Illinois deer research / Clay County
Clay County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 57.8, ranked #28 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Clay County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
73↑ 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 | 790 | 1,924 | 2,714 |
| 2023 | 729 | 1,672 | 2,401 |
| 2022 | 651 | 1,554 | 2,205 |
| 2021 | 671 | 1,308 | 1,979 |
| 2020 | 752 | 1,427 | 2,179 |
| 2019 | 652 | 1,278 | 1,930 |
| 2018 | 562 | 1,388 | 1,950 |
| 2017 | 513 | 1,283 | 1,796 |
| 2016 | 519 | 1,238 | 1,757 |
| 2015 | 491 | 1,292 | 1,783 |
| 2014 | 530 | 1,168 | 1,698 |
| 2013 | 502 | 1,042 | 1,544 |
| 2012 | 540 | 1,477 | 2,017 |
| 2011 | 637 | 1,682 | 2,319 |
| 2010 | 610 | 1,638 | 2,248 |
| 2009 | 629 | 1,617 | 2,246 |
| 2008 | 604 | 1,673 | 2,277 |
| 2007 | 639 | 1,921 | 2,560 |
| 2006 | 663 | 1,825 | 2,488 |
| 2005 | 680 | 1,811 | 2,491 |
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: Clay County averages 1.93 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Clay County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Clay County ran 1,367 bucks (males) and 1,347 does (females): 50.4% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,367 | 1,347 | 2,714 | 50.4% |
| 2023 | 1,320 | 1,081 | 2,401 | 55% |
| 2022 | 1,156 | 1,049 | 2,205 | 52.4% |
| 2021 | 1,092 | 887 | 1,979 | 55.2% |
| 2020 | 1,133 | 1,046 | 2,179 | 52% |
| 2019 | 1,033 | 897 | 1,930 | 53.5% |
| 2018 | 1,045 | 905 | 1,950 | 53.6% |
| 2017 | 1,013 | 783 | 1,796 | 56.4% |
| 2016 | 950 | 807 | 1,757 | 54.1% |
| 2015 | 936 | 847 | 1,783 | 52.5% |
| 2014 | 906 | 792 | 1,698 | 53.4% |
| 2013 | 813 | 731 | 1,544 | 52.7% |
| 2012 | 1,020 | 997 | 2,017 | 50.6% |
| 2011 | 1,141 | 1,178 | 2,319 | 49.2% |
| 2010 | 1,077 | 1,171 | 2,248 | 47.9% |
| 2009 | 1,093 | 1,153 | 2,246 | 48.7% |
| 2008 | 1,115 | 1,162 | 2,277 | 49% |
| 2007 | 1,379 | 1,181 | 2,560 | 53.9% |
| 2006 | 1,346 | 1,142 | 2,488 | 54.1% |
| 2005 | 1,353 | 1,138 | 2,491 | 54.3% |
See full Clay County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Clay County ran 66.3% adult, 14.1% yearling, and 19.6% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,800 | 383 | 531 | 2,714 |
| 2023 | 1,602 | 366 | 433 | 2,401 |
| 2022 | 1,418 | 334 | 453 | 2,205 |
| 2021 | 1,254 | 303 | 422 | 1,979 |
| 2020 | 1,452 | 316 | 411 | 2,179 |
| 2019 | 1,267 | 337 | 326 | 1,930 |
| 2018 | 1,174 | 340 | 436 | 1,950 |
| 2017 | 1,098 | 332 | 366 | 1,796 |
| 2016 | 1,046 | 337 | 374 | 1,757 |
| 2015 | 1,072 | 322 | 389 | 1,783 |
| 2014 | 1,052 | 244 | 402 | 1,698 |
| 2013 | 929 | 281 | 334 | 1,544 |
| 2012 | 1,107 | 335 | 575 | 2,017 |
| 2011 | 1,297 | 376 | 646 | 2,319 |
| 2010 | 1,334 | 326 | 588 | 2,248 |
| 2009 | 1,355 | 313 | 578 | 2,246 |
| 2008 | 1,368 | 331 | 578 | 2,277 |
| 2007 | 1,457 | 399 | 704 | 2,560 |
| 2006 | 1,356 | 434 | 698 | 2,488 |
| 2005 | 1,436 | 404 | 648 | 2,488 |
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 Clay 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: 259,853 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Clay County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Clay 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 Clay County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Clay County scores 57.8 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #28 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 Clay County?
Clay County has a Trophy Index of 73 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 Clay County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 2 sites in Clay County, including Flag Pond State Natural Area, Hanging Rock Sandstone Cliff State Natural Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Clay County last season?
IDNR records show 2,714 deer harvested in Clay County in 2024, the most recent reported season.