I have never seen an Illinois public site (and I have looked at quite a few) that would allow anything bigger than a .22 rimfire rifle, and a lot of them that permit rimfires only allow them after dark. Maybe there's something way down state in less populace areas. A shotgun would work, however (Silver Springs near Plano is shotgun only for coyotes). I suspect if you want to use your rifle, you're limited to private land.