Pope County, Illinois
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
- 2,070
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
AI-compiled · sourcedPope County in the far southern tip of Illinois is the most heavily forested county in the state, anchored by the Shawnee National Forest and the Garden of the Gods and Bell Smith Springs wilderness areas, offering wild and remote hunting for whitetails and turkeys in a setting that feels more Appalachian than Midwestern. The rugged sandstone topography and dense mixed hardwood cover allow deer to reach exceptional age in the maze of hollows, ridgelines, and creek bottoms that define this dramatic landscape. For hunters seeking a genuine wilderness-style experience with extensive public land and minimal competition, Pope County stands entirely apart from the agricultural hunting norm of Illinois.
Rugged sandstone hills, deep hollows, dense mixed hardwood forest, cliff faces and rock formations; Shawnee National Forest is the dominant land type with Little Black Slough wetlands in the lowlands
Low to moderate - large National Forest acreage distributes pressure across a rugged landscape that deters casual hunters; backcountry units see very little pressure
OTC archery statewide; firearm deer season; Shawnee National Forest regulations and any applicable permit units apply
Outstanding wild turkey hunting in the extensive oak-hickory hardwoods; squirrel and small game hunting notable; unique southern species at their northern range limits add biodiversity interest
Garden of the Gods and Bell Smith Springs backcountry provides the most remote and rugged public hunting experience available anywhere in Illinois; most forested county in the state with majority public land ownership
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Pope 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 Pope 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.