Mackinaw River: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 1,490 acres of Mackinaw River open to hunting in Tazewell County, next to Heritage Lake. Deer archery: open at the site. Deer firearm: special hunt permit from Springfield. Hunters took 1,548 deer in Tazewell 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 landMackinaw RiverCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,490 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Deer harvest unit | Tazewell County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Pheasant and Woodcock |
| 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 |
| Nearest towns | Heritage Lake (next to it), Mackinaw (2 mi) and Armington (2 mi) |
What is Mackinaw River like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 2 hunting areas: Ilo Dillin, Parklands Nature Preserve.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Mackinaw River?
IDNR's records list deer (archery, firearm and muzzleloader), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant and woodcock for Mackinaw River.
What are the rules on Mackinaw River?
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 Mackinaw River?
Mackinaw River lies in Tazewell County. Hunters took 1,548 deer in Tazewell County in 2025-26, against 1,598 in 2024-25.
| County | Mackinaw River acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tazewell County | 1,490 | 1,548 | 1,598 | 1,398 |
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 Mackinaw River?
Nearest towns: Heritage Lake (next to it), Mackinaw (2 miles), Armington (2 miles) and Deer Creek (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-74, IL 9, US 150, US 136 and IL 122.
What other public land is near Mackinaw River?
Public land within 3 miles of Mackinaw River
Counting Mackinaw River itself, 1,626 of the 54,400 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (3%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,490 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 78 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 31 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 27 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Mackinaw River?
In Tazewell County, next to Heritage Lake.
Can you deer hunt on Mackinaw River?
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 Mackinaw River?
1,626 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Mackinaw River included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
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.