Southern Illinois is one of the best whitetail deer hunting destinations in the country, and Shawnee Trails Lodging puts you right in the middle of it. Our cabin rentals in Goreville, Illinois sit at the edge of Shawnee National Forest — surrounded by thousands of acres of prime hunting habitat including public land, state parks, and wildlife management areas.
Why Hunters Keep Coming Back
Illinois consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for whitetail deer, and Southern Illinois produces some of the biggest bucks in the state. Between the dense hardwood forests, agricultural edges, and creek bottoms throughout the Shawnee region, the habitat here is built for trophy-class deer. Boone and Crockett has ranked Illinois second in the nation for whitetail entries — and a huge percentage of those come from the southern counties.
But it’s not just deer. Southern Illinois offers outstanding turkey hunting in the spring, along with good populations of squirrel, quail, and rabbit throughout the Shawnee National Forest and surrounding public land.
Over the years, our cabins have become a go-to base camp for hunting parties during firearm, archery, and muzzleloader seasons. Hunters appreciate the space, the quiet, and the fact that you can walk out the back door and practically be in the woods.
Cabins Built for Hunters
Our deluxe duplex cabins are the most popular option for hunting groups. Each one sleeps up to six guests with a generous living area, two full bathrooms, a full kitchen, high-speed WiFi, and a TV. After a cold morning in the stand, there’s nothing better than coming back to a warm cabin, cooking a real meal, and watching the game while you swap stories about what you saw.
The standard duplex cabins work well for smaller hunting parties of two to three. And if you’ve got a bigger crew, the family cottage sleeps eight or more with a full two-story layout and all the amenities.
Every cabin has free parking right outside — plenty of room for trucks and trailers. We’re also pet friendly for hunters bringing their bird dogs.
Prime Hunting Areas Near Our Cabins
One of the biggest advantages of staying with us is the sheer amount of huntable land nearby:
- Ferne Clyffe State Park — literally adjacent to our property (0.08 miles). The park’s 1,750 acres of forested habitat support healthy populations of deer and squirrel, with fair quail and rabbit numbers.
- Shawnee National Forest — 289,000 acres of public land with designated hunting areas throughout. Our cabins are centrally located within the forest, giving you access to multiple areas without long drives.
- Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge — 16 miles north. Over 44,000 acres with managed deer hunts and excellent waterfowl opportunities.
- Trail of Tears State Forest — 26 miles. Over 5,000 acres of rugged terrain popular with archery hunters.
- Panther Den Wilderness — 8.9 miles. Remote and lightly pressured.
- Giant City State Park — 20 miles. Permit-based deer hunts in a scenic setting.
Illinois Hunting Seasons
Southern Illinois hunting seasons generally run as follows (always verify current dates with the Illinois DNR before your trip):
- Archery Deer: October 1 – January (extended in some zones)
- Firearm Deer: Typically three days in mid-November, plus a second season in early December
- Muzzleloader Deer: December
- Fall Turkey: October – November (select counties)
- Spring Turkey: April – May
- Squirrel: August 1 – February
Plan Your Hunting Trip
Whether you’re coming down for opening weekend of firearm season or spending a full week in the timber during archery, our cabins are the perfect base camp. Call us at 405-888-0997 to reserve your dates or book online. Hunting season weekends fill up fast — especially November and December — so plan ahead.