McHenry County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
McHenry County covers 611 square miles around Crystal Lake. Hunters took 1,139 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,592 (1995). That is down 3% from 2024. 5.5% of McHenry County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (17,197 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 refugesOther IDNR and state landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landMcHenry CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 391,223 acres (611 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,139 (ten-year average 995) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,592 in 1995 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 5.5% (21,501 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 5 (2,523 acres inside McHenry County) |
| Towns in and near it | Crystal Lake, McHenry, Huntley, Port Barrington, Fox Lake and Barrington Hills |
How many deer are harvested in McHenry County?
Hunters took 1,139 deer in McHenry County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 995. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 3,400 and its muzzleloader quota 550. 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 | 1,139 | 995 | 1,358 / 3,400 | 169 / 550 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 1,177 | 991 | 1,383 / 3,400 | 166 / 550 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 1,006 | 974 | 1,418 / 3,400 | 156 / 550 | Yes |
| 2022-23 | 953 | 968 | 1,261 / 3,400 | 206 / 550 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | 962 | 985 | 1,301 / 3,400 | 187 / 550 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), McHenry County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in McHenry County?
21,501 of McHenry County's 391,223 acres are public land open to the public (5.5%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 17,197 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of McHenry County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 17,197 | 4.4% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,523 | 0.6% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 769 | 0.2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 615 | 0.2% |
| National wildlife refuges | 397 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 21,501 | 5.5% |
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 McHenry County
IDNR hunting sites in McHenry County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Moraine Hills State Park: 1,526 acres
- Volo Bog State Natural Area: 447 acres
- Chain O' Lakes State Park: 351 acres
- Bull Valley State Fish and Wildlife Area: 127 acres
- Hackamatac: 72 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (397 acres).
How do you get to McHenry County?
Highways through it: US 14 (about 36 miles inside), IL 173 (about 30 miles inside), IL 47 (about 25 miles inside), IL 176 (about 23 miles inside) and I-90 (about 18 miles inside). Towns inside: Crystal Lake, McHenry, Huntley, Woodstock, Algonquin and Lake in the Hills. Nearby: Port Barrington (on the line), Fox Lake (on the line), Barrington Hills (on the line) and Lake Barrington (2 miles).
Which counties border McHenry County?
McHenry County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | 149 | 2025 | 5% |
| Kane County | 413 | 2025 | 7.3% |
| Lake County | 319 | 2025 | 14.1% |
| Boone County | 413 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| DeKalb County | 413 | 2025 | 1.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in McHenry County in 2025-26?
1,139, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,177. The county record is 1,592, set in 1995.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in McHenry 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 McHenry County?
21,501 acres, 5.5% 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 (17,197 acres). IDNR's records show 5 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 Cook County Kane County Lake County Boone County DeKalb County