Kankakee River State Park: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,101 acres of Kankakee River State Park open to hunting in Kankakee and Will counties, next to Limestone. Deer archery: hunts for disabled hunters and open at the site. Deer firearm: YS. Hunters took 749 deer in Kankakee 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 landKankakee River State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,101 acres in 8 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Kankakee County and Will County |
| Deer harvest unit | Kankakee County, Will County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | hunts for disabled hunters and open at the site |
| Deer, firearm (IDNR) | YS |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Site type (IDNR) | state park |
| IDNR region | 2 |
| Nearest towns | Limestone (next to it), Ritchie (2 mi) and Custer Park (3 mi) |
What is Kankakee River State Park like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 14 hunting areas: Area 2, Area 4, Area 6, Area 5, Area 10, Area 9, Area 8, Area 7, Area 3, Area 1 and more.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Kankakee River State Park?
IDNR's records list deer (archery and firearm), turkey (spring), squirrel, rabbit, dove, pheasant and waterfowl (walk-in) for Kankakee River State Park.
What are the rules on Kankakee River State Park?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: hunts for disabled hunters and open at the site, depending on the hunting area for deer archery; YS for deer firearm; special hunt permit from Springfield for turkey spring.
IDNR's exceptions: Archery Deer is physically challenged only.
IDNR's notes: No hunting. Nature Preserve.
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 Kankakee River State Park?
Kankakee River State Park lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 749 deer in Kankakee County in 2025-26, against 683 in 2024-25.
| County | Kankakee River State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee County | 1,077 | 749 | 683 | 585 |
| Will County | 1,024 | 1,063 | 1,032 | 1,022 |
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 Kankakee River State Park?
Nearest towns: Limestone (next to it), Ritchie (2 miles), Custer Park (3 miles) and Rest Haven (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 113, IL 102, I-57, IL 50 and US 52.
What other public land is near Kankakee River State Park?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Wilmington Shrub Prairie State Natural Area: 343 acres, 4.5 miles away
- Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area: 3,077 acres, 5.9 miles away
- Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area: 3,933 acres, 6.9 miles away
- Des Plaines Game Propagation Center: 145 acres, 7.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Kankakee River State Park
Counting Kankakee River State Park itself, 5,080 of the 62,142 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,101 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,777 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 1,202 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kankakee River State Park?
In Kankakee and Will counties, next to Limestone.
Can you deer hunt on Kankakee River State Park?
By IDNR's records: archery, hunts for disabled hunters and open at the site; firearm, YS.
How much public land is around Kankakee River State Park?
5,080 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kankakee River State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Wilmington Shrub Prairie State Natural Area (4.5 miles).
Get a Illinois hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Illinois are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Illinois included.
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.