Illinois deer research / Coles County
Coles County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 60.9, ranked #16 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Coles County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
80↓ 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 | 814 | 878 | 1,692 |
| 2023 | 766 | 696 | 1,462 |
| 2022 | 749 | 792 | 1,541 |
| 2021 | 717 | 735 | 1,452 |
| 2020 | 827 | 718 | 1,545 |
| 2019 | 769 | 663 | 1,432 |
| 2018 | 681 | 695 | 1,376 |
| 2017 | 641 | 627 | 1,268 |
| 2016 | 527 | 586 | 1,113 |
| 2015 | 533 | 600 | 1,133 |
| 2014 | 496 | 501 | 997 |
| 2013 | 481 | 529 | 1,010 |
| 2012 | 602 | 803 | 1,405 |
| 2011 | 694 | 916 | 1,610 |
| 2010 | 653 | 899 | 1,552 |
| 2009 | 635 | 822 | 1,457 |
| 2008 | 626 | 833 | 1,459 |
| 2007 | 642 | 909 | 1,551 |
| 2006 | 535 | 821 | 1,356 |
| 2005 | 536 | 838 | 1,374 |
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: Coles County averages 1.34 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Coles County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Coles County ran 863 bucks (males) and 829 does (females): 51% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 863 | 829 | 1,692 | 51% |
| 2023 | 807 | 655 | 1,462 | 55.2% |
| 2022 | 874 | 667 | 1,541 | 56.7% |
| 2021 | 849 | 603 | 1,452 | 58.5% |
| 2020 | 901 | 644 | 1,545 | 58.3% |
| 2019 | 817 | 615 | 1,432 | 57.1% |
| 2018 | 780 | 596 | 1,376 | 56.7% |
| 2017 | 755 | 513 | 1,268 | 59.5% |
| 2016 | 630 | 483 | 1,113 | 56.6% |
| 2015 | 636 | 497 | 1,133 | 56.1% |
| 2014 | 547 | 450 | 997 | 54.9% |
| 2013 | 550 | 460 | 1,010 | 54.5% |
| 2012 | 751 | 654 | 1,405 | 53.5% |
| 2011 | 819 | 791 | 1,610 | 50.9% |
| 2010 | 774 | 778 | 1,552 | 49.9% |
| 2009 | 735 | 722 | 1,457 | 50.4% |
| 2008 | 747 | 712 | 1,459 | 51.2% |
| 2007 | 849 | 702 | 1,551 | 54.7% |
| 2006 | 795 | 561 | 1,356 | 58.6% |
| 2005 | 783 | 591 | 1,374 | 57% |
See full Coles County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Coles County ran 66.4% adult, 15.5% yearling, and 18.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,123 | 263 | 306 | 1,692 |
| 2023 | 998 | 268 | 196 | 1,462 |
| 2022 | 1,055 | 248 | 238 | 1,541 |
| 2021 | 940 | 254 | 258 | 1,452 |
| 2020 | 1,014 | 285 | 246 | 1,545 |
| 2019 | 938 | 263 | 231 | 1,432 |
| 2018 | 896 | 259 | 221 | 1,376 |
| 2017 | 786 | 244 | 238 | 1,268 |
| 2016 | 648 | 221 | 244 | 1,113 |
| 2015 | 695 | 214 | 224 | 1,133 |
| 2014 | 628 | 160 | 209 | 997 |
| 2013 | 607 | 200 | 203 | 1,010 |
| 2012 | 823 | 242 | 340 | 1,405 |
| 2011 | 980 | 266 | 364 | 1,610 |
| 2010 | 982 | 225 | 345 | 1,552 |
| 2009 | 903 | 217 | 337 | 1,457 |
| 2008 | 922 | 207 | 330 | 1,459 |
| 2007 | 951 | 269 | 331 | 1,551 |
| 2006 | 815 | 227 | 314 | 1,356 |
| 2005 | 824 | 249 | 300 | 1,373 |
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 Coles 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: 271,136 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Coles County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Coles 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 Coles County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Coles County scores 60.9 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #16 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 Coles County?
Coles County has a Trophy Index of 80 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 Coles County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 4 sites in Coles County, including Fox Ridge State Park, Hurricane Creek State Habitat Area, Hurricane Creek, Paul C. Burrus. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Coles County last season?
IDNR records show 1,692 deer harvested in Coles County in 2024, the most recent reported season.