Gallatin County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Gallatin County covers 328 square miles around New Haven. Hunters took 734 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,091 (2009). That is down 4% from 2024. 5.8% of Gallatin County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (11,569 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 huntingNational forestOther IDNR and state landLand trusts and other open landGallatin CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 209,878 acres (328 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 734 (ten-year average 750) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,091 in 2009 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 5.8% (12,071 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 1 (217 acres inside Gallatin County) |
| Towns in and near it | New Haven, Ridgway, Equality, Eldorado, Norris City and Broughton |
How many deer are harvested in Gallatin County?
Hunters took 734 deer in Gallatin County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 750. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 1,450 and its muzzleloader quota 150.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 734 | 750 | 1,312 / 1,450 | 134 / 150 | No |
| 2024-25 | 765 | 766 | 1,336 / 1,450 | 136 / 150 | No |
| 2023-24 | 737 | 773 | 1,321 / 1,450 | 115 / 125 | No |
| 2022-23 | 797 | 782 | 1,168 / 1,450 | 108 / 125 | No |
| 2021-22 | 677 | 789 | 1,177 / 1,450 | 115 / 125 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Gallatin County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Gallatin County?
12,071 of Gallatin County's 209,878 acres are public land open to the public (5.8%). The biggest share is national forest: 11,569 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Gallatin County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 11,569 | 5.5% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 231 | 0.1% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 217 | 0.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 54 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 12,071 | 5.8% |
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 Gallatin County
IDNR hunting sites in Gallatin County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area: 217 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Shawnee National Forest (11,530 acres).
How do you get to Gallatin County?
Highways through it: IL 1 (about 15 miles inside) and IL 13 (about 3 miles inside). Towns inside: New Haven, Ridgway, Equality, Junction, Omaha and Shawneetown. Nearby: Eldorado (4 miles), Norris City (5 miles), Broughton (5 miles) and Cave-In-Rock (7 miles).
Which counties border Gallatin County?
Gallatin County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| White County | 1,790 | 2025 | 0.4% |
| Hardin County | 902 | 2025 | 25% |
| Saline County | 1,814 | 2025 | 12.3% |
| Hamilton County | 2,671 | 2025 | 1.8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Gallatin County in 2025-26?
734, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 765. The county record is 1,091, set in 2009.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Gallatin County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Gallatin County?
12,071 acres, 5.8% 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 national forest (11,569 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 White County Hardin County Saline County Hamilton County