Public Hunt Land Finder

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.

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 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (hunting information) before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

All 131 areas, largest first

AreaAcres (approx.)ManagerAccessCounty
Shawnee National Forest
National Forest land
273,722U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessPope County, Jackson County + 7 more
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
45,513U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessWilliamson County, Union County + 1 more
Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
45,307U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessCarroll County, Adams County + 6 more
Midewin Other
National Forest land
18,229U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessWill County
Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
16,723State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessRandolph County, St. Clair County + 1 more
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
16,712U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessPulaski County, Union County + 2 more
Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
16,544State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCass County
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
12,539U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessJo Daviess County, Carroll County + 2 more
Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
11,169State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCass County, Mason County
Horseshoe Lake-Alexander State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
8,373State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessAlexander County
Shawnee Purchase Unit
National Forest land
7,733U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessJohnson County, Williamson County + 3 more
Sand Ridge State Forest
State forest
7,538State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMason County
Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
7,106State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFulton County
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
6,624U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessMason County, Marshall County
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
6,435State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMarshall County, Peoria County
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
6,142U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessRandolph County, Jackson County
Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
5,933State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHamilton County, Jefferson County
Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
4,506State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessWill County
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
4,355State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPeoria County, Fulton County
Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
4,061State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessSaline County, Williamson County
Middle Mississippi Purchase Unit
National Forest land
3,882U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessAlexander County, Union County + 1 more
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
3,706U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessMorgan County, Cass County
Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,945State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessIroquois County, Kankakee County
Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,809State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKankakee County, Grundy County
Big River State Forest
State forest
2,798State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHenderson County
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,796State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessVermilion County
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
2,628U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessFulton County
Green River State Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,539State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessLee County
Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,488State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKnox County
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
2,485U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessPike County, Calhoun County
Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,400State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFulton County, Schuyler County
Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,378State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessSchuyler County, Brown County
Lowden-Miller State Forest
State forest
2,339State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessOgle County
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,288State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessRandolph County
Lake DePue State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,230State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessBureau County
Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area
Other state land
2,172State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessLawrence County
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,152State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMassac County
Chouteau Island State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
2,107State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMadison County
Double "T" State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,961State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFulton County
Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,874State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessSt. Clair County
Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,778State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPike County
Piatt County Unit State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,756State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPiatt County
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area
Other state land
1,746State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFayette County
Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,665State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHamilton County, White County
Spoon River State Forest
State forest
1,641State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKnox County
Richland County Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,548State: other or unknown agencyOpen accessRichland County
Powerton lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,531State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessTazewell County
Devil's Island tate Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,486State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessAlexander County, Union County
12 Mile Island Wildlife Management Area - Glades
State wildlife / game area
1,416State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJersey County
Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,374State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessAlexander County
Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area
State wildlife / game area
1,330State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessWayne County
Witkowsky State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,320State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJo Daviess County
Saline County State Conservation Area
State wildlife / game area
1,279State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessSaline County, Gallatin County
Kinkaid Lake Purchase Unit
National Forest land
1,252U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessJackson County
Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,251State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFayette County
Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,170State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJasper County
Randolph County State Recreation Area
Other state land
1,139State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessRandolph County
Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
1,124State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCrawford County
Hidden Springs State Forest
State forest
1,096State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessShelby County
Red Wing Slough
Other state land
989State: other or unknown agencyOpen accessLake County
Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
906State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessBureau County
Piasa Island Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
903State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJersey County, Madison County
Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
889U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessCalhoun County
Gabaret Island Open Space
Other state land
871State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMadison County
Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
830State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessGrundy County
Volo Bog
Other state land
792State: department of conservationOpen accessLake County
Wildcat Hollow State Habitat Area
Other state land
746State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessEffingham County
Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
734State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessWoodford County, Tazewell County
Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center
State wildlife / game area
718State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJefferson County
Farmdale Dam Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
709U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessTazewell County
Saybrook State Habitat Area
Other state land
646State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMcLean County
Sibley State Habitat Area
Other state land
619State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFord County
Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
564State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPutnam County
Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
534State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMontgomery County
Campbell Pond State Habitat Area
Other state land
529State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJackson County, Franklin County
Mississippi River State Forest Wildlife Area - Mortland
State wildlife / game area
520State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCalhoun County
East Fork Management Unit State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
406State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessClinton County
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
392U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessMcHenry County
Hurricane Creek State Habitat Area
Other state land
379State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessColes County
Meredosia Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
330State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMorgan County
Sam And Florence Atkinson Forest
State forest
324State: other or unknown agencyOpen accessWayne County
Buffalo Prairie State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
291State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKnox County
Heron Woods State Habitat Area
Other state land
290State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCook County, Kane County
Victoria State Habitat Area
Other state land
243State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKnox County
Putnam County Conservation Area
State wildlife / game area
224State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPutnam County
Skinner Farm State Habitat Area
Other state land
224State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJohnson County
Kamp's Glade
Other state land
216State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCalhoun County
Willow Creek State Habitat Area
Other state land
207State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessEdgar County
T-Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
189State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKnox County
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
185U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessCalhoun County
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Other state land
183State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessVermilion County
Freeman Mine State Habitat Area
Other state land
177State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMontgomery County
Nippersink Lake Open Space
Other state land
172State: department of conservationOpen accessLake County
Loda State Habitat Area
Other state land
160State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessIroquois County
Maytown State Habitat Area
Other state land
150State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessLee County
Little Rock Creek State Habitat Area
Other state land
147State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCarroll County
Batchtown Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
146State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCalhoun County
Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area
Other state land
140State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessIroquois County
Herschel Workman State Habitat Area
Other state land
134State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessVermilion County
Bull Valley State Fish & Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
126State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMcHenry County
Dublin Highlands State Habitat Area
Other state land
124State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessStephenson County
Perdueville State Habitat Area
Other state land
123State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessFord County
Whitefield State Habitat Area
Other state land
116State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMarshall County
Crow's Foot State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
111State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessBoone County
Oakford State Habitat Area
Other state land
110State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessMenard County, Mason County
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
Other state land
109State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessClinton County
Gifford State Habitat Area
Other state land
103State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessChampaign County
Bradford State Habitat Area
Other state land
101State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessStark County
Mississippi River State Forest Wildlife Area - Red's Landing - Kelly #1
State wildlife / game area
98State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCalhoun County
Miscellaneous Property
Other state land
92State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessPike County, St. Clair County + 6 more
Alvah Borah State Habitat Area
Other state land
89State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessWayne County
Henderson County State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
89State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHenderson County
Hindsboro State Habitat Area
Other state land
86State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessDouglas County
Clifton State Habitat Area
Other state land
82State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessIroquois County
Hallsville State Habitat Area
Other state land
82State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessDe Witt County
Steward State Habitat Area
Other state land
81State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessLee County
Ephgrave Cave
Other state land
80State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessUnion County
Ilodillin State Habitat Area
Other state land
80State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessTazewell County
Milk's Grove State Fish and Wildlife Area
State wildlife / game area
79State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessIroquois County
Birkbeck State Habitat Area
Other state land
79State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessDe Witt County
Manito State Habitat Area
Other state land
78State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessTazewell County
Reed Wildlife State Habitat Area
State wildlife / game area
70State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHancock County
Cecil E. Meeker State Habitat Area
Other state land
68State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessJasper County
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Area
National Wildlife Refuge
66U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessIroquois County, Kankakee County
Clear Creek Wetland
Other state land
63State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCass County
Henderson Creek 3
Other state land
55State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHenderson County
Clark Run
Other state land
51State: other or unknown agencyOpen accessLaSalle County
Kilbuck Creek
Other state land
45State: other or unknown agencyOpen accessOgle County
McMaster Woods
Other state land
44State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessGreene County
Glen D. Palmers State Game Farm
State wildlife / game area
43State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessKendall County
Clinton State Recreation Area
Other state land
42State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessDe Witt County

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.

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