Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,704 acres of Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area open to hunting in Knox County, next to Victoria. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 2,339 deer in Knox 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 landSnakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,704 acres in 4 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Knox County |
| Deer harvest unit | Knox County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Rabbit, Dove, Quail, Pheasant, Woodcock and Waterfowl |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Site type (IDNR) | state fish and wildlife area |
| IDNR region | 1 |
| Nearest towns | Victoria (next to it), Oak Run (3 mi) and Williamsfield (5 mi) |
What is Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 11 hunting areas: Buffalo Prairie, S-3 Dove Field, South, S-1 Dove Field, S-2 Dove Field, S-5 Dove Field, S-4 Dove Field, Center, S-6 Dove Field, Outer and more.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock and waterfowl (blinds) for Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area.
What are the rules on Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
How each season is hunted here, by IDNR's land records: open at the site for deer archery.
IDNR's notes: Also known as Knox County or Snake Den Hollow.
Part of the site is marked as a wildlife refuge in IDNR's records.
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 Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area lies in Knox County. Hunters took 2,339 deer in Knox County in 2025-26, against 2,206 in 2024-25.
| County | Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2,704 | 2,339 | 2,206 | 2,437 |
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 Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
Nearest towns: Victoria (next to it), Oak Run (3 miles), Williamsfield (5 miles) and La Fayette (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 180, IL 167 and IL 17.
What other public land is near Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Victoria State Habitat Area: 244 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Spoon River State Forest: 1,588 acres, 2.5 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area
Counting Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area itself, 3,961 of the 43,703 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (9.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 3,157 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 500 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 304 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
In Knox County, next to Victoria.
Can you deer hunt on Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area?
3,961 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Snakeden Hollow 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 Victoria State Habitat Area (1.2 miles).
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.