Rock Cut State Park: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,693 acres of Rock Cut State Park open to hunting in Winnebago County, next to Loves Park. Deer firearm: hunts for disabled hunters. Hunters took 997 deer in Winnebago 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 landRock Cut State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,693 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winnebago County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer and Turkey |
| Deer, firearm (IDNR) | hunts for disabled hunters |
| Turkey, fall firearm (IDNR) | hunts for disabled hunters |
| Site type (IDNR) | state park |
| IDNR region | 1 |
| Nearest towns | Loves Park (next to it), Argyle (next to it) and Machesney Park (next to it) |
What is Rock Cut State Park like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 2 hunting areas: West, East.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Rock Cut State Park?
IDNR's records list deer (firearm) and turkey (fall firearm) for Rock Cut State Park.
What are the rules on Rock Cut State Park?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: hunts for disabled hunters for deer firearm and turkey fall firearm.
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 Rock Cut State Park?
Rock Cut State Park lies in Winnebago County. Hunters took 997 deer in Winnebago County in 2025-26, against 957 in 2024-25.
| County | Rock Cut State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 2,693 | 997 | 957 | 865 |
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 Rock Cut State Park?
Nearest towns: Loves Park (next to it), Argyle (next to it), Machesney Park (next to it) and Caledonia (3 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 51, I-39, I-90, IL 251 and IL 173.
What other public land is near Rock Cut State Park?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Rockton Bog State Natural Area: 151 acres, 9.7 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Rock Cut State Park
Counting Rock Cut State Park itself, 4,293 of the 38,162 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (11.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,693 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 1,179 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 421 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Rock Cut State Park?
In Winnebago County, next to Loves Park.
Can you deer hunt on Rock Cut State Park?
By IDNR's records: firearm, hunts for disabled hunters.
How much public land is around Rock Cut State Park?
4,293 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Rock Cut State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Rockton Bog State Natural Area (9.7 miles).
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.