Ramsey Lake State Park: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 1,561 acres of Ramsey Lake State Park open to hunting in Fayette County, next to Ramsey. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 4,025 deer in Fayette 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 landRamsey Lake State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,561 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Deer harvest unit | Fayette County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail and Woodcock |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Site type (IDNR) | state park |
| IDNR region | 5 |
| Nearest towns | Ramsey (next to it), Bingham (4 mi) and Oconee (7 mi) |
What is Ramsey Lake State Park like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 9 hunting areas: Area 2, Area 5, Area 4, Area 3, Area 9, Area 6, Area 7, Area 8, Area 1.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Ramsey Lake State Park?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail and woodcock for Ramsey Lake State Park.
What are the rules on Ramsey Lake State Park?
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 turkey spring.
IDNR's notes: Area 5 dove fields. Area 3 dove field.
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 Ramsey Lake State Park?
Ramsey Lake State Park lies in Fayette County. Hunters took 4,025 deer in Fayette County in 2025-26, against 3,700 in 2024-25.
| County | Ramsey Lake State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 1,561 | 4,025 | 3,700 | 3,221 |
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 Ramsey Lake State Park?
Nearest towns: Ramsey (next to it), Bingham (4 miles), Oconee (7 miles) and Fillmore (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51.
What other public land is near Ramsey Lake State Park?
Public land within 3 miles of Ramsey Lake State Park
Counting Ramsey Lake State Park itself, 2,006 of the 33,745 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (5.9%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,561 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 445 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Ramsey Lake State Park?
In Fayette County, next to Ramsey.
Can you deer hunt on Ramsey Lake State Park?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Ramsey Lake State Park?
2,006 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Ramsey Lake State Park 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.