Pope County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Pope County covers 375 square miles around Golconda. Hunters took 2,070 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 3,230 (2005). That is down 2% from 2024, and the fewest in the 5 years shown. 39.8% of Pope County is public land open to the public, the largest share national forest (93,061 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 landPope CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 239,768 acres (375 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 2,070 (ten-year average 2,322) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 3,230 in 2005 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 39.8% (95,444 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 4 (1,467 acres inside Pope County) |
| Towns in and near it | Golconda, Eddyville, Stonefort, Simpson and Rosiclare |
How many deer are harvested in Pope County?
Hunters took 2,070 deer in Pope County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 2,322. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 4,000 and its muzzleloader quota 425.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,070 | 2,322 | 4,000 / 4,000 | 350 / 425 | No |
| 2024-25 | 2,114 | 2,363 | 4,000 / 4,000 | 361 / 425 | No |
| 2023-24 | 2,293 | 2,407 | 4,000 / 4,000 | 389 / 425 | No |
| 2022-23 | 2,528 | 2,416 | 4,000 / 4,000 | 412 / 425 | No |
| 2021-22 | 2,137 | 2,415 | 4,200 / 4,200 | 425 / 425 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Pope County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Pope County?
95,444 of Pope County's 239,768 acres are public land open to the public (39.8%). The biggest share is national forest: 93,061 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Pope County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 93,061 | 38.8% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 1,467 | 0.6% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 501 | 0.2% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 415 | 0.2% |
| All public land open to the public | 95,444 | 39.8% |
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 Pope County
IDNR hunting sites in Pope County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Dixon Springs State Park: 577 acres
- Big Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area: 331 acres
- Golconda Marina: 294 acres
- Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area: 265 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Shawnee National Forest (93,102 acres).
How do you get to Pope County?
Highways through it: IL 145 (about 17 miles inside), IL 146 (about 13 miles inside), IL 34 (about 3 miles inside) and US 145 (about 3 miles inside). Towns inside: Golconda and Eddyville. Nearby: Stonefort (2 miles), Simpson (3 miles), Rosiclare (3 miles) and New Burnside (4 miles).
Which counties border Pope County?
Pope County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | 902 | 2025 | 25% |
| Massac County | 734 | 2025 | 6.1% |
| Saline County | 1,814 | 2025 | 12.3% |
| Johnson County | 1,993 | 2025 | 44.7% |
| Williamson County | 3,400 | 2025 | 32.1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Pope County in 2025-26?
2,070, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 2,114. The county record is 3,230, set in 2005.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Pope County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Pope County?
95,444 acres, 39.8% 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 national forest (93,061 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.
Illinois hunting Hardin County Massac County Saline County Johnson County Williamson County