McDonough County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
McDonough County covers 590 square miles around Macomb. Hunters took 1,607 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 2,085 (2009). That is down 3% from 2024. 0.6% of McDonough County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (948 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 landMcDonough CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 377,711 acres (590 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,607 (ten-year average 1,560) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 2,085 in 2009 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 0.6% (2,138 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 1 (948 acres inside McDonough County) |
| Towns in and near it | Macomb, Bushnell, Colchester, Plymouth, Vermont and Table Grove |
How many deer are harvested in McDonough County?
Hunters took 1,607 deer in McDonough County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 1,560. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 2,200 and its muzzleloader quota 350.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,607 | 1,560 | 2,200 / 2,200 | 276 / 350 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,651 | 1,549 | 2,189 / 2,200 | 253 / 350 | No |
| 2023-24 | 1,600 | 1,522 | 2,171 / 2,200 | 293 / 350 | No |
| 2022-23 | 1,617 | 1,507 | 2,085 / 2,200 | 322 / 350 | No |
| 2021-22 | 1,529 | 1,528 | 2,122 / 2,200 | 316 / 350 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), McDonough County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in McDonough County?
2,138 of McDonough County's 377,711 acres are public land open to the public (0.6%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 948 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of McDonough County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 948 | 0.3% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 826 | 0.2% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 346 | 0.1% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 18 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 2,138 | 0.6% |
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 McDonough County
IDNR hunting sites in McDonough County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Argyle Lake State Park: 948 acres
How do you get to McDonough County?
Highways through it: IL 110 (about 47 miles inside), US 67 (about 36 miles inside), US 136 (about 33 miles inside), IL 9 (about 25 miles inside) and IL 336 (about 22 miles inside). Towns inside: Macomb, Bushnell, Colchester, Prairie City, Blandinsville and Bardolph. Nearby: Plymouth (on the line), Vermont (on the line), Table Grove (on the line) and Avon (2 miles).
Which counties border McDonough County?
McDonough County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | 4,267 | 2025 | 5.7% |
| Warren County | 954 | 2025 | 0.1% |
| Hancock County | 3,185 | 2025 | 0.5% |
| Schuyler County | 2,784 | 2025 | 0.7% |
| Henderson County | 1,063 | 2025 | 3.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in McDonough County in 2025-26?
1,607, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,651. The county record is 2,085, set in 2009.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in McDonough County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in McDonough County?
2,138 acres, 0.6% 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 (948 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 Fulton County Warren County Hancock County Schuyler County Henderson County