Illinois deer research / Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 49.5, ranked #62 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Jefferson County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
78↑ 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 | 2,066 | 2,768 | 4,834 |
| 2023 | 2,084 | 2,163 | 4,247 |
| 2022 | 1,932 | 1,999 | 3,931 |
| 2021 | 1,833 | 1,959 | 3,792 |
| 2020 | 1,941 | 2,058 | 3,999 |
| 2019 | 1,720 | 2,089 | 3,809 |
| 2018 | 1,490 | 2,060 | 3,550 |
| 2017 | 1,372 | 2,270 | 3,642 |
| 2016 | 1,231 | 2,055 | 3,286 |
| 2015 | 1,264 | 2,261 | 3,525 |
| 2014 | 1,375 | 2,116 | 3,491 |
| 2013 | 1,427 | 2,306 | 3,733 |
| 2012 | 1,381 | 2,887 | 4,268 |
| 2011 | 1,436 | 2,924 | 4,360 |
| 2010 | 1,470 | 2,768 | 4,238 |
| 2009 | 1,554 | 3,063 | 4,617 |
| 2008 | 1,459 | 3,012 | 4,471 |
| 2007 | 1,498 | 3,405 | 4,903 |
| 2006 | 1,503 | 3,195 | 4,698 |
| 2005 | 1,528 | 3,269 | 4,797 |
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: Jefferson County averages 3.30 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Jefferson County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Jefferson County ran 2,517 bucks (males) and 2,317 does (females): 52.1% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,517 | 2,317 | 4,834 | 52.1% |
| 2023 | 2,464 | 1,783 | 4,247 | 58% |
| 2022 | 2,158 | 1,773 | 3,931 | 54.9% |
| 2021 | 2,091 | 1,701 | 3,792 | 55.1% |
| 2020 | 2,141 | 1,858 | 3,999 | 53.5% |
| 2019 | 2,044 | 1,765 | 3,809 | 53.7% |
| 2018 | 1,913 | 1,637 | 3,550 | 53.9% |
| 2017 | 1,930 | 1,712 | 3,642 | 53% |
| 2016 | 1,785 | 1,501 | 3,286 | 54.3% |
| 2015 | 1,877 | 1,648 | 3,525 | 53.2% |
| 2014 | 1,845 | 1,646 | 3,491 | 52.9% |
| 2013 | 1,817 | 1,916 | 3,733 | 48.7% |
| 2012 | 2,016 | 2,252 | 4,268 | 47.2% |
| 2011 | 2,051 | 2,309 | 4,360 | 47% |
| 2010 | 1,994 | 2,244 | 4,238 | 47.1% |
| 2009 | 2,131 | 2,486 | 4,617 | 46.2% |
| 2008 | 2,121 | 2,350 | 4,471 | 47.4% |
| 2007 | 2,516 | 2,387 | 4,903 | 51.3% |
| 2006 | 2,361 | 2,337 | 4,698 | 50.3% |
| 2005 | 2,520 | 2,277 | 4,797 | 52.5% |
See full Jefferson County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Jefferson County ran 71.6% adult, 16.1% yearling, and 12.4% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,461 | 776 | 597 | 4,834 |
| 2023 | 2,996 | 730 | 521 | 4,247 |
| 2022 | 2,765 | 621 | 545 | 3,931 |
| 2021 | 2,604 | 623 | 565 | 3,792 |
| 2020 | 2,760 | 656 | 583 | 3,999 |
| 2019 | 2,535 | 761 | 513 | 3,809 |
| 2018 | 2,321 | 696 | 533 | 3,550 |
| 2017 | 2,354 | 714 | 574 | 3,642 |
| 2016 | 2,148 | 634 | 504 | 3,286 |
| 2015 | 2,226 | 687 | 612 | 3,525 |
| 2014 | 2,252 | 602 | 637 | 3,491 |
| 2013 | 2,405 | 626 | 702 | 3,733 |
| 2012 | 2,610 | 662 | 996 | 4,268 |
| 2011 | 2,783 | 684 | 893 | 4,360 |
| 2010 | 2,729 | 628 | 881 | 4,238 |
| 2009 | 3,019 | 657 | 941 | 4,617 |
| 2008 | 2,876 | 707 | 888 | 4,471 |
| 2007 | 2,990 | 736 | 1,177 | 4,903 |
| 2006 | 2,802 | 761 | 1,135 | 4,698 |
| 2005 | 2,853 | 830 | 1,109 | 4,792 |
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 Jefferson 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: 308,373 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Jefferson County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Jefferson County scores 49.5 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #62 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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has a Trophy Index of 78 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 Jefferson County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 4 sites in Jefferson County, including Rend Lake, Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Jefferson County last season?
IDNR records show 4,834 deer harvested in Jefferson County in 2024, the most recent reported season.