Cook County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Cook County covers 958 square miles around Chicago. Hunters took 149 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 234 (2007). That is up 16% from 2024. 5% of Cook County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (24,942 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 landCook CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 612,815 acres (958 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 149 (ten-year average 143) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 234 in 2007 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 5% (30,552 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 3 (1,186 acres inside Cook County) |
| Towns in and near it | Chicago, Barrington Hills, Orland Park, Burr Ridge, Hanover Park and East Dundee |
How many deer are harvested in Cook County?
Hunters took 149 deer in Cook County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 143. 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 | 149 | 143 | Yes | ||
| 2024-25 | 128 | 141 | Yes | ||
| 2023-24 | 157 | 140 | Yes | ||
| 2022-23 | 156 | 139 | Yes | ||
| 2021-22 | 133 | 140 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Cook County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Cook County?
30,552 of Cook County's 612,815 acres are public land open to the public (5%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 24,942 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Cook County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 24,942 | 4.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 4,210 | 0.7% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,186 | 0.2% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 212 | under 0.1% |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 2 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 30,552 | 5% |
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 Cook County
IDNR hunting sites in Cook County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- William W. Powers State Recreation Area: 506 acres
- Lake Calumet Nature Center: 400 acres
- Heron Woods State Habitat Area: 280 acres
How do you get to Cook County?
Highways through it: I-94 (about 122 miles inside), I-90 (about 121 miles inside), I-294 (about 106 miles inside), US 12 (about 63 miles inside) and US 41 (about 61 miles inside). Towns inside: Chicago, Barrington Hills, Orland Park, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg and Arlington Heights. Nearby: Burr Ridge (on the line), Hanover Park (on the line), East Dundee (on the line) and Hinsdale (on the line).
Which counties border Cook County?
Cook County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kane County | 413 | 2025 | 7.3% |
| Lake County | 319 | 2025 | 14.1% |
| Will County | 1,063 | 2025 | 9.2% |
| DuPage County | 29 | 2025 | 10.9% |
| McHenry County | 1,139 | 2025 | 5.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Cook County in 2025-26?
149, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 128. The county record is 234, set in 2007.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Cook 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 Cook County?
30,552 acres, 5% 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 forest preserves, county and city land (24,942 acres). IDNR's records show 3 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 Kane County Lake County Will County DuPage County McHenry County