Illinois deer research / Crawford County
Crawford County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 66.8, ranked #5 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Crawford County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
79→ 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 | 1,071 | 1,393 | 2,464 |
| 2023 | 1,014 | 1,208 | 2,222 |
| 2022 | 850 | 1,106 | 1,956 |
| 2021 | 924 | 1,030 | 1,954 |
| 2020 | 1,087 | 1,091 | 2,178 |
| 2019 | 904 | 1,095 | 1,999 |
| 2018 | 894 | 1,261 | 2,155 |
| 2017 | 889 | 1,189 | 2,078 |
| 2016 | 777 | 1,102 | 1,879 |
| 2015 | 796 | 1,185 | 1,981 |
| 2014 | 738 | 1,110 | 1,848 |
| 2013 | 741 | 1,025 | 1,766 |
| 2012 | 777 | 1,443 | 2,220 |
| 2011 | 820 | 1,417 | 2,237 |
| 2010 | 841 | 1,458 | 2,299 |
| 2009 | 838 | 1,414 | 2,252 |
| 2008 | 799 | 1,422 | 2,221 |
| 2007 | 743 | 1,521 | 2,264 |
| 2006 | 706 | 1,460 | 2,166 |
| 2005 | 750 | 1,567 | 2,317 |
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: Crawford County averages 2.26 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Crawford County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Crawford County ran 1,242 bucks (males) and 1,222 does (females): 50.4% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,242 | 1,222 | 2,464 | 50.4% |
| 2023 | 1,176 | 1,046 | 2,222 | 52.9% |
| 2022 | 1,030 | 926 | 1,956 | 52.7% |
| 2021 | 1,100 | 854 | 1,954 | 56.3% |
| 2020 | 1,162 | 1,016 | 2,178 | 53.4% |
| 2019 | 976 | 1,023 | 1,999 | 48.8% |
| 2018 | 1,171 | 984 | 2,155 | 54.3% |
| 2017 | 1,086 | 992 | 2,078 | 52.3% |
| 2016 | 1,015 | 864 | 1,879 | 54% |
| 2015 | 993 | 988 | 1,981 | 50.1% |
| 2014 | 934 | 914 | 1,848 | 50.5% |
| 2013 | 862 | 904 | 1,766 | 48.8% |
| 2012 | 1,103 | 1,117 | 2,220 | 49.7% |
| 2011 | 1,079 | 1,158 | 2,237 | 48.2% |
| 2010 | 1,149 | 1,150 | 2,299 | 50% |
| 2009 | 1,146 | 1,106 | 2,252 | 50.9% |
| 2008 | 1,115 | 1,106 | 2,221 | 50.2% |
| 2007 | 1,214 | 1,050 | 2,264 | 53.6% |
| 2006 | 1,142 | 1,024 | 2,166 | 52.7% |
| 2005 | 1,243 | 1,074 | 2,317 | 53.6% |
See full Crawford County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Crawford County ran 72.1% adult, 12.3% yearling, and 15.7% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,776 | 302 | 386 | 2,464 |
| 2023 | 1,539 | 340 | 343 | 2,222 |
| 2022 | 1,385 | 265 | 306 | 1,956 |
| 2021 | 1,360 | 269 | 325 | 1,954 |
| 2020 | 1,510 | 316 | 352 | 2,178 |
| 2019 | 1,305 | 283 | 411 | 1,999 |
| 2018 | 1,441 | 326 | 388 | 2,155 |
| 2017 | 1,386 | 340 | 352 | 2,078 |
| 2016 | 1,271 | 277 | 331 | 1,879 |
| 2015 | 1,317 | 313 | 351 | 1,981 |
| 2014 | 1,205 | 244 | 399 | 1,848 |
| 2013 | 1,103 | 268 | 395 | 1,766 |
| 2012 | 1,476 | 303 | 441 | 2,220 |
| 2011 | 1,332 | 327 | 578 | 2,237 |
| 2010 | 1,437 | 313 | 549 | 2,299 |
| 2009 | 1,459 | 321 | 472 | 2,252 |
| 2008 | 1,445 | 331 | 445 | 2,221 |
| 2007 | 1,354 | 334 | 576 | 2,264 |
| 2006 | 1,284 | 312 | 570 | 2,166 |
| 2005 | 1,468 | 324 | 522 | 2,314 |
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 Crawford 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: 244,503 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Crawford County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Crawford 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 Crawford County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Crawford County scores 66.8 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #5 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 Crawford County?
Crawford County has a Trophy Index of 79 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 Crawford County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 2 sites in Crawford County, including Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Crawford County Forest Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Crawford County last season?
IDNR records show 2,464 deer harvested in Crawford County in 2024, the most recent reported season.