DeKalb County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
DeKalb County covers 635 square miles around DeKalb. Hunters took 413 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 659 (2005). That is down 4% from 2024. 1.2% of DeKalb County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (2,612 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 landDeKalb CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 406,199 acres (635 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 413 (ten-year average 355) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 659 in 2005 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 1.2% (5,041 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (1,145 acres inside DeKalb County) |
| Towns in and near it | DeKalb, Sycamore, Sandwich, Lee, Leland and Burlington |
How many deer are harvested in DeKalb County?
Hunters took 413 deer in DeKalb County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 355. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 1,500 and its muzzleloader quota 275. 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 | 413 | 355 | 658 / 1,500 | 50 / 275 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 429 | 346 | 618 / 1,500 | 56 / 275 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 389 | 338 | 664 / 1,500 | 67 / 275 | Yes |
| 2022-23 | 333 | 335 | 599 / 1,500 | 67 / 275 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | 363 | 344 | 592 / 1,500 | 64 / 275 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), DeKalb County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in DeKalb County?
5,041 of DeKalb County's 406,199 acres are public land open to the public (1.2%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 2,612 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of DeKalb County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 2,612 | 0.6% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,146 | 0.3% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,094 | 0.3% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 189 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 5,041 | 1.2% |
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 DeKalb County
IDNR hunting sites in DeKalb County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Shabbona Lake State Park: 744 acres
- Kishwaukee River State Natural Area: 401 acres
How do you get to DeKalb County?
Highways through it: IL 23 (about 40 miles inside), I-88 (about 36 miles inside), IL 72 (about 19 miles inside), US 30 (about 18 miles inside) and IL 38 (about 18 miles inside). Towns inside: DeKalb, Sycamore, Sandwich, Cortland, Genoa and Somonauk. Nearby: Lee (on the line), Leland (on the line), Burlington (on the line) and Creston (2 miles).
Which counties border DeKalb County?
DeKalb County touches 8 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 1,404 | 2025 | 1.3% |
| Kane County | 413 | 2025 | 7.3% |
| Ogle County | 1,620 | 2025 | 1.4% |
| Boone County | 413 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| Kendall County | 269 | 2025 | 2.7% |
| LaSalle County | 1,561 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| McHenry County | 1,139 | 2025 | 5.5% |
| Winnebago County | 997 | 2025 | 5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in DeKalb County in 2025-26?
413, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 429. The county record is 659, set in 2005.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?
5,041 acres, 1.2% 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 forest preserves, county and city land (2,612 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 Lee County Kane County Ogle County Boone County Kendall County LaSalle County McHenry County Winnebago County