Illinois deer research / Gallatin County
Gallatin County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 51.1, ranked #56 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Gallatin 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 | 278 | 487 | 765 |
| 2023 | 262 | 475 | 737 |
| 2022 | 326 | 471 | 797 |
| 2021 | 286 | 391 | 677 |
| 2020 | 349 | 453 | 802 |
| 2019 | 315 | 424 | 739 |
| 2018 | 257 | 447 | 704 |
| 2017 | 279 | 483 | 762 |
| 2016 | 254 | 511 | 765 |
| 2015 | 347 | 562 | 909 |
| 2014 | 329 | 509 | 838 |
| 2013 | 340 | 490 | 830 |
| 2012 | 301 | 560 | 861 |
| 2011 | 357 | 645 | 1,002 |
| 2010 | 373 | 661 | 1,034 |
| 2009 | 387 | 704 | 1,091 |
| 2008 | 306 | 676 | 982 |
| 2007 | 369 | 711 | 1,080 |
| 2006 | 305 | 768 | 1,073 |
| 2005 | 330 | 742 | 1,072 |
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: Gallatin County averages 1.55 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Gallatin County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Gallatin County ran 459 bucks (males) and 306 does (females): 60% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 459 | 306 | 765 | 60% |
| 2023 | 450 | 287 | 737 | 61.1% |
| 2022 | 473 | 324 | 797 | 59.3% |
| 2021 | 412 | 265 | 677 | 60.9% |
| 2020 | 467 | 335 | 802 | 58.2% |
| 2019 | 437 | 302 | 739 | 59.1% |
| 2018 | 414 | 290 | 704 | 58.8% |
| 2017 | 429 | 333 | 762 | 56.3% |
| 2016 | 450 | 315 | 765 | 58.8% |
| 2015 | 515 | 394 | 909 | 56.7% |
| 2014 | 467 | 371 | 838 | 55.7% |
| 2013 | 452 | 378 | 830 | 54.5% |
| 2012 | 464 | 397 | 861 | 53.9% |
| 2011 | 563 | 439 | 1,002 | 56.2% |
| 2010 | 573 | 461 | 1,034 | 55.4% |
| 2009 | 617 | 474 | 1,091 | 56.6% |
| 2008 | 538 | 444 | 982 | 54.8% |
| 2007 | 629 | 451 | 1,080 | 58.2% |
| 2006 | 643 | 430 | 1,073 | 59.9% |
| 2005 | 608 | 464 | 1,072 | 56.7% |
See full Gallatin County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Gallatin County ran 71.9% adult, 18.3% yearling, and 9.8% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 550 | 140 | 75 | 765 |
| 2023 | 524 | 127 | 86 | 737 |
| 2022 | 580 | 132 | 85 | 797 |
| 2021 | 463 | 113 | 101 | 677 |
| 2020 | 593 | 125 | 84 | 802 |
| 2019 | 511 | 128 | 100 | 739 |
| 2018 | 460 | 131 | 113 | 704 |
| 2017 | 526 | 116 | 120 | 762 |
| 2016 | 526 | 146 | 93 | 765 |
| 2015 | 611 | 157 | 141 | 909 |
| 2014 | 572 | 137 | 129 | 838 |
| 2013 | 595 | 114 | 121 | 830 |
| 2012 | 580 | 132 | 149 | 861 |
| 2011 | 722 | 140 | 140 | 1,002 |
| 2010 | 737 | 131 | 166 | 1,034 |
| 2009 | 747 | 188 | 156 | 1,091 |
| 2008 | 655 | 162 | 165 | 982 |
| 2007 | 704 | 153 | 223 | 1,080 |
| 2006 | 674 | 181 | 218 | 1,073 |
| 2005 | 710 | 160 | 202 | 1,072 |
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 Gallatin 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: 188,270 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
See Gallatin 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 Gallatin County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Gallatin County scores 51.1 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #56 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 Gallatin County?
Gallatin 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).
How many deer were harvested in Gallatin County last season?
IDNR records show 765 deer harvested in Gallatin County in 2024, the most recent reported season.