Massac County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Massac County covers 242 square miles around Metropolis. Hunters took 734 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,227 (2007). That is down 12% from 2024, and the fewest in the 5 years shown. 6.1% of Massac County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (3,629 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 landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landMassac CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 155,022 acres (242 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 734 (ten-year average 836) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,227 in 2007 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 6.1% (9,390 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 4 (3,629 acres inside Massac County) |
| Towns in and near it | Metropolis, Brookport, Joppa, Belknap, Karnak and New Grand Chain |
How many deer are harvested in Massac County?
Hunters took 734 deer in Massac County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 836. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 750 and its muzzleloader quota 100.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 734 | 836 | 750 / 750 | 100 / 100 | No |
| 2024-25 | 834 | 867 | 750 / 750 | 100 / 100 | No |
| 2023-24 | 808 | 884 | 750 / 750 | 100 / 100 | No |
| 2022-23 | 795 | 905 | 750 / 750 | 145 / 145 | No |
| 2021-22 | 780 | 940 | 1,000 / 1,000 | 145 / 145 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Massac County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Massac County?
9,390 of Massac County's 155,022 acres are public land open to the public (6.1%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 3,629 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Massac County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 3,629 | 2.3% |
| National forest | 2,793 | 1.8% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 1,676 | 1.1% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,183 | 0.8% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 109 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 9,390 | 6.1% |
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 Massac County
IDNR hunting sites in Massac County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: 1,317 acres
- Fort Massac State Park: 1,265 acres
- Cache River State Natural Area: 653 acres
- Sielbeck Forest: 394 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Shawnee National Forest (2,793 acres).
How do you get to Massac County?
Highways through it: I-24 (about 30 miles inside), US 45 (about 26 miles inside), IL 145 (about 10 miles inside) and IL 169 (about 4 miles inside). Towns inside: Metropolis, Brookport and Joppa. Nearby: Belknap (on the line), Karnak (3 miles), New Grand Chain (5 miles) and Vienna (5 miles).
Which counties border Massac County?
Massac County touches 3 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pope County | 2,070 | 2025 | 39.8% |
| Johnson County | 1,993 | 2025 | 44.7% |
| Pulaski County | 588 | 2025 | 10.4% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Massac County in 2025-26?
734, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 834. The county record is 1,227, set in 2007.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Massac County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Massac County?
9,390 acres, 6.1% 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 (3,629 acres). IDNR's records show 4 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.