Macon County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Macon County covers 586 square miles around Decatur. Hunters took 699 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,025 (2011). That is about the same as 2024. 1.7% of Macon County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (6,182 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 landMacon CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 374,887 acres (586 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 699 (ten-year average 751) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,025 in 2011 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 1.7% (6,513 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | None mapped |
| Towns in and near it | Decatur, Mount Zion, Forsyth, Dalton City, Cerro Gordo and Latham |
How many deer are harvested in Macon County?
Hunters took 699 deer in Macon County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 751. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 600 and its muzzleloader quota 200.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 699 | 751 | 600 / 600 | 200 / 200 | No |
| 2024-25 | 696 | 761 | 600 / 600 | 189 / 200 | No |
| 2023-24 | 715 | 772 | 600 / 600 | 182 / 200 | No |
| 2022-23 | 696 | 784 | 596 / 600 | 180 / 200 | No |
| 2021-22 | 740 | 802 | 600 / 600 | 200 / 200 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Macon County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Macon County?
6,513 of Macon County's 374,887 acres are public land open to the public (1.7%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 6,182 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Macon County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 6,182 | 1.6% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 228 | 0.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 103 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 6,513 | 1.7% |
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.
How do you get to Macon County?
Highways through it: US 51 (about 66 miles inside), I-72 (about 63 miles inside), US 36 (about 43 miles inside), IL 48 (about 40 miles inside) and IL 121 (about 37 miles inside). Towns inside: Decatur, Mount Zion, Forsyth, Long Creek, Harristown and Maroa. Nearby: Dalton City (on the line), Cerro Gordo (on the line), Latham (on the line) and Cisco (on the line).
Which counties border Macon County?
Macon County touches 7 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan County | 855 | 2025 | 0.3% |
| Piatt County | 450 | 2025 | 1.5% |
| Shelby County | 2,769 | 2025 | 1% |
| De Witt County | 1,001 | 2025 | 3.2% |
| Moultrie County | 900 | 2025 | 2.8% |
| Sangamon County | 1,743 | 2025 | 0.7% |
| Christian County | 1,244 | 2025 | 1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Macon County in 2025-26?
699, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 696. The county record is 1,025, set in 2011.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Macon County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Macon County?
6,513 acres, 1.7% 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 forest preserves, county and city land (6,182 acres).
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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 Logan County Piatt County Shelby County De Witt County Moultrie County Sangamon County Christian County