I have hunted Starved Rock a fair amount over the past few years. As you probably know, a Starved Rock permit is also good for Matthiesen, Sandy Ford, and Mitchell's Grove. Starved Rock and Matthiesen are a little different than most public land sites, as they are spread out along the Illinois and Vermillion Rivers, respectively. They are both relatively long and narrow, with lots of parking lots, so there's not a lot of areas where you can go to get away from the parking lots. But, the park regulates the number of hunters allowed out in each lot (about 3-5 for most lots), so while you will see other hunters, it won't be terribly crowded. This complicates things a bit though, as if you show up late (i.e., right before 5 a.m.), the lot you want may be full -- so it behooves you to have a few options just in case (and also to get there early -- first time I was there, I went in blind, picked lot 26 based on internet scouting, and, as it turns out, there is a huge ravine right behind 26). Several areas contain what they call "canyons," which are basically steep ravines, which can limit access a bit. This is especially true of the eastern side (from the lodge) of Starved Rock, but also elsewhere. (Every now and then, someone falls into a canyon, so don't go wandering around before sun-up in an area where you have not scouted).
Starved Rock is not the hardest tag to draw in the area (I've pulled it as a second choice before). And, after the first couple days, you can usually walk on (though it may limit your choice of parking lots), so you should be able to get back on second season if you care to. You definitely need to do some scouting and get familiar with a few areas.
Sandy Ford and Mitchell's Grove are a little awkward -- about 200 acres each. SF has rough terrain, though if you get past it, might be interesting (you can also hunt squirrels there in August & September, so makes for a fun scouting trip. MG is a long walk though a narrow access corridor.
If you have any more specific questions, feel free to PM.