Illinois deer research / Douglas County
Douglas County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 51.8, ranked #51 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Douglas County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
72↑ 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 | 222 | 205 | 427 |
| 2023 | 221 | 181 | 402 |
| 2022 | 218 | 187 | 405 |
| 2021 | 212 | 159 | 371 |
| 2020 | 226 | 179 | 405 |
| 2019 | 180 | 155 | 335 |
| 2018 | 187 | 157 | 344 |
| 2017 | 185 | 146 | 331 |
| 2016 | 133 | 151 | 284 |
| 2015 | 158 | 158 | 316 |
| 2014 | 131 | 170 | 301 |
| 2013 | 144 | 153 | 297 |
| 2012 | 171 | 209 | 380 |
| 2011 | 173 | 257 | 430 |
| 2010 | 164 | 209 | 373 |
| 2009 | 164 | 202 | 366 |
| 2008 | 143 | 212 | 355 |
| 2007 | 192 | 277 | 469 |
| 2006 | 185 | 274 | 459 |
| 2005 | 215 | 286 | 501 |
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: Douglas County averages 0.43 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Douglas County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Douglas County ran 260 bucks (males) and 167 does (females): 60.9% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 260 | 167 | 427 | 60.9% |
| 2023 | 245 | 157 | 402 | 60.9% |
| 2022 | 242 | 163 | 405 | 59.8% |
| 2021 | 246 | 125 | 371 | 66.3% |
| 2020 | 244 | 161 | 405 | 60.2% |
| 2019 | 214 | 121 | 335 | 63.9% |
| 2018 | 203 | 141 | 344 | 59% |
| 2017 | 199 | 132 | 331 | 60.1% |
| 2016 | 174 | 110 | 284 | 61.3% |
| 2015 | 171 | 145 | 316 | 54.1% |
| 2014 | 171 | 130 | 301 | 56.8% |
| 2013 | 165 | 132 | 297 | 55.6% |
| 2012 | 207 | 173 | 380 | 54.5% |
| 2011 | 242 | 188 | 430 | 56.3% |
| 2010 | 203 | 170 | 373 | 54.4% |
| 2009 | 193 | 173 | 366 | 52.7% |
| 2008 | 194 | 161 | 355 | 54.6% |
| 2007 | 276 | 193 | 469 | 58.8% |
| 2006 | 275 | 184 | 459 | 59.9% |
| 2005 | 288 | 213 | 501 | 57.5% |
See full Douglas County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Douglas County ran 60.9% adult, 26% yearling, and 13.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 260 | 111 | 56 | 427 |
| 2023 | 267 | 80 | 55 | 402 |
| 2022 | 268 | 69 | 68 | 405 |
| 2021 | 233 | 77 | 61 | 371 |
| 2020 | 254 | 87 | 64 | 405 |
| 2019 | 198 | 76 | 61 | 335 |
| 2018 | 212 | 79 | 53 | 344 |
| 2017 | 220 | 67 | 44 | 331 |
| 2016 | 168 | 71 | 45 | 284 |
| 2015 | 190 | 63 | 63 | 316 |
| 2014 | 181 | 67 | 53 | 301 |
| 2013 | 197 | 54 | 46 | 297 |
| 2012 | 217 | 77 | 86 | 380 |
| 2011 | 266 | 71 | 93 | 430 |
| 2010 | 236 | 72 | 65 | 373 |
| 2009 | 217 | 72 | 77 | 366 |
| 2008 | 237 | 60 | 58 | 355 |
| 2007 | 266 | 104 | 99 | 469 |
| 2006 | 286 | 85 | 88 | 459 |
| 2005 | 293 | 93 | 115 | 501 |
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 Douglas 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: 238,064 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Douglas County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Douglas 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 Douglas County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Douglas County scores 51.8 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #51 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 Douglas County?
Douglas County has a Trophy Index of 72 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 Douglas County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 1 site in Douglas County, including Hindsboro State Habitat Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Douglas County last season?
IDNR records show 427 deer harvested in Douglas County in 2024, the most recent reported season.