Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area: hunting and access
IDNR's records mark 1,597 acres of Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area open to hunting in Franklin and Jefferson counties, next to Ina. Deer archery: open at the site. Hunters took 2,638 deer in Franklin 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 landWayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation AreaCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 1,597 acres in 3 pieces |
|---|---|
| Counties | Franklin County and Jefferson County |
| Deer harvest unit | Franklin County, Jefferson County |
| IDNR lists for hunting | Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Woodcock and Pheasant |
| Deer, archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Turkey, spring (IDNR) | site permit from the site office |
| Turkey, fall archery (IDNR) | open at the site |
| Site type (IDNR) | state recreation area |
| IDNR region | 5 |
| Nearest towns | Ina (next to it), Nason (3 mi) and Ewing (3 mi) |
What is Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area like?
IDNR's records divide the site into 4 hunting areas: Main Park, 16, 6 & 7, 5.
From IDNR's land records.
What can you hunt on Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
IDNR's records list deer (archery), turkey (spring and fall archery), squirrel, woodcock and controlled pheasant for Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area.
What are the rules on Wayne Fitzgerrell 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; site permit from the site office 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 Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area lies in 2 counties. Hunters took 2,638 deer in Franklin County in 2025-26, against 2,778 in 2024-25.
| County | Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 1,172 | 2,638 | 2,778 | 2,634 |
| Jefferson County | 425 | 5,124 | 4,834 | 4,247 |
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 Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
Nearest towns: Ina (next to it), Nason (3 miles), Ewing (3 miles) and Bonnie (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-57, IL 37 and IL 154.
What other public land is near Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
IDNR hunting sites within 10 miles:
- Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: 9,373 acres, 1.2 miles away
- Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center: 653 acres, 6.2 miles away
- Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area: 6,979 acres, 8.1 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
Counting Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area itself, 6,666 of the 38,739 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (17.2%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 3,125 |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 2,450 |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,084 |
| Other IDNR and state land | 7 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
In Franklin and Jefferson counties, next to Ina.
Can you deer hunt on Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
By IDNR's records: archery, open at the site.
How much public land is around Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area?
6,666 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records. The closest other IDNR hunting site is Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife 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.