Stephenson County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Stephenson County covers 565 square miles around Freeport. Hunters took 1,133 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,829 (2007). That is up 9% from 2024, and the most in the 5 years shown. 0.5% of Stephenson County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (838 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 landStephenson CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 361,367 acres (565 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 1,133 (ten-year average 1,206) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,829 in 2007 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 0.5% (1,901 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (766 acres inside Stephenson County) |
| Towns in and near it | Freeport, Lena, Orangeville, Nora, Pecatonica and Shannon |
How many deer are harvested in Stephenson County?
Hunters took 1,133 deer in Stephenson County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 1,206. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 3,250 and its muzzleloader quota 525. 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 | 1,133 | 1,206 | 2,173 / 3,250 | 149 / 525 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 1,044 | 1,243 | 2,129 / 3,250 | 165 / 525 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 1,101 | 1,288 | 2,169 / 3,250 | 199 / 525 | Yes |
| 2022-23 | 1,031 | 1,317 | 2,193 / 3,250 | 211 / 525 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | 1,030 | 1,391 | 2,327 / 3,250 | 227 / 525 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Stephenson County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Stephenson County?
1,901 of Stephenson County's 361,367 acres are public land open to the public (0.5%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 838 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Stephenson County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 838 | 0.2% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 766 | 0.2% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 214 | 0.1% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 83 | under 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 1,901 | 0.5% |
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 Stephenson County
IDNR hunting sites in Stephenson County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park: 644 acres
- Dublin Highlands State Habitat Area: 122 acres
How do you get to Stephenson County?
Highways through it: US 20 (about 95 miles inside), IL 26 (about 39 miles inside), IL 73 (about 36 miles inside) and IL 75 (about 31 miles inside). Towns inside: Freeport, Lena, Orangeville, Pearl City, German Valley and Cedarville. Nearby: Nora (on the line), Pecatonica (2 miles), Shannon (3 miles) and Warren (3 miles).
Which counties border Stephenson County?
Stephenson County touches 4 other counties. Their latest IDNR harvest and public land, for comparison:
| County | Deer harvested | Year | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogle County | 1,620 | 2025 | 1.4% |
| Carroll County | 1,282 | 2025 | 5.6% |
| Winnebago County | 997 | 2025 | 5% |
| Jo Daviess County | 2,698 | 2025 | 6.7% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Stephenson County in 2025-26?
1,133, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 1,044. The county record is 1,829, set in 2007.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County?
1,901 acres, 0.5% 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 (838 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 Ogle County Carroll County Winnebago County Jo Daviess County