Illinois publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 132 public hunting areas. Sam Dale Lake SFWA is highest at 126.8 deer harvested per square mile in 2021. Harry "Babe" Woodyard SNA has 53.4 in 2025 and Hamilton County SFWA has 38.2 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Sam Dale Lake SFWA has the highest harvest per square mile at 126.8. The agency reported 258 deer on 1,302 acres in 2021.
- 132 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2019 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Illinois public land rankings
Best public land in Illinois
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2019 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 132 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 132 areas shown
| 1 | Sam Dale Lake SFWA | Wayne | 1,302 | 2021 | 258 | 126.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Harry "Babe" Woodyard SNA | Vermilion | 1,150 | 2025 | 96 | 53.4 |
| 3 | Hamilton County SFWA | Hamilton | 1,675 | 2025 | 100 | 38.2 |
| 4 | Randolph County SRA | Randolph | 1,031 | 2025 | 59 | 36.6 |
| 5 | Ray Norbut SFWA | Pike | 1,290 | 2025 | 62 | 30.8 |
| 6 | Moraine View SRA | McLean | 1,191 | 2024 | 56 | 30.1 |
| 7 | Crawford County SFWA | Crawford | 1,100 | 2025 | 51 | 29.7 |
| 8 | Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit SFWA | Piatt | 784 | 2025 | 35 | 28.6 |
| 9 | Franklin Creek SNA | Lee | 882 | 2025 | 37 | 26.8 |
| 10 | Mackinaw River SFWA | Tazewell | 1,448 | 2025 | 58 | 25.6 |
| 11 | Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA | Franklin | 1,500 | 2025 | 59 | 25.2 |
| 12 | Eagle Creek SRA | Shelby | 1,315 | 2021 | 51 | 24.8 |
| 13 | Marseilles SFWA | LaSalle | 2,515 | 2025 | 91 | 23.2 |
| 14 | Siloam Springs SP | Adams, Brown | 3,323 | 2025 | 113 | 21.8 |
| 15 | Shabbona Lake SP | DeKalb | 1,485 | 2020 | 49 | 21.1 |
01Public hunting areas
132 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Sam Dale Lake SFWA has the most deer harvested per square mile at 126.8 in 2021. Harry "Babe" Woodyard SNA has 53.4 in 2025 and Hamilton County SFWA has 38.2 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 126.8 down to 21.1 deer harvested per square mile.
02Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2019 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2019 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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