Forests dominated by oaks comprise the largest type of commercial hardwood forest land in the United States. Collectively the red and white oaks comprise 38 percent of the total hardwood sawtimber volume in the United States. Oak wood is strong, hard, and tough. It has good working characteristics and is used extensively for furniture, flooring, paneling, ties, and cooperage. Grazing on Federal land in this region is minimal.
Oaks are important to wildlife species for both cover and food.
Young oaks with branches close to the ground provide foliage browse long into the winter months, and often provide the only brushy cover in dense pole stands. Dried oak leaves are important in the winter diet of white-tailed deer in some areas. Acorn production is of primary importance to many birds and mammals. Cavity nesters are an important component of oak-hickory forests. Many animals that depend on Illinois savanna or open woodlands are decreasing in abundance due to forest closure caused by fire exclusion.