Christian County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Christian County covers 716 square miles around Taylorville. Hunters took 1,244 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,337 (2011). That is down 1% from 2024. 1% of Christian County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (3,870 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 huntingOther IDNR and state landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landChristian CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 458,066 acres (716 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,244 (ten-year average 1,169) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,337 in 2011 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 1% (4,661 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 1 (3,870 acres inside Christian County) |
| Towns in and near it | Taylorville, Pana, Morrisonville, Harvel, Moweaqua and Ohlman |
How many deer are harvested in Christian County?
Hunters took 1,244 deer in Christian County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 1,169. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 1,650 and its muzzleloader quota 300.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,244 | 1,169 | 1,650 / 1,650 | 290 / 300 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,252 | 1,158 | 1,500 / 1,500 | 267 / 270 | No |
| 2023-24 | 1,179 | 1,137 | 1,500 / 1,500 | 255 / 270 | No |
| 2022-23 | 1,147 | 1,124 | 1,496 / 1,500 | 269 / 270 | No |
| 2021-22 | 1,130 | 1,127 | 1,550 / 1,550 | 270 / 270 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Christian County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Christian County?
4,661 of Christian County's 458,066 acres are public land open to the public (1%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 3,870 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Christian County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 3,870 | 0.8% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 342 | 0.1% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 336 | 0.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 113 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 4,661 | 1% |
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 Christian County
IDNR hunting sites in Christian County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Sangchris Lake State Park: 3,870 acres
How do you get to Christian County?
Highways through it: IL 29 (about 34 miles inside), US 51 (about 33 miles inside), IL 48 (about 32 miles inside), IL 104 (about 12 miles inside) and IL 16 (about 11 miles inside). Towns inside: Taylorville, Pana, Morrisonville, Mount Auburn, Palmer and Assumption. Nearby: Harvel (on the line), Moweaqua (on the line), Ohlman (on the line) and Blue Mound (on the line).
Which counties border Christian County?
Christian County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | 699 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| Shelby County | 2,769 | 2025 | 1% |
| Sangamon County | 1,743 | 2025 | 0.7% |
| Montgomery County | 2,228 | 2025 | 0.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Christian County in 2025-26?
1,244, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,252. The county record is 1,337, set in 2011.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Christian County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Christian County?
4,661 acres, 1% 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 (3,870 acres). IDNR's records show 1 site 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 Macon County Shelby County Sangamon County Montgomery County