Clinton Lake State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 6,953 acres of Clinton Lake State Recreation Area open to hunting in De Witt County, next to Lane. Deer archery: open at the site. Deer firearm: special hunt permit from Springfield and disabled hunters, Springfield permit. Hunters took 1,001 deer in De Witt County in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: IDNR's IDNR hunting site data, read 2026-10. Harvest: IDNR county summaries, 2021-22 to 2025-26.
IDNR sites open to huntingForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landClinton Lake State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 6,953 acres in 9 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | De Witt County |
| Deer harvest unit | De Witt County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Pheasant, Woodcock and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Deer, firearm (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield and disabled hunters, Springfield permit |
| Deer, muzzleloader (IDNR) | site permit from the site office |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Site type (IDNR) | state recreation area |
| IDNR region | 3 |
| Nearest towns | Lane (next to it), De Witt (next to it) and Farmer City (2 mi) |
What is Clinton Lake State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 35 hunting areas: 1, 6, North Fork, Salt Creek WMA, North Fork Area, NE Walk-in Waterfowl, Lake Clinton, Parnell Boat Access Area, Lane, D and more.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery, firearm and muzzleloader), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock, waterfowl (walk-in) and waterfowl (blinds) for Clinton Lake State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: open at the site for deer archery and turkey fall archery; special hunt permit from Springfield and disabled hunters, Springfield permit, depending on the hunting area for deer firearm; site permit from the site office for deer muzzleloader; special hunt permit from Springfield for turkey spring.
IDNR's exceptions: Only Disabled hunting here.
IDNR's notes: Walk-in Waterfowl. No wake zone.
Part of the site is marked as a wildlife refuge in IDNR's records.
Site-specific rules are in IDNR's Hunting Digest and the site's hunter fact sheet; IDNR's public hunting areas list has the site's permit details.
How many deer are taken around Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
Clinton Lake State Recreation Area lies in De Witt County. Hunters took 1,001 deer in De Witt County in 2025-26, against 1,087 in 2024-25.
| County | Clinton Lake State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Witt County | 6,953 | 1,001 | 1,087 | 954 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting site alone: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons).
How do you get to Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Lane (next to it), De Witt (next to it), Farmer City (2 miles) and Weldon (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 54, IL 10, I-74, US 51 and IL 48.
What other public land is near Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Birkbeck State Habitat Area: 82 acres, 0.8 miles away
- Weldon Springs State Park: 555 acres, 1.8 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
Counting Clinton Lake State Recreation Area itself, 7,709 of the 103,591 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (7.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 7,589 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 109 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 11 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
In De Witt County, next to Lane.
Can you deer hunt on Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site; firearm, special hunt permit from Springfield and disabled hunters, Springfield permit; muzzleloader, site permit from the site office.
How much public land is around Clinton Lake State Recreation Area?
7,709 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Clinton Lake State Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Birkbeck State Habitat Area (0.8 miles).
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Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: IDNR land records: sites and hunting areas (OMLP, Prairie Research Institute).
- Boundary and acres: IDNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and IDNR's hunting area records.
- Deer harvest: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Check IDNR's rules and posted signs before you go.