Illinois deer research / Hancock County

Hancock County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research

Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 67.5, ranked #3 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.

B - Strong
67.5 / 100
FDR Herd Index
#3 of 102
Statewide rank
81→
Trophy Index
460,151
Bow-huntable acres (10 m estimate)
3,098
2024 deer harvest

What drives the Hancock County index

Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.

Habitat · 25%48
Herd quality · 30%64
Population · 18%94
Momentum · 12%85
Trophy history · 15%62

Trophy Index

81→ 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

SeasonArcheryFirearmTotal
20241,0612,0373,098
20231,0111,8392,850
20221,0262,0513,077
20211,0201,6792,699
20201,0761,9333,009
20199031,8102,713
20188541,8662,720
20177751,9452,720
20167211,7652,486
20156921,9442,636
20146991,8442,543
20137251,9432,668
20127302,6143,344
20117572,4703,227
20107562,3743,130
20098092,5663,375
20088572,8043,661
20078902,7383,628
20069302,5573,487
20058732,7683,641

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: Hancock County averages 1.72 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).

See full Hancock County harvest charts →

Harvest by sex

IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Hancock County ran 1,488 bucks (males) and 1,610 does (females): 48% bucks.

SeasonBucks (M)Does (F)Total% bucks
20241,4881,6103,09848%
20231,5761,2742,85055.3%
20221,5551,5223,07750.5%
20211,4731,2262,69954.6%
20201,5551,4543,00951.7%
20191,4471,2662,71353.3%
20181,4811,2392,72054.4%
20171,5441,1762,72056.8%
20161,4101,0762,48656.7%
20151,3661,2702,63651.8%
20141,3021,2412,54351.2%
20131,3031,3652,66848.8%
20121,7231,6213,34451.5%
20111,6021,6253,22749.6%
20101,5371,5933,13049.1%
20091,6291,7463,37548.3%
20081,7171,9443,66146.9%
20071,9271,7013,62853.1%
20061,8681,6193,48753.6%
20051,9621,6793,64153.9%

See full Hancock County sex-composition chart →

Age structure

IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Hancock County ran 69.8% adult, 12.6% yearling, and 17.6% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.

SeasonAdultYearlingFawnTotal
20242,1633895463,098
20231,9733475302,850
20222,1623685473,077
20211,8703854442,699
20202,0513945643,009
20191,7943695502,713
20181,7204275732,720
20171,7394255562,720
20161,5994044832,486
20151,5804006562,636
20141,5813985642,543
20131,6453666572,668
20122,0734118603,344
20112,0324437523,227
20102,0313947053,130
20092,0393989383,375
20082,2734489403,661
20072,1755009533,628
20062,0805049033,487
20052,1695139533,635

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 Hancock County composition charts →

Seasons & access

SeasonMethodDatesTags
Archery · Oct 1 to mid-Janarchery2026-10-01 → 2027-01-17otc
Firearm · 1st + 2nd Shotgun Seasonfirearm2026-11-20 → 2026-12-06otc
Muzzleloader · Decembermuzzleloader2026-12-11 → 2026-12-13otc

Bow-huntable land, public and private: 460,151 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.

Where to hunt public in Hancock County

Cedar Glen State Natural Area · 849 acPrairie State Eagle Refuge State Natural Area · 243 acStony Hills Nature Preserve · 186 acNauvoo State Park · 146 acReed Wildlife State Habitat Area · 79 acMississippi River Sand Hills State Natural Area · 44 ac

Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.

See Hancock 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.

Open Fully Drawn Scout (free)See all Hancock County charts

Nearby counties

Adams · 55.1Henderson · 59.9McDonough · 57Schuyler · 64.3Brown · 59Warren · 59.1Pike · 59.5Mercer · 56.1
← #2 Edgar County#4 Macoupin County →

Frequently asked questions

Is Hancock County, Illinois good for deer hunting?

Hancock County scores 67.5 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #3 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 Hancock County?

Hancock County has a Trophy Index of 81 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 Hancock County, Illinois?

Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 6 sites in Hancock County, including Cedar Glen State Natural Area, Prairie State Eagle Refuge State Natural Area, Stony Hills Nature Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.

How many deer were harvested in Hancock County last season?

IDNR records show 3,098 deer harvested in Hancock County in 2024, the most recent reported season.

Sources: Illinois DNR public harvest and public-land records; qualifying trophy bucks, each counted once, as the Trophy Index. Public-record data only: no private contact information, no landowner lists.

Fully Drawn Research is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Historical data and modeled indexes describe the past; they are not a promise of hunting outcomes. Always verify current seasons, permits, and site rules with IDNR before you hunt.

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