Illinois deer research / Lake County
Lake County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Northern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 39.5, ranked #84 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
D - AverageWhat drives the Lake County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
98→ 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 | 303 | 11 | 314 |
| 2023 | 311 | 4 | 315 |
| 2022 | 286 | 3 | 289 |
| 2021 | 254 | 3 | 257 |
| 2020 | 384 | 1 | 385 |
| 2019 | 290 | 5 | 295 |
| 2018 | 309 | 1 | 310 |
| 2017 | 325 | 1 | 326 |
| 2016 | 273 | 4 | 277 |
| 2015 | 461 | 4 | 465 |
| 2014 | 460 | 3 | 463 |
| 2013 | 423 | 3 | 426 |
| 2012 | 423 | 8 | 431 |
| 2011 | 446 | 5 | 451 |
| 2010 | 449 | 5 | 454 |
| 2009 | 489 | 3 | 492 |
| 2008 | 444 | 9 | 453 |
| 2007 | 442 | 22 | 464 |
| 2006 | 488 | 0 | 488 |
| 2005 | 463 | 0 | 463 |
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: Lake County averages 2.80 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Lake County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Lake County ran 223 bucks (males) and 91 does (females): 71% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 223 | 91 | 314 | 71% |
| 2023 | 227 | 88 | 315 | 72.1% |
| 2022 | 197 | 92 | 289 | 68.2% |
| 2021 | 165 | 92 | 257 | 64.2% |
| 2020 | 242 | 143 | 385 | 62.9% |
| 2019 | 207 | 88 | 295 | 70.2% |
| 2018 | 207 | 103 | 310 | 66.8% |
| 2017 | 227 | 99 | 326 | 69.6% |
| 2016 | 178 | 99 | 277 | 64.3% |
| 2015 | 272 | 193 | 465 | 58.5% |
| 2014 | 290 | 173 | 463 | 62.6% |
| 2013 | 265 | 161 | 426 | 62.2% |
| 2012 | 248 | 183 | 431 | 57.5% |
| 2011 | 264 | 187 | 451 | 58.5% |
| 2010 | 276 | 178 | 454 | 60.8% |
| 2009 | 297 | 195 | 492 | 60.4% |
| 2008 | 278 | 175 | 453 | 61.4% |
| 2007 | 254 | 210 | 464 | 54.7% |
| 2006 | 260 | 228 | 488 | 53.3% |
| 2005 | 291 | 172 | 463 | 62.9% |
See full Lake County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Lake County ran 58.6% adult, 33.4% yearling, and 8% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 184 | 105 | 25 | 314 |
| 2023 | 205 | 88 | 22 | 315 |
| 2022 | 195 | 69 | 25 | 289 |
| 2021 | 173 | 67 | 17 | 257 |
| 2020 | 257 | 86 | 42 | 385 |
| 2019 | 186 | 87 | 22 | 295 |
| 2018 | 204 | 82 | 24 | 310 |
| 2017 | 197 | 98 | 31 | 326 |
| 2016 | 161 | 67 | 49 | 277 |
| 2015 | 317 | 97 | 51 | 465 |
| 2014 | 321 | 109 | 33 | 463 |
| 2013 | 272 | 107 | 47 | 426 |
| 2012 | 291 | 79 | 61 | 431 |
| 2011 | 299 | 97 | 55 | 451 |
| 2010 | 293 | 106 | 55 | 454 |
| 2009 | 323 | 111 | 58 | 492 |
| 2008 | 290 | 105 | 58 | 453 |
| 2007 | 311 | 92 | 61 | 464 |
| 2006 | 312 | 98 | 78 | 488 |
| 2005 | 314 | 75 | 72 | 461 |
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 Lake 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: 43,934 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Lake County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Lake 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 Lake County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Lake County scores 39.5 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (D - Average), ranked #84 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 Lake County?
Lake County has a Trophy Index of 98 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 Lake County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 19 sites in Lake County, including Chain O'Lakes State Park, Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, Red Wing Slough. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Lake County last season?
IDNR records show 314 deer harvested in Lake County in 2024, the most recent reported season.