Washington County State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 888 acres of Washington County State Recreation Area open to hunting in Washington County, 4 miles from Nashville. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 2,439 deer in Washington 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 landWashington County State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 888 acres |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Deer harvest unit | Washington 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 recreation area |
| IDNR region | 4 |
| Nearest towns | Nashville (4 mi), Oakdale (7 mi) and Du Bois (8 mi) |
What is Washington County State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 10 hunting areas: Dove field 23, Main Park, Dove field 25, Dove field 26, Dove field 27, Dove field 28, Dove field 22, Dove field 29, Dove field 30, Dove field 31.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Washington County State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail and woodcock for Washington County State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Washington County State Recreation Area?
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.
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 Washington County State Recreation Area?
Washington County State Recreation Area lies in Washington County. Hunters took 2,439 deer in Washington County in 2025-26, against 2,274 in 2024-25.
| County | Washington County State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 888 | 2,439 | 2,274 | 1,860 |
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 Washington County State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Nashville (4 miles), Oakdale (7 miles), Du Bois (8 miles) and Radom (8 miles). Highways within 5 miles: IL 127 and IL 15.
What other public land is near Washington County State Recreation Area?
Public land within 3 miles of Washington County State Recreation Area
Counting Washington County State Recreation Area itself, 1,476 of the 32,824 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (4.5%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 888 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 588 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Washington County State Recreation Area?
In Washington County, 4 miles from Nashville.
Can you deer hunt on Washington County State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Washington County State Recreation Area?
1,476 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Washington County State Recreation Area 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.