Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 942 acres of Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area open to hunting in Henry County, 4 miles from Mineral. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 1,233 deer in Henry 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 landJohnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 942 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Deer harvest unit | Henry County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail and Pheasant |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Site type (IDNR) | state recreation area |
| IDNR region | 1 |
| Nearest towns | Mineral (4 mi), Annawan (4 mi) and Neponset (5 mi) |
What is Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 11 hunting areas: Dove Fields, Zone D, Zone I, Zone J, Zone A, Zone C, Zone B, Zone H, Zone G, Zone F and more.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant and controlled pheasant for Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Johnson-Sauk Trail 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 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 Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area lies in Henry County. Hunters took 1,233 deer in Henry County in 2025-26, against 1,132 in 2024-25.
| County | Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry County | 942 | 1,233 | 1,132 | 1,114 |
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 Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Mineral (4 miles), Annawan (4 miles), Neponset (5 miles) and Kewanee (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 78, I-80, US 34, US 6 and IL 81.
What other public land is near Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area: 797 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Hennepin Canal: 344 acres, 9.6 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area
Counting Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area itself, 1,341 of the 30,314 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 942 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 399 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
In Henry County, 4 miles from Mineral.
Can you deer hunt on Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area?
1,341 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area (6.8 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.