Finding a place to fish in Illinois isn’t terribly difficult. Finding a place to hunt, on the other hand, can be a challenge. Just 2.4 percent of Illinois is publicly-owned. But the state does offer some substantial public holdings, particularly in its southern reaches.
• 24,878 acres of islands
• Area is intermixed with private lands as well as lands within National Wildlife Refuge systems
• Abundant waterfowl hunting opportunities
• 3,323 acres
• Excellent deer, turkey and small game hunting opportunities
• Habitat enhancements including food plots and agriculture
• 280,000 acres
• Largest public area in Illinois
• Noted for whitetail hunting, also offers excellent turkey hunting
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
• 16,000 acres
• Deer, small game, turkey and waterfowl hunting
• Free refuge permit required to hunt
Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
• 18,900 acres of water; more than 20,000 acres of land
• Warmwater fishing opportunities on Rend Lake, streams
• Abundant deer, turkeys and small game hunting opportunities
More Links
Illinois Recreational Access Program
Find more public land access opportunities with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunt Planner.
Photo: Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Photo credit: flickr