Hunting Ground in Pope County
Pope County is some of the wildest ground in Illinois. Surrounded on three sides by the Shawnee National Forest and the Ohio River, the private ground here is premium deer habitat. Bucks that live in this terrain are rarely pressured and grow accordingly.
The terrain here — Shawnee National Forest, Ohio River bluffs, and rugged hollow country — gives deer everything they need to thrive when the habitat is managed right. We work with landowners throughout Pope County to build food plots, establish bedding structure, develop water, and create access systems that let you hunt the property without burning it out.
What We Do in Pope County
Every habitat improvement we offer is available to Pope County landowners. We're based in Benton, IL and run throughout Southern Illinois — we know the terrain, the soil, and what it takes to build a program that produces deer.
Food Plot Installation
Clearing, lime prep, planting, and maintenance — full food plot program executed for you.
Learn more →Access Trail Creation
Trails designed around your stand locations and cut clean without blowing deer out of the area.
Learn more →Hinge Cuts & TSI
Strategic timber work to create bedding cover, funnels, and habitat structure that holds deer.
Learn more →Hunting Blind Placement
Large box blinds placed with skid steer or tractor — right spot, right height, set up right.
Learn more →Bedding Enhancement
Create the sanctuary deer need to live on your property instead of just passing through.
Learn more →Pond & Water Development
Small ponds and water holes that give deer a reason to stay on your property year-round.
Learn more →Turnkey Management for Absentee Landowners
A growing number of Pope County properties are owned by people who live in St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, or elsewhere. They bought the ground for the hunting — and the investment — but they can't be here every month to run the program. We handle it for them.
We execute food plot maintenance, mowing schedules, hinge work, and property upkeep on your behalf while you're away. You set the priorities, we do the work, and you show up for the season opener to a property that looks managed — because it is. Call 618-417-7381 to talk through what your property needs.
Free On-Site Property Evaluation
Every habitat project starts with a walk. We come out to your Pope County property, look at what's there and what's missing, and put together a plan that makes sense for your goals and your budget. Serving Golconda, Eddyville, Herod, Millstone, Glendale and all of Pope County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you manage hunting properties in Pope County, IL?
Yes — Redd Excavation LLC works throughout Pope County and surrounding Southern Illinois counties. We handle food plots, access trails, hinge cuts, bedding enhancement, pond construction, blind placement, and property mowing. We're based in Benton, IL and regularly run crews across the region. Call 618-417-7381 to talk through your property.
What makes Pope County good whitetail habitat?
Pope County is some of the wildest ground in Illinois. Surrounded on three sides by the Shawnee National Forest and the Ohio River, the private ground here is premium deer habitat. Bucks that live in this terrain are rarely pressured and grow accordingly. The right habitat improvements — food plots positioned near bedding, water on the property, trails that don't blow out stand locations — can make a good property a great one.
Can you manage my Pope County property if I live out of state?
Yes — absentee landowner management is a core part of what we do. We execute the program on your behalf while you're away: food plots, mowing schedules, hinge work, whatever the property needs. You show up for the season opener to a property that's been managed all year. Call 618-417-7381 to get started.
Do you build ponds on hunting properties in Pope County?
Yes. A small pond or water hole near bedding or a travel corridor changes how deer use a property — especially in a dry summer when other water sources are gone. Ponds are highly site-specific work; it's not hard to spend $20,000 or more on a small one-acre pond built right. We walk every pond site before we quote it. Call 618-417-7381.
How do I get started with habitat management on my Pope County property?
Call 618-417-7381 and tell us what you've got — acreage, what's on the ground, and what you're trying to accomplish. We'll set up a site visit, walk the property, and put together a plan that fits your goals and your budget. Most absentee landowners start with a one-time improvement project and move into an annual maintenance program from there.