De Witt County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
De Witt County covers 405 square miles around Clinton. Hunters took 1,001 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,108 (2011). That is down 8% from 2024. 3.2% of De Witt County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (8,050 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 landDe Witt CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 259,231 acres (405 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,001 (ten-year average 949) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,108 in 2011 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 3.2% (8,338 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 5 (8,050 acres inside De Witt County) |
| Towns in and near it | Clinton, Farmer City, Wapella, Maroa, Heyworth and De Land |
How many deer are harvested in De Witt County?
Hunters took 1,001 deer in De Witt County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 949. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 1,100 and its muzzleloader quota 240.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,001 | 949 | 1,085 / 1,100 | 223 / 240 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,087 | 942 | 1,042 / 1,050 | 213 / 240 | No |
| 2023-24 | 954 | 917 | 1,022 / 1,050 | 210 / 240 | No |
| 2022-23 | 949 | 912 | 950 / 950 | 229 / 240 | No |
| 2021-22 | 904 | 920 | 950 / 950 | 239 / 240 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), De Witt County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in De Witt County?
8,338 of De Witt County's 259,231 acres are public land open to the public (3.2%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 8,050 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of De Witt County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 8,050 | 3.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 239 | 0.1% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 38 | under 0.1% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 11 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 8,338 | 3.2% |
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 De Witt County
IDNR hunting sites in De Witt County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Clinton Lake State Recreation Area: 6,953 acres
- Weldon Springs State Park: 555 acres
- Finfrock State Habitat Area: 376 acres
- Hallsville State Habitat Area: 84 acres
- Birkbeck State Habitat Area: 82 acres
How do you get to De Witt County?
Highways through it: IL 54 (about 36 miles inside), US 51 (about 36 miles inside), IL 10 (about 29 miles inside), IL 48 (about 12 miles inside) and I-74 (about 10 miles inside). Towns inside: Clinton, Farmer City, Wapella, Waynesville, Kenney and Weldon. Nearby: Maroa (on the line), Heyworth (2 miles), De Land (2 miles) and McLean (2 miles).
Which counties border De Witt County?
De Witt County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan County | 855 | 2025 | 0.3% |
| Macon County | 699 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| Piatt County | 450 | 2025 | 1.5% |
| McLean County | 1,396 | 2025 | 1.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in De Witt County in 2025-26?
1,001, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,087. The county record is 1,108, set in 2011.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in De Witt County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in De Witt County?
8,338 acres, 3.2% 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 (8,050 acres). IDNR's records show 5 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 Logan County Macon County Piatt County McLean County