Choosing where to hunt
One of the trickiest parts of hunting in Illinois begins with deciding whether you can get permission to hunt on private land, or if you need to explore the public land options available to you. Depending on which you have access to determines how you proceed moving forward and can impact everything from choosing a permit type to the species you can hunt. We’ve created the following guide to get you started. Click the topic or scroll on to learn more.
Hunting Private Land
Illinois is predominantly made up of private land, so if you own or know someone who owns private, huntable land, securing permission to hunt on that property is often the best way to get started, especially depending on where you are located in the state, as some areas have a lack of public land and sometimes even when public land is available, it is not open for every type and species you might be interested in hunting or trapping. You can also reach out to local landowners to request permission to hunt even if you do not know them, but be aware that many landowners are wary of accepting new hunters onto their land due to liability concerns, or because they are inundated with requests for deer hunting. Approaching landowners with requests to hunt or trap other species they may consider pests might increase your odds of securing permission and could become the foundation of a relationship that could evolve into allowing you to deer hunt on the site.
To address landowner concerns about liability, Illinois has the Land Access Permission Card for you to present when you ask for hunting permission. This card is an agreement between a hunter and landowner: in return for the privilege to use private land, the hunter agrees to abide by landowner rules, obey all laws, conduct safe and ethical hunting practices, and waive any claim against the landowner for personal injury. This is void if any money passes hands for hunting privileges. The signed permission form is to be retained by both the landowner and the hunter. This card is also helpful because hunters can use their section to show proof that they have the landowner’s permission to hunt, and landowners can use their section to keep track of whom they have given permission to access their property and what activities are allowed (e.g., what species may be hunted, what dates and seasons the hunters are allowed, etc.).
For more information about hunting on private land, especially as it relates to hunting deer, please visit White-tailed Deer Illinois.
Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP): Public Hunting Access on Private Land
In order to encourage private landowners to open their property up for public recreational access and opportunities, the IDNR created the IRAP program using resources obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s NRCS Voluntary Public Access–Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP).
Landowners who join this program lease their land to IRAP and in return, have a comprehensive habitat/forestry management plan written and be eligible for assistance to implement habitat restoration projects.
To learn more about enrolling as an IRAP participant, visit the IDNR’s IRAP FAQ or review the program page. For a list of IRAP sites by county that include pond and riverbank fishing and rabbit and squirrel hunting, click here. If you’re interested in fishing or deer (archery, youth firearm), turkey, waterfowl, upland, and small game hunting through the program, please click here and scroll down to select the icon associated with your activity of interest to learn more.
Please note that not every county or region has every type of species hunting available, but check back to see what else become available throughout Illinois as the program expands.
For an in-depth dive into the IRAP program and how it works for each species and hunting type, check out our past webinar on the topic.
If you’re a landowner interested in learning more about enrolling your property as a site, please click here.
Hunting Public Land
There are several types of public hunting land available for use in Illinois that include IDNR-run public hunting sites, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife refuge sites, and U.S. Forest Service sites (National Forests and National Prairies).
Each type of site has unique hunting rules, regulations, and seasons, and even sites of the of the same management type (for example, IDNR-run public sites) can vary wildly in what is and is not allowed from site to site. Be sure you explore and understand your site-specific regulations before you go out into the field. If you have questions, feel free to call the listed site supervisors or conservation officers. Make sure you abide by the rules of your site, and that you posses the necessary licenses, permits, and tags based on the species you intend to hunt.
Where Do I Go to Find a New Site?
IDNR Hunting Sites
IDNR public land is divided into five regions: Northwest, Northeast, West-Central, East-Central, and South.
TIP: To determine if the IDNR-site you are interested in is actually good for the species you are interested in hunting, we recommend that you check out the most recent Public Hunting Areas Report to look up recent harvest numbers. Remember, just because a site allows for the hunting of a certain species doesn’t mean it actually has that species any more or is a good site for that species.
To find IDNR hunting sites, you have three options:
Hunt Illinois Hunt Map Application
This map is helpful if you don’t know exactly where you want to go, but want to visualize where IDNR sites are or what areas near you allow certain types of hunting. From here, the hunting site directory can be a good next step for learning more about specific sites.
Hunt Illinois Hunting Site Directory
The directory is helpful if you have an idea of the sites near you but want to learn more about site-specific regulations and seasons, rules about the species available for hunting at the site, and find maps and site supervisor contact information.
IDNR Hunter Fact Sheet Regions
Use this page to select your region of interest and view a list of the IDNR sites in that region.
TIP: When using the Hunt Map, if you go to the “Small Game” tab and uncheck “Check Stations and Blinds” and “IDNR Site Boundaries” and then check “Squirrel,” you can easily visualize areas near you with that type of hunting. You can do this for any species.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Hunting Sites
To view US Fish and Wildlife Service hunting sites in Illinois and nation-wide, please visit here.
Illinois US Fish and Wildlife hunting sites include:
- Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge (Fishing, NO HUNTING)
USDA Forest Service Hunting Sites
To view USDA Forest Service hunting sites in Illinois and nation-wide, please visit here (select the magnifying glass icon at the top and select your state).
Illinois has two Forest Service sites:
Public Land Sites We Recommend
Interested in learning more about a few of our personal favorite sites? Read on!
Hunting in the Shawnee National Forest
The Shawnee National Forest, USDA Forest Service, is the largest public landowner in the state. This fact, combined with its diversity of habitats, offers sports enthusiasts a range of hunting opportunities. Stretching across over 280,000 acres of dense woodlands, rolling hills, and pristine waterways, the Shawnee National Forest offers immense opportunity for Illinois public land hunters.
Hunters in the Shawnee National Forest can expect a true wilderness experience, with ample opportunities for both archery and firearm hunting. For those seeking a more primitive hunting experience, the forest’s vast stretches of rugged backcountry provide the perfect backdrop for a multi-day hunting trip. Camping under the stars, with the distant call of owls and the rustling of leaves as your soundtrack, adds to the experience. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting started, the Shawnee National Forest promises an unforgettable adventure, blending the thrill of the hunt with the serene beauty of Illinois’ natural heritage.
For more information on hunting the Shawnee National Forest and specifics on regulations, please visit the USDA Forest Service website.
