Illinois deer research / Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Northern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 43.5, ranked #74 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Jo Daviess County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
95↓ 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 | 928 | 1,417 | 2,674 |
| 2023 | 972 | 1,465 | 2,684 |
| 2022 | 953 | 1,338 | 2,649 |
| 2021 | 982 | 1,315 | 2,589 |
| 2020 | 1,209 | 1,657 | 3,229 |
| 2019 | 1,129 | 1,554 | 2,998 |
| 2018 | 1,090 | 1,808 | 3,340 |
| 2017 | 1,022 | 1,986 | 3,326 |
| 2016 | 975 | 2,018 | 3,493 |
| 2015 | 1,083 | 2,227 | 3,832 |
| 2014 | 1,130 | 2,123 | 3,763 |
| 2013 | 1,060 | 2,034 | 3,556 |
| 2012 | 1,057 | 2,671 | 4,364 |
| 2011 | 1,013 | 2,369 | 3,886 |
| 2010 | 1,029 | 2,932 | 3,961 |
| 2009 | 1,060 | 3,104 | 4,164 |
| 2008 | 864 | 2,856 | 3,720 |
| 2007 | 890 | 3,211 | 4,101 |
| 2006 | 804 | 3,085 | 3,889 |
| 2005 | 735 | 2,960 | 3,695 |
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: Jo Daviess County averages 2.77 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Jo Daviess County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Jo Daviess County ran 1,444 bucks (males) and 1,230 does (females): 54% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,444 | 1,230 | 2,674 | 54% |
| 2023 | 1,520 | 1,164 | 2,684 | 56.6% |
| 2022 | 1,487 | 1,162 | 2,649 | 56.1% |
| 2021 | 1,425 | 1,164 | 2,589 | 55% |
| 2020 | 1,709 | 1,520 | 3,229 | 52.9% |
| 2019 | 1,637 | 1,361 | 2,998 | 54.6% |
| 2018 | 1,817 | 1,523 | 3,340 | 54.4% |
| 2017 | 1,904 | 1,422 | 3,326 | 57.2% |
| 2016 | 1,884 | 1,609 | 3,493 | 53.9% |
| 2015 | 2,054 | 1,778 | 3,832 | 53.6% |
| 2014 | 1,987 | 1,776 | 3,763 | 52.8% |
| 2013 | 1,802 | 1,754 | 3,556 | 50.7% |
| 2012 | 2,373 | 1,991 | 4,364 | 54.4% |
| 2011 | 2,061 | 1,825 | 3,886 | 53% |
| 2010 | 1,998 | 1,963 | 3,961 | 50.4% |
| 2009 | 1,997 | 2,167 | 4,164 | 48% |
| 2008 | 1,837 | 1,883 | 3,720 | 49.4% |
| 2007 | 2,263 | 1,838 | 4,101 | 55.2% |
| 2006 | 2,081 | 1,808 | 3,889 | 53.5% |
| 2005 | 2,059 | 1,636 | 3,695 | 55.7% |
See full Jo Daviess County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Jo Daviess County ran 67.2% adult, 15.6% yearling, and 17.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,798 | 418 | 458 | 2,674 |
| 2023 | 1,865 | 446 | 373 | 2,684 |
| 2022 | 1,793 | 410 | 441 | 2,644 |
| 2021 | 1,829 | 380 | 374 | 2,583 |
| 2020 | 2,207 | 583 | 439 | 3,229 |
| 2019 | 1,992 | 529 | 477 | 2,998 |
| 2018 | 2,241 | 526 | 573 | 3,340 |
| 2017 | 2,102 | 620 | 604 | 3,326 |
| 2016 | 2,234 | 552 | 707 | 3,493 |
| 2015 | 2,401 | 636 | 795 | 3,832 |
| 2014 | 2,326 | 614 | 822 | 3,762 |
| 2013 | 2,074 | 517 | 965 | 3,556 |
| 2012 | 2,641 | 678 | 1,045 | 4,364 |
| 2011 | 2,322 | 694 | 870 | 3,886 |
| 2010 | 2,440 | 530 | 991 | 3,961 |
| 2009 | 2,506 | 565 | 1,093 | 4,164 |
| 2008 | 2,222 | 584 | 914 | 3,720 |
| 2007 | 2,409 | 661 | 1,031 | 4,101 |
| 2006 | 2,308 | 612 | 969 | 3,889 |
| 2005 | 2,217 | 572 | 879 | 3,668 |
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 Jo Daviess 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: 321,482 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Jo Daviess County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Jo Daviess 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 Jo Daviess County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Jo Daviess County scores 43.5 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #74 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 Jo Daviess County?
Jo Daviess County has a Trophy Index of 95 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 Jo Daviess County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 7 sites in Jo Daviess County, including Apple River Canyon State Park, Witkowsky State Fish and Wildlife Area, Hanover Bluff State Natural Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Jo Daviess County last season?
IDNR records show 2,674 deer harvested in Jo Daviess County in 2024, the most recent reported season.