Illinois deer research / Clark County

Clark County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research

Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 63.3, ranked #9 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.

B - Strong
63.3 / 100
FDR Herd Index
#9 of 102
Statewide rank
94↓
Trophy Index
279,053
Bow-huntable acres (10 m estimate)
2,265
2024 deer harvest

What drives the Clark County index

Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.

Habitat · 25%47
Herd quality · 30%88
Population · 18%43
Momentum · 12%75
Trophy history · 15%57

Trophy Index

94↓ 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

SeasonArcheryFirearmTotal
20249331,3322,265
20239161,1232,039
20228981,1802,078
20218121,0961,908
20209581,1662,124
20198461,1361,982
20188751,2692,144
20178211,2352,056
20167551,2502,005
20157041,3222,026
20147081,1461,854
20137821,2842,066
20128421,7492,591
20118021,7022,504
20108251,6592,484
20098121,6112,423
20087871,5422,329
20077851,7632,548
20067571,6162,373
20057571,6892,446

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: Clark County averages 2.42 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).

See full Clark County harvest charts →

Harvest by sex

IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Clark County ran 1,270 bucks (males) and 995 does (females): 56.1% bucks.

SeasonBucks (M)Does (F)Total% bucks
20241,2709952,26556.1%
20231,2108292,03959.3%
20221,1848942,07857%
20211,1147941,90858.4%
20201,2328922,12458%
20191,0649181,98253.7%
20181,2319132,14457.4%
20171,1539032,05656.1%
20161,1009052,00554.9%
20151,0559712,02652.1%
20149828721,85453%
20139581,1082,06646.4%
20121,3091,2822,59150.5%
20111,2411,2632,50449.6%
20101,2161,2682,48449%
20091,2171,2062,42350.2%
20081,1971,1322,32951.4%
20071,4111,1372,54855.4%
20061,2931,0802,37354.5%
20051,3541,0922,44655.4%

See full Clark County sex-composition chart →

Age structure

IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Clark County ran 71.1% adult, 13.5% yearling, and 15.4% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.

SeasonAdultYearlingFawnTotal
20241,6113063482,265
20231,5082922392,039
20221,4932862992,078
20211,3312802971,908
20201,5343012892,124
20191,3562923341,982
20181,4783343322,144
20171,4132953482,056
20161,3642943472,005
20151,3632813822,026
20141,2332543671,854
20131,3342754572,066
20121,6863225832,591
20111,6943174932,504
20101,6812595442,484
20091,6612924702,423
20081,5532685082,329
20071,6703225562,548
20061,5453115172,373
20051,6293144982,441

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 Clark County composition charts →

Seasons & access

SeasonMethodDatesTags
Archery · Oct 1 to mid-Janarchery2026-10-01 → 2027-01-17otc
Firearm · 1st + 2nd Shotgun Seasonfirearm2026-11-20 → 2026-12-06otc
Muzzleloader · Decembermuzzleloader2026-12-11 → 2026-12-13otc

Bow-huntable land, public and private: 279,053 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.

Where to hunt public in Clark County

Lincoln Trail State Park · 1,031 acRocky Branch Nature Preserve · 157 ac

Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.

See Clark 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.

Open Fully Drawn Scout (free)See all Clark County charts

Nearby counties

Crawford · 66.8Edgar · 72.2Cumberland · 56.6Coles · 60.9Jasper · 55.2Douglas · 51.8Lawrence · 59.3Richland · 55.9
← #8 Menard County#10 White County →

Frequently asked questions

Is Clark County, Illinois good for deer hunting?

Clark County scores 63.3 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #9 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 Clark County?

Clark County has a Trophy Index of 94 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 Clark County, Illinois?

Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 2 sites in Clark County, including Lincoln Trail State Park, Rocky Branch Nature Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.

How many deer were harvested in Clark County last season?

IDNR records show 2,265 deer harvested in Clark County in 2024, the most recent reported season.

Sources: Illinois DNR public harvest and public-land records; qualifying trophy bucks, each counted once, as the Trophy Index. Public-record data only: no private contact information, no landowner lists.

Fully Drawn Research is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Historical data and modeled indexes describe the past; they are not a promise of hunting outcomes. Always verify current seasons, permits, and site rules with IDNR before you hunt.

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