vermilion County
Open access
Other state land
Freeman Mine State Habitat Area
177 acres
State: department of natural resources · Montgomery County
Open access
Other state land
Nippersink Lake Open Space
172 acres
State: department of conservation · Lake County
Open access
Other state land
Loda State Habitat Area
160 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iroquois County
Open access
Other state land
Maytown State Habitat Area
150 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lee County
Open access
Other state land
Little Rock Creek State Habitat Area
147 acres
State: department of natural resources · Carroll County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Batchtown Fish and Wildlife Area
146 acres
State: department of natural resources · Calhoun County
Open access
Other state land
Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area
140 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iroquois County
Open access
Other state land
Herschel Workman State Habitat Area
134 acres
State: department of natural resources · Vermilion County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Bull Valley State Fish & Wildlife Area
126 acres
State: department of natural resources · McHenry County
Open access
Other state land
Dublin Highlands State Habitat Area
124 acres
State: department of natural resources · Stephenson County
Open access
Other state land
Perdueville State Habitat Area
123 acres
State: department of natural resources · Ford County
Open access
Other state land
Whitefield State Habitat Area
116 acres
State: department of natural resources · Marshall County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crow's Foot State Fish and Wildlife Area
111 acres
State: department of natural resources · Boone County
Open access
Other state land
Oakford State Habitat Area
110 acres
State: department of natural resources · Menard County, Mason County
Open access
Other state land
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
109 acres
State: department of natural resources · Clinton County
Open access
Other state land
Gifford State Habitat Area
103 acres
State: department of natural resources · Champaign County
Open access
Other state land
Bradford State Habitat Area
101 acres
State: department of natural resources · Stark County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mississippi River State Forest Wildlife Area - Red's Landing - Kelly #1
98 acres
State: department of natural resources · Calhoun County
Open access
Other state land
Miscellaneous Property
92 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pike County, St. Clair County + 6 more
Open access
Other state land
Alvah Borah State Habitat Area
89 acres
State: department of natural resources · Wayne County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Henderson County State Fish and Wildlife Area
89 acres
State: department of natural resources · Henderson County
Open access
Other state land
Hindsboro State Habitat Area
86 acres
State: department of natural resources · Douglas County
Open access
Other state land
Clifton State Habitat Area
82 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iroquois County
Open access
Other state land
Hallsville State Habitat Area
82 acres
State: department of natural resources · De Witt County
Open access
Other state land
Steward State Habitat Area
81 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lee County
Open access
Other state land
Ephgrave Cave
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Union County
Open access
Other state land
Ilodillin State Habitat Area
80 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tazewell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Milk's Grove State Fish and Wildlife Area
79 acres
State: department of natural resources · Iroquois County
Open access
Other state land
Birkbeck State Habitat Area
79 acres
State: department of natural resources · De Witt County
Open access
Other state land
Manito State Habitat Area
78 acres
State: department of natural resources · Tazewell County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Reed Wildlife State Habitat Area
70 acres
State: department of natural resources · Hancock County
Open access
Other state land
Cecil E. Meeker State Habitat Area
68 acres
State: department of natural resources · Jasper County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Area
66 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Iroquois County, Kankakee County
Restricted access
Other state land
Clear Creek Wetland
63 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cass County
Open access
Other state land
Henderson Creek 3
55 acres
State: department of natural resources · Henderson County
Open access
Other state land
Clark Run
51 acres
State: other or unknown agency · LaSalle County
Open access
Other state land
Kilbuck Creek
45 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Ogle County
Open access
Other state land
McMaster Woods
44 acres
State: department of natural resources · Greene County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Glen D. Palmers State Game Farm
43 acres
State: department of natural resources · Kendall County
Open access
Other state land
Clinton State Recreation Area
42 acres
State: department of natural resources · De Witt County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Illinois. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.