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States / IL / Johnson County

Johnson County, Illinois

Game found here
White-tailed DeerWild Turkey
Southern IllinoisSee on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species
White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey
Group
Southern Illinois
Area
N/A
Public land
N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
Reported harvest
2,000

Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Wild Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.

About this unit

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Johnson County lies deep in the Shawnee National Forest in extreme southern Illinois, making it one of the most timber-heavy and public-land-rich hunting destinations in the entire state. The rugged, forested terrain holds excellent turkey populations and deer that rarely encounter hunting pressure outside woodland sanctuaries far from road access. Garden of the Gods and other Shawnee landmarks frame a hunting landscape that looks nothing like the Illinois of popular imagination.

Terrain & elevation

Heavily forested Shawnee Hills in extreme southern Illinois; rocky outcrops, steep ridges, and dense hardwood timber within the Shawnee National Forest create some of the most rugged and isolated terrain in the state

Hunting pressure

Low to moderate; remote forested terrain and limited road access keep pressure among the lowest in Illinois

Tags & permits

OTC; Illinois statewide antler restrictions apply

Species & seasons

Wild turkey populations excellent throughout the Shawnee timber corridor; among the best public-land turkey hunting available anywhere in Illinois

Highlights

Shawnee National Forest provides vast accessible public land for deer and turkey hunters who prefer wilderness-style hunting; the rugged forested character rewards hunters willing to commit to working far from roads and beaten paths

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about Johnson County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.

Nothing posted yet about Johnson County.

Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).

Boundaries: IDNR county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 15d ago.