REGION 5
Having the overall highest kill density in 2005 and the influence of the Shawnee National Forest, the late-season game is slightly different in this neck of the woods. But opportunities, public access and chances for success are perhaps the best Illinois has to offer.

District biologist Rich Whitton said that in Jackson, Perry and Williamson counties, late winter is very productive.

“Deer herds are dispersed evenly,” Whitton said. “In Jackson County, there are 48,900 acres of the Shawnee National Forest (618/253-7144), there are 44,000 acres in Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (618/997-3344) in Williamson County, and Pyramid State Park (618/357-2574) in Perry County covers 21,000 acres.”

The Shawnee National Forest offers bowhunters unlimited access, while Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and Pyramid State Park offer access for all three hunting options. Kinkaid Lake, (618) 684-2867, and Giant City State Park, (618) 457-4836, allow bows and smokepoles.

Just to the south, Union, Johnson and Pope counties are within the Shawnee. Union County hunters killed 528 whitetails last December, and the county had an overall harvest density of 6.3 deer per square mile. Johnson’s hunters shot 439 deer and had a density of 6.8 per square mile. Pope County hunters bagged 545 animals, while it had a density of 7.6 per square mile. Within each county, access is superb. Muzzleloading and bowhunting are available at Union County CA, (618) 833-5175, Trail of Tears State Forest, (618) 833-4910, LaRue Swamp, (618) 833-8576, Bluff Lakes, (618) 833-8576, Ferne Clyffe State Park, (618) 995-2411, Cache River SNA, (618) 634-9678, and Dog Island WMA, (618) 949-3394.

DNR district biologist John Bozett said in Hamilton and White counties, the late-season deer hunting couldn’t be better. “In White County, the Wabash and Little Wabash are overrun with deer,” he said. Ten Mile Creek FWA, (618) 643-2862, and Hamilton County FWA, (618) 773-4340, offer good opportunities for late-season archers, frontloaders and late antlerless shotgunners.

Another important winter corridor in Region 5 exists from Fayette County down through Marion, Jefferson and Franklin counties. This four-county area averaged through 2005 an aggregate density of 5.1 deer killed per square mile, and saw better than 12,760 whitetails harvested. Within this area are a number of very accessible late-season focal points.

According to DNR district biologist Gary Potts, the Kaskaskia basin and upper slough of the Carlyle WMA, (618) 425-3533, in Fayette County draw incredible numbers of deer each winter to the heavy bottoms. “Each year, Fayette ranks among the top for harvest and density,” Potts said. Bow and muzzleloader opportunities are available. Potts also said Ramsey Lake State Park, (618) 423-2215, offers great late-season bowhunting.

“Both Forbes State Park (618/547-3381) in Marion County and Sam Dale Lake CA (618/835-2292) in Wayne County are great for winter bowhunting,” said DNR biologist Steve Kern. Both counties have a prime balance of woodland to agricultural ground, and both ranked atop the region for harvest in 2005.

Jefferson County had the fourth-highest kill in the state last year and the fifth-highest harvest density overall. The bottom sloughs of the two northern branches of Rend Lake comprise perhaps the most predominant wintering areas in Illinois. Rend Lake Forest (618/724-2493) offers bow, muzzleloader and late-winter antlerless opportunities. Hunters will probably have the most success around available food sources.