Union 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
- 2,109
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 · sourcedUnion County in far southern Illinois is defined by the rugged topography of the Shawnee Hills and the vast acreage of Shawnee National Forest, making it one of the most distinctive hunting landscapes in the state. White-tailed deer thrive in the mixed hardwood ridges and hollows, and the county consistently produces trophy-caliber bucks in terrain that rewards hunters who can navigate steep ground. Wild turkey populations are robust, supported by extensive mature timber.
Rugged Shawnee Hills with sandstone escarpments, oak-hickory ridges, and deep hollows; Cache River bottomlands along the western edge; limited flat agricultural land compared to most Illinois counties.
Moderate despite abundant public land — the challenging terrain self-selects for serious hunters and keeps overall pressure manageable.
Standard Illinois zone-based OTC firearm permits; archery season begins October 1; the rugged terrain makes muzzleloader season particularly productive here.
Wild turkey are a premier target with strong spring gobbler numbers across the national forest; the Cache River corridor adds unique bottomland character and occasional black bear sightings from expanding Missouri populations.
Shawnee National Forest public access — among the largest contiguous public hunting blocks in Illinois; Shawnee Hills topography creates dramatic rut-movement terrain unlike anywhere else in the state.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Union 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 Union 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.