Illinois deer research / Kankakee County
Kankakee County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 49.9, ranked #60 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Kankakee County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
63→ 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 | 408 | 206 | 683 |
| 2023 | 342 | 204 | 585 |
| 2022 | 311 | 196 | 553 |
| 2021 | 277 | 199 | 527 |
| 2020 | 336 | 206 | 592 |
| 2019 | 305 | 219 | 558 |
| 2018 | 318 | 220 | 599 |
| 2017 | 261 | 211 | 506 |
| 2016 | 281 | 210 | 546 |
| 2015 | 275 | 209 | 546 |
| 2014 | 308 | 207 | 515 |
| 2013 | 350 | 235 | 585 |
| 2012 | 319 | 278 | 597 |
| 2011 | 322 | 242 | 564 |
| 2010 | 317 | 250 | 567 |
| 2009 | 344 | 229 | 573 |
| 2008 | 324 | 255 | 579 |
| 2007 | 325 | 301 | 626 |
| 2006 | 268 | 288 | 556 |
| 2005 | 337 | 296 | 633 |
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: Kankakee County averages 0.44 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Kankakee County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Kankakee County ran 398 bucks (males) and 285 does (females): 58.3% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 398 | 285 | 683 | 58.3% |
| 2023 | 358 | 227 | 585 | 61.2% |
| 2022 | 317 | 236 | 553 | 57.3% |
| 2021 | 316 | 211 | 527 | 60% |
| 2020 | 329 | 263 | 592 | 55.6% |
| 2019 | 320 | 238 | 558 | 57.3% |
| 2018 | 357 | 242 | 599 | 59.6% |
| 2017 | 289 | 217 | 506 | 57.1% |
| 2016 | 301 | 245 | 546 | 55.1% |
| 2015 | 283 | 263 | 546 | 51.8% |
| 2014 | 287 | 228 | 515 | 55.7% |
| 2013 | 314 | 271 | 585 | 53.7% |
| 2012 | 328 | 269 | 597 | 54.9% |
| 2011 | 313 | 251 | 564 | 55.5% |
| 2010 | 308 | 259 | 567 | 54.3% |
| 2009 | 324 | 249 | 573 | 56.5% |
| 2008 | 301 | 278 | 579 | 52% |
| 2007 | 367 | 259 | 626 | 58.6% |
| 2006 | 313 | 243 | 556 | 56.3% |
| 2005 | 339 | 294 | 633 | 53.6% |
See full Kankakee County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Kankakee County ran 66% adult, 19.9% yearling, and 14.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 451 | 136 | 96 | 683 |
| 2023 | 380 | 122 | 83 | 585 |
| 2022 | 367 | 98 | 87 | 552 |
| 2021 | 337 | 110 | 79 | 526 |
| 2020 | 376 | 132 | 84 | 592 |
| 2019 | 350 | 138 | 69 | 557 |
| 2018 | 349 | 150 | 100 | 599 |
| 2017 | 302 | 123 | 81 | 506 |
| 2016 | 320 | 122 | 104 | 546 |
| 2015 | 352 | 98 | 96 | 546 |
| 2014 | 312 | 128 | 75 | 515 |
| 2013 | 353 | 117 | 115 | 585 |
| 2012 | 369 | 111 | 117 | 597 |
| 2011 | 339 | 109 | 116 | 564 |
| 2010 | 385 | 95 | 87 | 567 |
| 2009 | 352 | 131 | 90 | 573 |
| 2008 | 387 | 96 | 96 | 579 |
| 2007 | 385 | 117 | 124 | 626 |
| 2006 | 347 | 115 | 94 | 556 |
| 2005 | 431 | 106 | 96 | 633 |
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 Kankakee 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: 336,140 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Kankakee County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Kankakee 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 Kankakee County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Kankakee County scores 49.9 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #60 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 Kankakee County?
Kankakee County has a Trophy Index of 63 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 Kankakee County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 5 sites in Kankakee County, including Kankakee River State Park, Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Kankakee County last season?
IDNR records show 683 deer harvested in Kankakee County in 2024, the most recent reported season.