Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,086 acres of Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area open to hunting in Clinton County, 2 miles from Carlyle. Deer archery: open at the site and hunts for disabled hunters. Deer firearm: youth hunting. Hunters took 1,748 deer in Clinton 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 huntingOther IDNR and state landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landEldon Hazlet State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,086 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Deer harvest unit | Clinton County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Pheasant, Woodcock and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site and hunts for disabled hunters |
| Deer, firearm (IDNR) | youth hunting |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | disabled hunters, Springfield permit and disabled hunters, lottery permit |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site and hunts for disabled hunters |
| Site type (IDNR) | state recreation area |
| IDNR region | 4 |
| Nearest towns | Carlyle (2 mi), Huey (4 mi) and Keyesport (4 mi) |
What is Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 6 hunting areas: Fisher Road, Unit 2, Unit 1, Main Site, West Peppenhorst, Carlyle Lake.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery and firearm), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock, waterfowl (walk-in), waterfowl (blinds) and controlled pheasant for Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: open at the site and hunts for disabled hunters, depending on the hunting area for deer archery and turkey fall archery; youth hunting for deer firearm; disabled hunters, Springfield permit and disabled hunters, lottery permit, depending on the hunting area for turkey spring.
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 Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area lies in Clinton County. Hunters took 1,748 deer in Clinton County in 2025-26, against 1,803 in 2024-25.
| County | Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 2,086 | 1,748 | 1,803 | 1,557 |
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 Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Carlyle (2 miles), Huey (4 miles), Keyesport (4 miles) and Beckemeyer (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 127 and US 50.
What other public land is near Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: 7,354 acres, 6.3 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
Counting Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area itself, 2,522 of the 37,536 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (6.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,086 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 398 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 29 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 9 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
In Clinton County, 2 miles from Carlyle.
Can you deer hunt on Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site and hunts for disabled hunters; firearm, youth hunting.
How much public land is around Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area?
2,522 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (6.3 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.