Randolph County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Randolph County covers 597 square miles around Sparta. Hunters took 4,148 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 4,253 (2024). That is down 2% from 2024. 5.8% of Randolph County is public land open to the public, the largest share IDNR sites open to hunting (9,901 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 forestNational wildlife refugesOther IDNR and state landForest preserves, county and city landLand trusts and other open landRandolph CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 382,027 acres (597 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 4,148 (ten-year average 3,847) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 4,253 in 2024 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | No |
| Public land | 5.8% (22,207 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 5 (9,901 acres inside Randolph County) |
| Towns in and near it | Sparta, Chester, Red Bud, Willisville, Cutler and Marissa |
How many deer are harvested in Randolph County?
Hunters took 4,148 deer in Randolph County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 3,847. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 5,000 and its muzzleloader quota 825.
| Season | Deer taken | Ten-year average | Firearm permits / quota | Muzzleloader permits / quota | CWD detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 4,148 | 3,847 | 5,000 / 5,000 | 817 / 825 | No |
| 2024-25 | 4,253 | 3,791 | 5,000 / 5,000 | 700 / 700 | No |
| 2023-24 | 4,056 | 3,678 | 4,500 / 4,500 | 650 / 650 | No |
| 2022-23 | 4,088 | 3,604 | 4,500 / 4,500 | 678 / 710 | No |
| 2021-22 | 3,569 | 3,562 | 4,500 / 4,500 | 627 / 660 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Randolph County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Randolph County?
22,207 of Randolph County's 382,027 acres are public land open to the public (5.8%). The biggest share is IDNR sites open to hunting: 9,901 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Randolph County |
|---|---|---|
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 9,901 | 2.6% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 5,097 | 1.3% |
| National wildlife refuges | 4,186 | 1.1% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 2,659 | 0.7% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 355 | 0.1% |
| National forest | 9 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 22,207 | 5.8% |
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 Randolph County
IDNR hunting sites in Randolph County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Fort Kaskaskia OWR: 5,670 acres
- Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area: 2,284 acres
- Fort de Chartes: 879 acres
- Randolph County State Recreation Area: 869 acres
- Fort Kaskaskia: 199 acres
Other large public areas here, by PAD-US: Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge (4,186 acres).
How do you get to Randolph County?
Highways through it: IL 3 (about 38 miles inside), IL 154 (about 25 miles inside), IL 4 (about 22 miles inside), IL 150 (about 17 miles inside) and IL 155 (about 12 miles inside). Towns inside: Sparta, Chester, Red Bud, Steeleville, Percy and Tilden. Nearby: Willisville (on the line), Cutler (on the line), Marissa (2 miles) and Campbell Hill (3 miles).
Which counties border Randolph County?
Randolph County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | 2,993 | 2025 | 6.7% |
| Monroe County | 1,995 | 2025 | 3.1% |
| Jackson County | 3,340 | 2025 | 17.2% |
| St. Clair County | 1,928 | 2025 | 4.2% |
| Washington County | 2,439 | 2025 | 0.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Randolph County in 2025-26?
4,148, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 4,253. The county record is 4,253, set in 2024.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Randolph County?
Not as of IDNR's 2025-26 county summary.
Is there public hunting land in Randolph County?
22,207 acres, 5.8% 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 IDNR sites open to hunting (9,901 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 Perry County Monroe County Jackson County St. Clair County Washington County