Region 5
Illinois deer hunters in Region 5 collectively posted the highest overall deer harvest for last season. Collectively, 10 counties scored in both categories, 11 counties scored among the top 25 in the late-winter season harvest, and 14 counties stand among the top 25 in the second season shotgun harvest.

According to IDNR wildlife biologist Gary Potts, Fayette County is a premier destination.

"For the best (deer-hunting) opportunity, focus on areas where river lowlands coincide with cropland," Potts said, pointing out that the Kaskaskia River basin, the upper sloughs of Carlyle Lake and the bottom lands just south of Vandalia are prime areas.

White County on the Wabash River also scored high among the region's county-by-county deer harvest totals. IDNR wildlife biologist John Bozett said the lowlands associated with the river couldn't be beat.

"After a heavy rain or snow and the river goes up, the deer push out of the lowlands and head for the hills and bluffs nearby," Bozett observed. "When that happens, deer hunting in the adjacent areas can be incredible."

Deer hunters in Marion County, too, were represented in both of last year's deer harvest totals. Look for many of the county's late-season deer to be hanging around the Kaskaskia corridor in the Skillet Fork.

IDNR wildlife biologist John Tippett fingers the Rayse Creek, Big Muddy River and Casey Fork bottoms in Jefferson County, which had a mark in both late seasons, as holding superb deer-hunting opportunities this season.

"The riparian areas are good to focus on, but you'll also find good numbers of deer in the Corps (of Engineers) ground on top of Rend Lake," Tippett pointed out.

Wayne County continually finds its way into the top 10 for harvest in the state. For winter deer hunting, it's hard to top. Concentrate on the Skillet Fork and the basin of the Little Wabash River east of Fairfield for the best winter yards.

Perry County scored high in the formula. Beaucoup Creek and the strip mines southeast of Pickneyville provide good winter deer cover.

Jackson County also made its way into the top 25 in all categories of harvest this past season. Public-hunting access is outstanding in the Shawnee National Forest, and good potential lies in Crab Orchard Creek, the Big Muddy River and the Mississippi River bottoms around Fountain Bluff.

Region 5's Williamson County was home of Illinois' largest typical whitetail taken in 2005. Holding one of the highest herd densities in the state further heightens the county's trophy-deer potential. The lowland sloughs around Crab Orchard Lake make for awesome winter cover, as do reclaimed strip mines throughout the area.

Union County took honors in both categories. According to IDNR wildlife biologist Dan Woolard, there are more public sloughs, woodlands and river lowlands in this place than most sportsmen could hunt in a lifetime.

Looking east, Johnson and Pope counties boast high late-season harvest totals from January 2007. IDNR wildlife biologist Chuck Zeiler said hunters look no farther than the heavy lowland areas associated with the Shawnee River.

"In Johnson County, Cypress Pond and the Cache River State Forest are areas that draw numbers of winter deer," Zeiler revealed. "In Pope County, though, you'll want to find the areas where forest meets crop fields. These are scant areas, but where the two environments coincide, winter deer concentrate. Most potential is in the southeastern portion of the county." Good late-season harvest numbers were also posted in Hamilton, Clay and Jasper counties. And it should be noted that despite the fact that Hardin County didn't make the harvest numbers cut, this little gem at the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio rivers enjoys a top-five rating for overall whitetail density in the state.

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It matters little this season whether you're an archer, a muzzleloader hunter or a hunter who prefers a standard shotgun. When the cold sets in, the adage "feast or famine" wanes heavily toward a banquet of excellent late-winter white-tailed deer hunting across the Prairie State.

For more information about public deer hunting in Illinois, visit the Web site of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at http://dnr.state.il.us.