Stephen A. Forbes State Park: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 2,279 acres of Stephen A. Forbes State Park open to hunting in Marion County, 4 miles from Kinmundy. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 3,885 deer in Marion 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 landStephen A. Forbes State ParkCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 2,279 acres in 5 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Deer harvest unit | Marion County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, 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 |
| Site type (IDNR) | state park |
| IDNR region | 5 |
| Nearest towns | Kinmundy (4 mi), Farina (5 mi) and Iuka (6 mi) |
What is Stephen A. Forbes State Park like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 2 hunting areas: Forbes Lake, Main Park.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring and fall archery), rabbit, dove, quail, pheasant, woodcock and waterfowl (walk-in) for Stephen A. Forbes State Park.
What are the rules on Stephen A. Forbes 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: Also known as Marion County Lake.
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 Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
Stephen A. Forbes State Park lies in Marion County. Hunters took 3,885 deer in Marion County in 2025-26, against 3,832 in 2024-25.
| County | Stephen A. Forbes State Park acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 2,279 | 3,885 | 3,832 | 3,517 |
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 Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
Nearest towns: Kinmundy (4 miles), Farina (5 miles), Iuka (6 miles) and Alma (7 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-57 and IL 37.
What other public land is near Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Prairie Ridge-Marion State Natural Area: 213 acres, 4.2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Stephen A. Forbes State Park
Counting Stephen A. Forbes State Park itself, 3,251 of the 40,201 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (8.1%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,279 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 972 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
In Marion County, 4 miles from Kinmundy.
Can you deer hunt on Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Stephen A. Forbes State Park?
3,251 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Stephen A. Forbes State Park included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Prairie Ridge-Marion State Natural Area (4.2 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.