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States / IL / Perry County

Perry 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
2,993

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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Perry County in southern Illinois borders the Shawnee National Forest and features a rugged, forested character uncommon in the rest of the state, supporting excellent whitetail and wild turkey populations in a landscape of ridges, hollows, and mixed hardwood forest. The county broken terrain provides ideal year-round cover that allows deer to reach impressive age and body size without traveling far from bedding to feeding areas. Hunters access substantial public land through Pyramid State Recreation Area, one of the largest public hunting areas in Illinois, and adjacent Shawnee National Forest tracts.

Terrain & elevation

Hilly forested terrain with mixed hardwoods, sandstone ridges, hollows, and agricultural fields in the valley bottoms; strip mine reclamation areas provide unique diverse habitat

Hunting pressure

Moderate - Pyramid State is well-known and receives steady pressure; backcountry portions of the Shawnee see lighter use from hunters willing to hike

Tags & permits

OTC archery statewide; firearm deer season; Shawnee National Forest may have supplemental permit requirements for some units

Species & seasons

Wild turkey populations are very strong in southern Illinois hardwoods; Pyramid State reclamation areas also support excellent small game and waterfowl in the numerous lakes and marshes

Highlights

Pyramid State Recreation Area provides thousands of acres of free public hunting across diverse reclaimed strip mine habitat; southern location means longer growing season and heavier deer body weights

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about Perry 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 Perry 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.