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Rock Cut State Park: What Hunters Need to Know
State park in Winnebago County (2,570 acres; 7 open seasons).
Hunting gear
Photo: chumlee10 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Rock Cut State Park
Parking, trailheads and gates near Rock Cut State Park
- Parking areaParking · 0.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.6 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Bay ViewTrailhead · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat RampTrailhead · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- F33Trailhead · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Rock Cut State Park: owner, acreage and counties
Rock Cut State Park is a state park under IDNR. Seasons and site rules here are read from its Hunt Illinois fact sheet, one of 72 such sheets for state parks and recreation areas. The listed size is 2,570 acres (Hunt Illinois fact sheet). On a county map it falls in Winnebago County (Northwest region of IDNR). The IDNR wildlife district around Winnebago County is the Eddington district, with biologist Brodie Eddington.
IDNR describes the ground this way: A mix of hardwood forest and grasslands surrounding two lakes. Office details: 7318 Harlem Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111 Phone 815-979-1237. The fact sheet names campground, boat ramp and trails.
IDNRManager
2,570Acres
WinnebagoCounty
NorthwestIDNR region
7 of 18Seasons open here
Yes, lotterySite permit
151Hunter trips
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Rock Cut State Park
Entry rules for hunting Rock Cut State Park
The statewide rules below apply on Rock Cut State Park too, unless the fact sheet says otherwise.
| State rule | Short form |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer clothing | 400 square inches orange |
| Ground blinds, firearm season | 400 square inches orange |
| Hunter safety card | Born on or after 1980 |
| Habitat stamp | Required to hunt |
| Baiting or feeding deer | Illegal |
| Sunday hunting | Not stated in sources |
Digest rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); orange rule at IDNR hunter orange page; baiting at IDNR baiting page; Sunday rule: IDNR Sunday page. Site rules from the record source. Checked November 13, 2026.
Which seasons Rock Cut State Park offers
The availability grid for Rock Cut State Park shows 7 open and 11 not offered. Counting by category gives 3 upland and small game, 2 deer, 1 turkey and 1 furbearers. The site does not offer late winter antlerless, muzzleloader, special cwd, youth firearm and fall archery or 6 other lines.
| Kind | Season | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Open here |
| Deer | Firearm | Open here |
| Deer | Late Winter Antlerless | Not offered |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Not offered |
| Deer | Special CWD | Not offered |
| Deer | Youth Firearm | Not offered |
| Turkey | Fall Archery | Not offered |
| Turkey | Fall Shotgun | Open here |
| Turkey | Spring | Not offered |
| Turkey | Youth Spring | Not offered |
| Waterfowl | Waterfowl (all) | Not offered |
| Upland and small game | Dove | Not offered |
| Upland and small game | Rabbits | Open here |
| Upland and small game | Squirrels | Open here |
| Upland and small game | Upland Birds | Open here |
| Upland and small game | Woodcock | Not offered |
| Furbearers | Hunting | Not offered |
| Furbearers | Trapping | Open here |
Site notes attached to the open seasons at Rock Cut State Park:
- Archery: Due to this site being located in a CWD-positive county, it is recommended that successful deer hunters have their deer tested for CWD. See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels.
- Firearm: Due to this site being located in a CWD-positive county, it is recommended that successful deer hunters have their deer tested for CWD. See here for CWD sampling vendors & barrels. Firearm deer hunting for disabled individuals and their hunting partners is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday prior to the first statewide firearm deer season. Contact the site for more information.
- Fall Shotgun: Fall shotgun turkey hunting for disabled individuals and their hunting partners is on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday prior to the first statewide firearm deer season. Contact the site for more information. 40 sites available.
- Rabbits: Hunting dates are the Monday after the first firearm season to the end of the Statewide Deer archery season (no hunting during second firearm season) Hunting is allowed every day of the week from 8 am to 5 pm. Hunting is allowed in the unit east of I90 (see map) Hunters will be required to sign in and out of the mailbox kiosk. Only 3 hunters are allowed in the unit at a time.
- Trapping: A site-specific permit is required. For permit information, please contact the park office at 815-885-3311 or visit the office at 7318 Harlem Road, Loves Park, IL 61111
Availability and exceptions from the IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheet (record source); statewide dates in the Digest; checked November 13, 2026.
How permits work at Rock Cut State Park
What the fact sheet says about permits and drawings at Rock Cut State Park:
- Deer – Firearm: Site drawn lottery and blind assignment are done prior to the hunt.
- Deer – Firearm: Pre-selected hunters and partners will be required to purchase site-specific permits (valid for the site's season) for $25.00.
- Turkey – Fall Shotgun: Site drawn lottery and blind assignment are done prior to the hunt.
- Turkey – Fall Shotgun: Pre-selected hunters and partners will be required to purchase site-specific permits for $25.00 (valid for site's season).
- Turkey – Fall Shotgun: Only hunters with disabilities possessing a valid P2A disability card are eligible to purchase any additional site-specific turkey permits for $15.00.
Do not confuse the county deer lottery with site permits: the lottery page covers the county system, and the site terms above cover this ground. Lottery rounds explained.
Quota basis from the record source; lottery rounds from the IDNR lottery page; checked November 13, 2026.
How much game Rock Cut State Park gave up in 2025-26
The 2025-26 Public Hunting Areas Report counts 151 hunter trips to Rock Cut State Park. Only 126 of 218 reported areas drew more trips. Reported harvest was 44 animals, the largest group being firearm deer at 18. That works out to about 3 trips for each animal reported. The combined deer figure of 20 is 104th in the 218-area table.
| Group | Harvest count |
|---|---|
| Archery deer | 2 |
| Firearm deer | 18 |
| Fall turkey (archery) | 1 |
| Squirrel | 15 |
| Rabbit | 8 |
IDNR Public Hunting Areas Report 2025-26 (report PDF), row Rock Cut; ranks are counted across the 218 areas with a report. Checked November 13, 2026.
What Winnebago County allows near Rock Cut State Park
For Rock Cut State Park the county rules are those of Winnebago County, tabulated below. A confirmed CWD finding in Winnebago County means extra rules apply.
| County | Gun deer | Permits left | CWD status | Turkey zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago | Open | 1,758 | Confirmed | North |
The county guide has seasons, lotteries and nearby ground: Winnebago County.
County rules from the Digest, IDNR CWD counties and the leftover permit list (IDNR permit page); checked November 13, 2026.
Winnebago County season windows near Rock Cut State Park
Duck, goose and upland rows show the zone name because IDNR draws those zones along roads, not county lines; find which side of the line Winnebago County sits on first.
| Game | Season | Paperwork | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Firearm | Deer permit | Youth counties | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – first season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – second season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 3, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 11, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Special CWD | CWD permit | CWD counties | Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Archery turkey permit | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall shotgun | Turkey permit | Map counties | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey permit | Statewide | Mar 27, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 1 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 12, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 2 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 22, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 3 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 23, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 4 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 29, 2027 | May 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 5 | Turkey permit | North Zone | May 6, 2027 | May 13, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Eastern cottontail and swamp rabbit | Rabbit | License | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray and fox squirrel | Squirrel | License | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Waterfowl stamps | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | North and Central Zones | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Conservation Order | HIP and license | North Zone | Jan 27, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Conservation Order | HIP and license | Central and South Zones | Feb 1, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | HIP and license | All zones | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Rails (sora and Virginia) | Rails | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wilson's snipe | Snipe | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 9, 2027 | |
| American woodcock | Woodcock | HIP and license | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| American crow | Crow | License | Statewide | Oct 28, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | License | Statewide (except closed zone) | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck (groundhog) | Hunting | License | Statewide | Jun 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Closest public hunting land to Rock Cut State Park
Rockton Bog SNA lies 11 miles northwest, the closest alternative to Rock Cut State Park. Around it on the map: 2 state parks, 1 natural area and 1 fish and wildlife area.
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockton Bog SNA | Natural area | 156 | Winnebago | 11 miles | northwest |
| Kishwaukee River SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 484 | DeKalb | 19 miles | south |
| Lowden Memorial State Park | State park | 80 | Ogle | 28 miles | southwest |
| Hackmatack NWR | National refuge | 569 | McHenry | 31 miles | east |
| Castle Rock State Park | State park | 1,620 | Ogle | 32 miles | southwest |
| Lowden-Miller State Forest | State forest | 2,225 | Ogle | 33 miles | southwest |
Point: Hunt Illinois fact sheet "Site coordinates". Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Closed places near Rock Cut State Park
3 closed places sit near Rock Cut State Park; the table names them.
| Off limits | Kind | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlem HIlls | Natural area | 2 miles | Winnebago |
| Crow's Foot | Fish and wildlife area | 17 miles | Boone |
| Kilbuck Creek | Habitat area | 25 miles | Ogle |
Closed rows are IDNR sites with no Hunt Illinois fact sheet and no hunting flag on the land-use layer; see the full closed list. Checked November 13, 2026.
Nearest towns and an IDNR site for Rock Cut State Park
The handiest town is Loves Park, about 1 mile from Rock Cut State Park. Rockford, 8 miles out, is bigger: 147,486 people (2024). Base towns within ten miles: Belvidere, Loves Park and Rockford. Rock Cut Handicapped in Caledonia is the nearest IDNR site, 1 mile out.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loves Park | Winnebago | 23,636 | 1 mile | south |
| Rockford | Winnebago | 147,486 | 8 miles | southwest |
| Belvidere | Boone | 25,325 | 8 miles | southeast |
| Woodstock | McHenry | 25,892 | 29 miles | east |
| Hebron | McHenry | 1,396 | 29 miles | east |
Rock Cut Handicapped IDNR site
Bullet Stop Gun shop sporting goods
Obsession Archery sporting goods
Non Typical Taxidermy taxidermy
Smokehouse Venison Processing meat processing
Upland Hunt Club Inc guide or outfitter
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); IDNR sites from the CWD sampling list and the IDNR contact page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 13, 2026.
First and last light at Rock Cut State Park on season dates
Hunters in Rock Cut State Park must be done by 1 p.m. in the spring turkey season, even though deer hunters keep shooting light until after dark.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Antlered or not | Blind hours | Spring hunt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:51 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:01 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:36 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:52 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:15 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:24 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:25 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:21 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 13, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Dates on or near Rock Cut State Park
1 date ahead around this ground on November 13, 2026, starting with Northern Illinois Thundering Toms NWTF Banquet. Tickets for the 1 banquet night come from each chapter.
| On | Listing | Miles off | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 6, 2027 | Northern Illinois Thundering Toms NWTF Banquet listing type NWTF banquet | 8 | 7910 Newburg Rd | Tickets | Source |
Rock Cut State Park: ranges within a drive
Leo's Guns and Range, 2 miles from Rock Cut State Park, heads the three nearest range cards.
From the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Four picks for the Rock Cut State Park pack
Each button opens a fresh Amazon search, so you see current prices.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Hang-on stand
Cornfield edges give little cover, so most hunters climb into a hardwood draw.
A wild turkey hen leading her poults across a lawn in Winnebago CountyPhoto: chumlee10 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Wild turkey in the grassPhoto: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Rock Cut State Park: questions and answers
Do hunters need anything beyond a license at Rock Cut State Park?
The data marks Rock Cut State Park as a quota hunt. Deer – Firearm: Site drawn lottery and blind assignment are done prior to the hunt. Lottery guide.
What kinds of hunting happen at Rock Cut State Park?
The managers name deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, upland birds and trapping. Check the species pages for limits.
Which seasons are open at Rock Cut State Park?
You can hunt 7 of the 18 season lines here. Deer: archery and firearm. Turkey: fall shotgun. See the table.
Where does Rock Cut State Park lie, and how large is it?
You will find it in Winnebago County; the listed size is 2,570 acres. IDNR region: Northwest.
Who manages Rock Cut State Park, and who do I call?
IDNR is the managing agency. Phone 815-979-1237. Address: 7318 Harlem Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111. Official page.
Does IDNR publish harvest numbers for Rock Cut State Park?
The 2025-26 area report lists 151 hunter trips and 44 animals reported. It ranks 127th of 218 areas by trips.
What town should I use as a base for Rock Cut State Park?
Straight-line, Loves Park is the nearest at 1 mile. Next: Rockford (8 miles) and Belvidere (8 miles). Loves Park hunting page.
Is hunter orange required at Rock Cut State Park?
Wear a blaze orange or pink cap and an outer garment with 400 square inches of solid orange or pink in firearm deer seasons. IDNR land adds a rule for ground blinds. Source.
How do deer permits work in Winnebago County?
Deer rules follow the county: Winnebago County is open to firearm deer, and chronic wasting disease is confirmed there. Leftover either-sex firearm permits after round 3: 1,758. Winnebago County page.
What does the Digest say about Sunday hunting at Rock Cut State Park?
Sunday hunting is not addressed in the sources read; confirm with IDNR. IDNR page.
Do any closed areas sit next to Rock Cut State Park?
Not all of it: 3 nearby sites are closed, including Harlem HIlls. Check the closed table above.
Until what time can I hunt at Rock Cut State Park?
Hours by game: deer half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, spring turkey until 1 pm, regular waterfowl until sunset. Site rules can be tighter. Hours for every county.
The last things to check for Rock Cut State Park
Look up weather, flooding and road closures affecting Rock Cut State Park before you set off.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest. Checked November 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: chumlee10 (CC BY-SA 2.0).