Sam Parr State Park: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 962 acres of Sam Parr State Park open to hunting in Jasper County, 2 miles from Newton. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 2,531 deer in Jasper 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 landSam Parr State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 962 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| Deer harvest unit | Jasper County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Pheasant, Woodcock and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Turkey, fall firearm (IDNR) | special hunt permit from Springfield |
| Site type (IDNR) | state park |
| IDNR region | 5 |
| Nearest towns | Newton (2 mi), Willow Hill (5 mi) and Rose Hill (5 mi) |
What is Sam Parr State Park like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 3 hunting areas: Outer, Waterfowl Hunt Unit 1, Campground.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Sam Parr State Park?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring, fall archery and fall firearm), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock and waterfowl (walk-in) for Sam Parr State Park.
What are the rules on Sam Parr 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 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 Sam Parr State Park?
Sam Parr State Park lies in Jasper County. Hunters took 2,531 deer in Jasper County in 2025-26, against 2,253 in 2024-25.
| County | Sam Parr State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | 962 | 2,531 | 2,253 | 2,125 |
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 Sam Parr State Park?
Nearest towns: Newton (2 miles), Willow Hill (5 miles), Rose Hill (5 miles) and Ste. Marie (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 130, IL 33 and IL 49.
What other public land is near Sam Parr State Park?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Prairie Ridge-Jasper State Natural Area: 2,696 acres, 5.4 miles away
- Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: 5,197 acres, 6.8 miles away
- Cecil E. Meeker State Habitat Area: 67 acres, 9.4 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Sam Parr State Park
Counting Sam Parr State Park itself, 1,217 of the 30,369 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 962 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 212 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 43 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Sam Parr State Park?
In Jasper County, 2 miles from Newton.
Can you deer hunt on Sam Parr State Park?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Sam Parr State Park?
1,217 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Sam Parr State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Prairie Ridge-Jasper State Natural Area (5.4 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.