McLean County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
McLean County covers 1,186 square miles around Bloomington. Hunters took 1,396 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,688 (2010). That is down 2% from 2024. 1.3% of McLean County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (3,967 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 landMcLean CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 759,206 acres (1,186 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,396 (ten-year average 1,210) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,688 in 2010 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 1.3% (9,902 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (1,689 acres inside McLean County) |
| Towns in and near it | Bloomington, Normal, Heyworth, Kappa, Atlanta and Congerville |
How many deer are harvested in McLean County?
Hunters took 1,396 deer in McLean County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 1,210. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 2,400 and its muzzleloader quota 375.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,396 | 1,210 | 1,954 / 2,400 | 265 / 375 | No |
| 2024-25 | 1,428 | 1,192 | 1,901 / 2,400 | 273 / 375 | No |
| 2023-24 | 1,297 | 1,166 | 1,875 / 1,875 | 269 / 375 | No |
| 2022-23 | 1,165 | 1,158 | 1,764 / 1,875 | 285 / 375 | No |
| 2021-22 | 1,084 | 1,205 | 1,776 / 1,875 | 284 / 375 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), McLean County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in McLean County?
9,902 of McLean County's 759,206 acres are public land open to the public (1.3%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 3,967 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of McLean County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 3,967 | 0.5% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 3,219 | 0.4% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,688 | 0.2% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 1,028 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 9,902 | 1.3% |
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 McLean County
IDNR hunting sites in McLean County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Moraine View State Park: 1,038 acres
- Saybrook State Habitat Area: 651 acres
How do you get to McLean County?
Highways through it: I-55 (about 93 miles inside), I-74 (about 72 miles inside), US 51 (about 58 miles inside), IL 9 (about 52 miles inside) and US 136 (about 43 miles inside). Towns inside: Bloomington, Normal, Heyworth, Downs, Chenoa and Le Roy. Nearby: Kappa (on the line), Atlanta (on the line), Congerville (on the line) and Foosland (2 miles).
Which counties border McLean County?
McLean County touches 8 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford County | 227 | 2025 | 0.3% |
| Logan County | 855 | 2025 | 0.3% |
| Piatt County | 450 | 2025 | 1.5% |
| De Witt County | 1,001 | 2025 | 3.2% |
| Tazewell County | 1,548 | 2025 | 3.1% |
| Woodford County | 1,722 | 2025 | 1.6% |
| Champaign County | 678 | 2025 | 0.7% |
| Livingston County | 775 | 2025 | 0.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in McLean County in 2025-26?
1,396, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,428. The county record is 1,688, set in 2010.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in McLean County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in McLean County?
9,902 acres, 1.3% 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 (3,967 acres). IDNR's records show 2 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 Ford County Logan County Piatt County De Witt County Tazewell County Woodford County Champaign County Livingston County