Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,665 acres of Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area open to hunting in Vermilion County, 2 miles from Potomac. 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 landLand trusts and other open landMiddle Fork State Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,665 acres in 4 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 fish and wildlife area |
| IDNR region | 3 |
| Nearest towns | Potomac (2 mi), Henning (5 mi) and Oakwood (6 mi) |
What is Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 5 hunting areas: Crockett, North, Middle Fork Vermillion River, Main Park, Vermillion River.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery, firearm and muzzleloader), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock and waterfowl (walk-in) for Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife 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.
IDNR's notes: Dove is non-toxic only. Only canoeing and kayaking allowed for boating. Dove is non-toxic only.
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 Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area lies in Vermilion County. Hunters took 1,938 deer in Vermilion County in 2025-26, against 1,791 in 2024-25.
| County | Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion County | 2,665 | 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 Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Potomac (2 miles), Henning (5 miles), Oakwood (6 miles) and Muncie (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-74, US 136, US 150, IL 49 and IL 150.
What other public land is near Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Kickapoo State Recreation Area: 2,555 acres, next to it
Public land within 3 miles of Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 6,398 of the 50,580 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.6%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 4,795 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 874 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 729 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
In Vermilion County, 2 miles from Potomac.
Can you deer hunt on Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife 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 Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area?
6,398 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Kickapoo State Recreation 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.