Momence Wetlands State Natural Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 500 acres of Momence Wetlands State Natural Area open to hunting in Kankakee County, 2 miles from Momence. Deer archery: open at the site. Deer firearm: special hunt permit from Springfield. 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 landMomence Wetlands State Natural AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 500 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Kankakee County |
| Deer harvest unit | Kankakee County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Deer, firearm (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Site type (IDNR) | state natural area |
| IDNR region | 2 |
| Nearest towns | Momence (2 mi), Grant Park (5 mi) and Hopkins Park (6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery and firearm), turkey (spring), squirrel and waterfowl (walk-in) for Momence Wetlands State Natural Area.
What are the rules on Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: open at the site for deer archery; special hunt permit from Springfield for deer firearm 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 Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
Momence Wetlands State Natural Area lies in Kankakee County. Hunters took 749 deer in Kankakee County in 2025-26, against 683 in 2024-25.
| County | Momence Wetlands State Natural Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kankakee County | 500 | 749 | 683 | 585 |
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 Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
Nearest towns: Momence (2 miles), Grant Park (5 miles), Hopkins Park (6 miles) and Sun River Terrace (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 17, IL 114 and IL 1.
What other public land is near Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Momence Wetlands State Natural Area
Counting Momence Wetlands State Natural Area itself, 775 of the 28,229 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (2.7%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 500 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 249 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 26 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
In Kankakee County, 2 miles from Momence.
Can you deer hunt on Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site; firearm, special hunt permit from Springfield.
How much public land is around Momence Wetlands State Natural Area?
775 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Momence Wetlands State Natural Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
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.