Stark County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Stark County covers 288 square miles around Toulon. Hunters took 395 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 598 (2005). That is down 2% from 2024. 0.1% of Stark County is public land open to the public, the largest share other IDNR and state land (113 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 landStark CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 184,552 acres (288 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 395 (ten-year average 338) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 598 in 2005 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 0.1% (219 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 1 (101 acres inside Stark County) |
| Towns in and near it | Toulon, Wyoming, Bradford, Princeville, Kewanee and Galva |
How many deer are harvested in Stark County?
Hunters took 395 deer in Stark County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 338. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 675 and its muzzleloader quota 120. 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 | 395 | 338 | 617 / 675 | 103 / 120 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 402 | 334 | 615 / 675 | No | |
| 2023-24 | 361 | 330 | 550 / 550 | 92 / 120 | No |
| 2022-23 | 319 | 331 | 565 / 600 | 94 / 120 | No |
| 2021-22 | 298 | 356 | 555 / 600 | 86 / 105 | No |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Stark County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Stark County?
219 of Stark County's 184,552 acres are public land open to the public (0.1%). The biggest share is other IDNR and state land: 113 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Stark County |
|---|---|---|
| Other IDNR and state land | 113 | 0.1% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 101 | 0.1% |
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 5 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 219 | 0.1% |
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 Stark County
IDNR hunting sites in Stark County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Bradford State Habitat Area: 101 acres
How do you get to Stark County?
Highways through it: IL 17 (about 21 miles inside), IL 91 (about 19 miles inside), IL 40 (about 13 miles inside), IL 78 (about 12 miles inside) and IL 93 (about 10 miles inside). Towns inside: Toulon, Wyoming, Bradford and La Fayette. Nearby: Princeville (3 miles), Kewanee (3 miles), Galva (3 miles) and Williamsfield (4 miles).
Which counties border Stark County?
Stark County touches 5 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2,339 | 2025 | 1.3% |
| Henry County | 1,233 | 2025 | 0.8% |
| Bureau County | 1,848 | 2025 | 1.6% |
| Peoria County | 2,141 | 2025 | 4.8% |
| Marshall County | 1,167 | 2025 | 3.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Stark County in 2025-26?
395, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 402. The county record is 598, set in 2005.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Stark 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 Stark County?
219 acres, 0.1% 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 other IDNR and state land (113 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 Knox County Henry County Bureau County Peoria County Marshall County