Henderson County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Henderson County covers 395 square miles around Media. Hunters took 1,063 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,247 (2005). That is up 5% from 2024, and the most in the 5 years shown. 3.7% of Henderson County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (4,193 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 wildlife refugesFederal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakesOther IDNR and state landLand trusts and other open landHenderson CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 253,039 acres (395 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,063 (ten-year average 908) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,247 in 2005 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 3.7% (9,251 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (4,193 acres inside Henderson County) |
| Towns in and near it | Media, Oquawka, Gulfport, Dallas City, Pontoosuc and Little York |
How many deer are harvested in Henderson County?
Hunters took 1,063 deer in Henderson County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 908. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 1,400 and its muzzleloader quota 210.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,063 | 908 | 1,400 / 1,400 | 185 / 210 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,015 | 901 | 1,348 / 1,350 | 177 / 210 | No |
| 2023-24 | 952 | 890 | 1,334 / 1,350 | 190 / 210 | No |
| 2022-23 | 893 | 882 | 1,275 / 1,350 | 188 / 210 | No |
| 2021-22 | 860 | 896 | 1,317 / 2,475 | 221 / 235 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Henderson County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Henderson County?
9,251 of Henderson County's 253,039 acres are public land open to the public (3.7%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 4,193 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Henderson County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 4,193 | 1.7% |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 3,004 | 1.2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,577 | 0.6% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 475 | 0.2% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 2 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 9,251 | 3.7% |
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 Henderson County
IDNR hunting sites in Henderson County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Big River State Forest: 2,673 acres
- Henderson Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area: 1,520 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area (3,004 acres).
How do you get to Henderson County?
Highways through it: IL 94 (about 32 miles inside), IL 116 (about 14 miles inside), IL 96 (about 10 miles inside) and US 34 (about 5 miles inside). Towns inside: Media, Oquawka, Gulfport, Lomax, Stronghurst and Gladstone. Nearby: Dallas City (on the line), Pontoosuc (on the line), Little York (2 miles) and Kirkwood (2 miles).
Which counties border Henderson County?
Henderson County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | 1,716 | 2025 | 1.8% |
| Warren County | 954 | 2025 | 0.1% |
| Hancock County | 3,185 | 2025 | 0.5% |
| McDonough County | 1,607 | 2025 | 0.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Henderson County in 2025-26?
1,063, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,015. The county record is 1,247, set in 2005.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Henderson County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Henderson County?
9,251 acres, 3.7% 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 (4,193 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 Mercer County Warren County Hancock County McDonough County