Illinois deer research / Bond County
Bond County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 42, ranked #78 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Bond County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
74↓ out of 100. How this county ranks for trophy bucks against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Ranked per acre of bow-huntable land (10 m estimate).
2005–2024 harvest trend
| Season | Archery | Firearm | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 580 | 927 | 1,507 |
| 2023 | 544 | 822 | 1,366 |
| 2022 | 492 | 789 | 1,281 |
| 2021 | 439 | 682 | 1,121 |
| 2020 | 494 | 707 | 1,201 |
| 2019 | 420 | 749 | 1,169 |
| 2018 | 397 | 763 | 1,160 |
| 2017 | 345 | 698 | 1,043 |
| 2016 | 328 | 621 | 949 |
| 2015 | 349 | 704 | 1,053 |
| 2014 | 344 | 620 | 964 |
| 2013 | 355 | 667 | 1,022 |
| 2012 | 362 | 925 | 1,287 |
| 2011 | 396 | 942 | 1,338 |
| 2010 | 416 | 878 | 1,294 |
| 2009 | 429 | 1,002 | 1,431 |
| 2008 | 441 | 1,041 | 1,482 |
| 2007 | 381 | 1,285 | 1,666 |
| 2006 | 419 | 1,222 | 1,641 |
| 2005 | 410 | 1,223 | 1,633 |
Totals are IDNR's all-season county harvest; firearm includes the youth, muzzleloader and late-winter seasons. Source: Hunt Illinois county deer harvest. Buck density: Bond County averages 1.28 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Bond County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Bond County ran 837 bucks (males) and 670 does (females): 55.5% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 837 | 670 | 1,507 | 55.5% |
| 2023 | 799 | 567 | 1,366 | 58.5% |
| 2022 | 707 | 574 | 1,281 | 55.2% |
| 2021 | 685 | 436 | 1,121 | 61.1% |
| 2020 | 683 | 518 | 1,201 | 56.9% |
| 2019 | 640 | 529 | 1,169 | 54.7% |
| 2018 | 664 | 496 | 1,160 | 57.2% |
| 2017 | 601 | 442 | 1,043 | 57.6% |
| 2016 | 490 | 459 | 949 | 51.6% |
| 2015 | 542 | 511 | 1,053 | 51.5% |
| 2014 | 507 | 457 | 964 | 52.6% |
| 2013 | 473 | 549 | 1,022 | 46.3% |
| 2012 | 607 | 680 | 1,287 | 47.2% |
| 2011 | 656 | 682 | 1,338 | 49% |
| 2010 | 654 | 640 | 1,294 | 50.5% |
| 2009 | 688 | 743 | 1,431 | 48.1% |
| 2008 | 713 | 769 | 1,482 | 48.1% |
| 2007 | 898 | 768 | 1,666 | 53.9% |
| 2006 | 858 | 783 | 1,641 | 52.3% |
| 2005 | 892 | 741 | 1,633 | 54.6% |
See full Bond County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Bond County ran 63.4% adult, 20.6% yearling, and 15.9% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 956 | 311 | 240 | 1,507 |
| 2023 | 883 | 294 | 189 | 1,366 |
| 2022 | 785 | 294 | 202 | 1,281 |
| 2021 | 697 | 240 | 184 | 1,121 |
| 2020 | 765 | 253 | 183 | 1,201 |
| 2019 | 705 | 272 | 192 | 1,169 |
| 2018 | 691 | 264 | 205 | 1,160 |
| 2017 | 604 | 256 | 183 | 1,043 |
| 2016 | 552 | 192 | 205 | 949 |
| 2015 | 620 | 239 | 194 | 1,053 |
| 2014 | 569 | 206 | 189 | 964 |
| 2013 | 573 | 185 | 264 | 1,022 |
| 2012 | 719 | 224 | 344 | 1,287 |
| 2011 | 777 | 266 | 295 | 1,338 |
| 2010 | 779 | 245 | 270 | 1,294 |
| 2009 | 877 | 237 | 317 | 1,431 |
| 2008 | 842 | 300 | 340 | 1,482 |
| 2007 | 864 | 341 | 461 | 1,666 |
| 2006 | 863 | 324 | 454 | 1,641 |
| 2005 | 896 | 317 | 418 | 1,631 |
Age class is IDNR's field classification at check-in, not a lab-aged tooth-wear cohort; treat it as a directional maturity signal.
See full Bond County composition charts →
Seasons & access
| Season | Method | Dates | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery · Oct 1 to mid-Jan | archery | 2026-10-01 → 2027-01-17 | otc |
| Firearm · 1st + 2nd Shotgun Season | firearm | 2026-11-20 → 2026-12-06 | otc |
| Muzzleloader · December | muzzleloader | 2026-12-11 → 2026-12-13 | otc |
Bow-huntable land, public and private: 204,395 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Bond County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Bond County on the map
Parcels with owner & acreage, public hunting land with regs, access points, leaf-off imagery, and this research, together on one hunting map.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
Is Bond County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Bond County scores 42 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #78 of 102 Illinois counties. The index is built from IDNR public harvest records, habitat, herd quality, momentum, and trophy history (the Trophy Index).
What is the Trophy Index for Bond County?
Bond County has a Trophy Index of 74 out of 100. How this county ranks for trophy bucks against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Ranked per acre of bow-huntable land (10 m estimate).
Is there public hunting land in Bond County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 1 site in Bond County, including Nature Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Bond County last season?
IDNR records show 1,507 deer harvested in Bond County in 2024, the most recent reported season.