Jo Daviess County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Jo Daviess County covers 619 square miles around Galena. Hunters took 2,698 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 4,364 (2012). That is up 1% from 2024, and the most in the 5 years shown. 6.7% of Jo Daviess County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (15,292 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 landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landJo Daviess CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 395,847 acres (619 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 2,698 (ten-year average 2,985) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 4,364 in 2012 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 6.7% (26,382 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 8 (15,292 acres inside Jo Daviess County) |
| Towns in and near it | Galena, East Dubuque, Menominee, Pearl City, Lena and Winslow |
How many deer are harvested in Jo Daviess County?
Hunters took 2,698 deer in Jo Daviess County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 2,985. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 7,000 and its muzzleloader quota 1,300. 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 | 2,698 | 2,985 | 4,907 / 7,000 | 489 / 1,300 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 2,675 | 3,082 | 4,925 / 7,000 | 489 / 1,300 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 2,684 | 3,191 | 4,965 / 7,000 | 539 / 1,300 | Yes |
| 2022-23 | 2,649 | 3,278 | 4,936 / 7,000 | 586 / 1,300 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | 2,589 | 3,450 | 5,310 / 7,000 | 601 / 1,300 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Jo Daviess County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Jo Daviess County?
26,382 of Jo Daviess County's 395,847 acres are public land open to the public (6.7%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 15,292 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Jo Daviess County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 15,292 | 3.9% |
| Federal land, mostly Corps of Engineers lakes | 6,937 | 1.8% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,379 | 0.3% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,371 | 0.3% |
| National wildlife refuges | 736 | 0.2% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 667 | 0.2% |
| All public land open to the public | 26,382 | 6.7% |
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 Jo Daviess County
IDNR hunting sites in Jo Daviess County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Lost Mound Unit: 10,886 acres
- Apple River Canyon State Park: 1,731 acres
- Iris and Jack Witkowsky State Fish and Wildlife Area: 1,133 acres
- Hanover Bluff State Natural Area: 493 acres
- Ward's Grove State Natural Area: 334 acres
- Rall Woods State Natural Area: 280 acres
- Tapley Woods State Natural Area: 267 acres
- Primm's Pond State Natural Area: 168 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife And Fish Refuge (8,953 acres) and Ms Rv Pools 11-22 Recreation Area (7,080 acres).
How do you get to Jo Daviess County?
Highways through it: US 20 (about 56 miles inside), IL 84 (about 48 miles inside), IL 78 (about 25 miles inside) and IL 35 (about 3 miles inside). Towns inside: Galena, East Dubuque, Menominee, Stockton, Hanover and Warren. Nearby: Pearl City (5 miles), Lena (5 miles), Winslow (7 miles) and Mount Carroll (7 miles).
Which counties border Jo Daviess County?
Jo Daviess County touches 2 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 1,282 | 2025 | 5.6% |
| Stephenson County | 1,133 | 2025 | 0.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Jo Daviess County in 2025-26?
2,698, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 2,675. The county record is 4,364, set in 2012.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Jo Daviess 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 Jo Daviess County?
26,382 acres, 6.7% 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 (15,292 acres). IDNR's records show 8 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.