DuPage County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
DuPage County covers 336 square miles around Naperville. Hunters took 29 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 152 (1995). That is down 26% from 2024, and the fewest in the 5 years shown. 10.9% of DuPage County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (20,960 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 landDuPage CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 215,286 acres (336 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 29 (ten-year average 37) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 152 in 1995 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 10.9% (23,420 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 1 (42 acres inside DuPage County) |
| Towns in and near it | Naperville, Bartlett, West Chicago, Berkeley, Northlake and Western Springs |
How many deer are harvested in DuPage County?
Hunters took 29 deer in DuPage County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 37. 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 | 29 | 37 | Yes | ||
| 2024-25 | 39 | 38 | Yes | ||
| 2023-24 | 50 | 38 | Yes | ||
| 2022-23 | 34 | 37 | Yes | ||
| 2021-22 | 37 | 37 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), DuPage County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in DuPage County?
23,420 of DuPage County's 215,286 acres are public land open to the public (10.9%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 20,960 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of DuPage County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 20,960 | 9.7% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,418 | 1.1% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 42 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 23,420 | 10.9% |
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 DuPage County
IDNR hunting sites in DuPage County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- James Pate Philip State Park: 42 acres
How do you get to DuPage County?
Highways through it: IL 83 (about 40 miles inside), I-88 (about 39 miles inside), I-355 (about 37 miles inside), IL 59 (about 33 miles inside) and IL 64 (about 31 miles inside). Towns inside: Naperville, Bartlett, West Chicago, Downers Grove, Wheaton and Elmhurst. Nearby: Berkeley (on the line), Northlake (on the line), Western Springs (on the line) and Elk Grove Village (on the line).
Which counties border DuPage County?
DuPage County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | 149 | 2025 | 5% |
| Kane County | 413 | 2025 | 7.3% |
| Will County | 1,063 | 2025 | 9.2% |
| Kendall County | 269 | 2025 | 2.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in DuPage County in 2025-26?
29, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 39. The county record is 152, set in 1995.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in DuPage 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 DuPage County?
23,420 acres, 10.9% 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 (20,960 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 Cook County Kane County Will County Kendall County