Clinton County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Clinton County covers 503 square miles around Carlyle. Hunters took 1,748 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,803 (2024). That is down 3% from 2024. 1.1% of Clinton County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (2,483 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 landClinton CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 322,016 acres (503 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,748 (ten-year average 1,381) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,803 in 2024 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 1.1% (3,505 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (2,483 acres inside Clinton County) |
| Towns in and near it | Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, New Baden, Keyesport and Central City |
How many deer are harvested in Clinton County?
Hunters took 1,748 deer in Clinton County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 1,381. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 2,250 and its muzzleloader quota 300.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,748 | 1,381 | 2,250 / 2,250 | 300 / 300 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,803 | 1,315 | 2,248 / 2,250 | 270 / 300 | No |
| 2023-24 | 1,557 | 1,234 | 1,950 / 1,950 | 273 / 300 | No |
| 2022-23 | 1,544 | 1,178 | 1,944 / 1,950 | 205 / 240 | No |
| 2021-22 | 1,268 | 1,144 | 1,800 / 1,800 | 180 / 180 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Clinton County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Clinton County?
3,505 of Clinton County's 322,016 acres are public land open to the public (1.1%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 2,483 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Clinton County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,483 | 0.8% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 410 | 0.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 346 | 0.1% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 266 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 3,505 | 1.1% |
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 Clinton County
IDNR hunting sites in Clinton County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area: 2,086 acres
- Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: 397 acres
How do you get to Clinton County?
Highways through it: US 50 (about 35 miles inside), IL 161 (about 31 miles inside), IL 160 (about 17 miles inside), IL 127 (about 16 miles inside) and I-64 (about 15 miles inside). Towns inside: Carlyle, Breese, Trenton, Aviston, Germantown and Albers. Nearby: New Baden (on the line), Keyesport (on the line), Central City (on the line) and Junction City (on the line).
Which counties border Clinton County?
Clinton County touches 6 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond County | 1,490 | 2025 | 0.1% |
| Marion County | 3,885 | 2025 | 1.1% |
| Fayette County | 4,025 | 2025 | 2% |
| Madison County | 2,051 | 2025 | 2.8% |
| St. Clair County | 1,928 | 2025 | 4.2% |
| Washington County | 2,439 | 2025 | 0.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Clinton County in 2025-26?
1,748, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,803. The county record is 1,803, set in 2024.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Clinton County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Clinton County?
3,505 acres, 1.1% 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 (2,483 acres). IDNR's records show 2 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 Bond County Marion County Fayette County Madison County St. Clair County Washington County