Winnebago County, Illinois: deer harvest and public hunting land
Winnebago County covers 519 square miles around Rockford. Hunters took 997 deer here in the 2025-26 season, all seasons together, by IDNR's county summary; the county record is 1,480 (1995). That is up 4% from 2024, and the most in the 5 years shown. 5% of Winnebago County is public land open to the public, the largest share forest preserves, county and city land (10,747 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 landWinnebago CountyNeighboring countiesLakeHighway
| Size | 332,254 acres (519 square miles) |
|---|---|
| Deer taken, 2025-26 | 997 (ten-year average 893) |
| Record harvest (IDNR) | 1,480 in 1995 |
| CWD detected (IDNR) | Yes |
| Public land | 5% (16,742 acres) |
| IDNR hunting sites | 2 (2,843 acres inside Winnebago County) |
| Towns in and near it | Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Davis, Caledonia and Davis Junction |
How many deer are harvested in Winnebago County?
Hunters took 997 deer in Winnebago County in the 2025-26 season, against a ten-year average of 893. IDNR's firearm permit quota was 3,000 and its muzzleloader quota 450. 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 | 997 | 893 | 1,375 / 3,000 | 151 / 450 | Yes |
| 2024-25 | 957 | 895 | 1,355 / 3,000 | 149 / 450 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | 865 | 891 | 1,342 / 3,000 | 174 / 450 | Yes |
| 2022-23 | 772 | 890 | 1,272 / 3,000 | 183 / 450 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | 813 | 916 | 1,344 / 3,000 | 171 / 450 | Yes |
Source: IDNR white-tailed deer county summaries (2021-22 to 2025-26 seasons), Winnebago County. Permit counts exclude landowner permits; archery and youth permits are statewide.
How much public land is in Winnebago County?
16,742 of Winnebago County's 332,254 acres are public land open to the public (5%). The biggest share is forest preserves, county and city land: 10,747 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Forest preserves, county and city land | 10,747 | 3.2% |
| IDNR sites open to hunting | 2,843 | 0.9% |
| Land trusts and other open land | 2,726 | 0.8% |
| Other IDNR and state land | 426 | 0.1% |
| All public land open to the public | 16,742 | 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 Winnebago County
IDNR hunting sites in Winnebago County, largest first, with the acres of each inside it:
- Rock Cut State Park: 2,693 acres
- Rockton Bog State Natural Area: 150 acres
How do you get to Winnebago County?
Highways through it: US 51 (about 54 miles inside), US 20 (about 52 miles inside), I-39 (about 52 miles inside), IL 251 (about 48 miles inside) and I-90 (about 37 miles inside). Towns inside: Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, Cherry Valley and Rockton. Nearby: Davis (on the line), Caledonia (2 miles), Davis Junction (3 miles) and Belvidere (3 miles).
Which counties border Winnebago County?
Winnebago 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% |
| Boone County | 413 | 2025 | 1.7% |
| DeKalb County | 413 | 2025 | 1.2% |
| Stephenson County | 1,133 | 2025 | 0.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were harvested in Winnebago County in 2025-26?
997, all seasons together (IDNR). In 2024-25: 957. The county record is 1,480, set in 1995.
Has chronic wasting disease been found in Winnebago 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 Winnebago County?
16,742 acres, 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 (10,747 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 Boone County DeKalb County Stephenson County