Adams County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Adams County covers 871 square miles around Quincy. Hunters took 4,249 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 5,012 (2005). That is up 8% from 2024, and the most in the 5 years shown. 3% of Adams County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (14,569 acres), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: IDNR's county summaries, 2021-22 to 2025-26. Land: PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's land records.
IDNR sites open to huntingFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther IDNR and state landForest preserves, county and city landAdams CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 557,618 acres (871 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 4,249 (ten-year average 3,840) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 5,012 in 2005 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 3% (16,937 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 4 (14,569 acres inside Adams County) |
| Towns in and near it | Quincy, Camp Point, Payson, Baylis, Mound Station and Bowen |
How many deer are harvested in Adams County?
Hunters took 4,249 deer in Adams County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 3,840. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 6,000 and its muzzleloader quota 650. Chronic wasting disease has been detected in the county.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 4,249 | 3,840 | 6,000 / 6,000 | 650 / 650 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 3,927 | 3,798 | 5,300 / 5,300 | 595 / 595 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 3,765 | 3,756 | 5,300 / 5,300 | 589 / 595 | No |
| 2022-23 | 3,763 | 3,727 | 5,295 / 5,300 | 595 / 595 | No |
| 2021-22 | 3,572 | 3,812 | 5,300 / 5,300 | 589 / 595 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Adams County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Adams County?
16,937 of Adams County's 557,618 acres are public land open to the public (3%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 14,569 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Adams County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 14,569 | 2.6% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 988 | 0.2% |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 837 | 0.2% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 543 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 16,937 | 3% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and IDNR's hunting area records. Hunting rules differ by manager: IDNR sites allow the seasons IDNR lists for each, some by permit or lottery only; national forest is open; refuges follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules; Corps of Engineers land is open in many places under each project's own rules; forest preserves and city land are closed to most hunting.
IDNR hunting sites in Adams County
IDNR hunting sites in Adams County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Mississippi River Pool #21: 9,297 acres
- Mississippi River Pool #22: 3,340 acres
- Siloam Springs State Park: 1,714 acres
- Fall Creek Scenic Overlook State Natural Area: 218 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area (9,918 acres).
How do you get to Adams County?
Highways through it: IL 110 (about 55 miles inside), IL 104 (about 43 miles inside), I-172 (about 39 miles inside), IL 96 (about 38 miles inside) and US 24 (about 35 miles inside). Towns inside: Quincy, Camp Point, Payson, Clayton, Mendon and Loraine. Nearby: Baylis (2 miles), Mound Station (2 miles), Bowen (3 miles) and Augusta (3 miles).
Which counties border Adams County?
Adams County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pike County | 4,724 | 2025 | 1.6% |
| Brown County | 2,183 | 2025 | 2.5% |
| Hancock County | 3,185 | 2025 | 0.5% |
| Schuyler County | 2,784 | 2025 | 0.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Adams County in 2025-26?
4,249, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 3,927. The county record is 5,012, set in 2005.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Adams County?
Yes, by IDNR's 2025-26 county summary. Counties where CWD is found are usually open to IDNR's CWD deer season; IDNR's deer pages list the counties each year.
Is there public hunting land in Adams County?
16,937 acres, 3% of the county, are public land open to the public by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and IDNR's hunting area records, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (14,569 acres). IDNR's records show 4 sites open to hunting here.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons).
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and IDNR's hunting area records. IDNR hunting sites: IDNR land records: sites and hunting areas (OMLP, Prairie Research Institute).
- Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 cartographic county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Numbers are copied from IDNR and the federal sources above, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Illinois hunting Pike County Brown County Hancock County Schuyler County