Kickapoo State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,555 acres of Kickapoo State Recreation Area open to hunting in Vermilion County, 2 miles from Oakwood. Deer archery: open at the site. Deer firearm: special hunt permit from Springfield. Hunters took 1,938 deer in Vermilion 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 landKickapoo State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,555 acres in 31 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Vermilion County |
| Deer harvest unit | Vermilion 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 |
| Deer, muzzleloader (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| 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 | Oakwood (2 mi), Catlin (3 mi) and Tilton (5 mi) |
What is Kickapoo State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 8 hunting areas: Left Foot, Right Foot, Lots 4-8, 1, Lots 9-14, Central Park water, 2 Water, 1 Water.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery, firearm and muzzleloader), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock and waterfowl (blinds) for Kickapoo State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Kickapoo 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 deer firearm, deer muzzleloader and 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 Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
Kickapoo State Recreation Area lies in Vermilion County. Hunters took 1,938 deer in Vermilion County in 2025-26, against 1,791 in 2024-25.
| County | Kickapoo State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion County | 2,555 | 1,938 | 1,791 | 1,822 |
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 Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Oakwood (2 miles), Catlin (3 miles), Tilton (5 miles) and Muncie (5 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-74, US 150, IL 1, US 136 and IL 150.
What other public land is near Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area: 2,665 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Counting Kickapoo State Recreation Area itself, 6,890 of the 54,159 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 4,288 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,619 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 962 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 21 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
In Vermilion County, 2 miles from Oakwood.
Can you deer hunt on Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site; firearm, special hunt permit from Springfield; muzzleloader, special hunt permit from Springfield.
How much public land is around Kickapoo State Recreation Area?
6,890 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Kickapoo State Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (next to it).
Get a Illinois hunt plan when they open
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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.