Illinois deer research / LaSalle County
LaSalle County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 45.3, ranked #69 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the LaSalle County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
60↓ 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 | 704 | 624 | 1,504 |
| 2023 | 847 | 743 | 1,713 |
| 2022 | 770 | 681 | 1,637 |
| 2021 | 712 | 594 | 1,469 |
| 2020 | 850 | 744 | 1,790 |
| 2019 | 718 | 753 | 1,584 |
| 2018 | 743 | 795 | 1,700 |
| 2017 | 651 | 711 | 1,480 |
| 2016 | 687 | 804 | 1,640 |
| 2015 | 722 | 875 | 1,786 |
| 2014 | 753 | 854 | 1,747 |
| 2013 | 844 | 884 | 1,892 |
| 2012 | 918 | 1,273 | 2,457 |
| 2011 | 1,020 | 1,236 | 2,499 |
| 2010 | 1,138 | 1,627 | 2,765 |
| 2009 | 1,291 | 1,656 | 2,947 |
| 2008 | 1,171 | 1,709 | 2,880 |
| 2007 | 1,157 | 1,694 | 3,170 |
| 2006 | 1,190 | 1,605 | 2,795 |
| 2005 | 1,231 | 1,759 | 2,990 |
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: LaSalle County averages 0.77 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full LaSalle County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, LaSalle County ran 852 bucks (males) and 652 does (females): 56.6% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 852 | 652 | 1,504 | 56.6% |
| 2023 | 1,059 | 654 | 1,713 | 61.8% |
| 2022 | 904 | 733 | 1,637 | 55.2% |
| 2021 | 807 | 662 | 1,469 | 54.9% |
| 2020 | 983 | 807 | 1,790 | 54.9% |
| 2019 | 882 | 702 | 1,584 | 55.7% |
| 2018 | 951 | 749 | 1,700 | 55.9% |
| 2017 | 843 | 637 | 1,480 | 57% |
| 2016 | 891 | 749 | 1,640 | 54.3% |
| 2015 | 954 | 832 | 1,786 | 53.4% |
| 2014 | 958 | 789 | 1,747 | 54.8% |
| 2013 | 923 | 969 | 1,892 | 48.8% |
| 2012 | 1,284 | 1,173 | 2,457 | 52.3% |
| 2011 | 1,209 | 1,290 | 2,499 | 48.4% |
| 2010 | 1,363 | 1,402 | 2,765 | 49.3% |
| 2009 | 1,346 | 1,601 | 2,947 | 45.7% |
| 2008 | 1,382 | 1,498 | 2,880 | 48% |
| 2007 | 1,660 | 1,510 | 3,170 | 52.4% |
| 2006 | 1,478 | 1,317 | 2,795 | 52.9% |
| 2005 | 1,582 | 1,408 | 2,990 | 52.9% |
See full LaSalle County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, LaSalle County ran 61.9% adult, 20.3% yearling, and 17.8% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 931 | 305 | 268 | 1,504 |
| 2023 | 1,112 | 372 | 229 | 1,713 |
| 2022 | 1,078 | 308 | 244 | 1,630 |
| 2021 | 926 | 293 | 247 | 1,466 |
| 2020 | 1,120 | 377 | 293 | 1,790 |
| 2019 | 1,013 | 327 | 244 | 1,584 |
| 2018 | 1,026 | 371 | 303 | 1,700 |
| 2017 | 859 | 356 | 265 | 1,480 |
| 2016 | 986 | 334 | 320 | 1,640 |
| 2015 | 998 | 383 | 404 | 1,785 |
| 2014 | 943 | 433 | 371 | 1,747 |
| 2013 | 1,079 | 338 | 475 | 1,892 |
| 2012 | 1,461 | 457 | 539 | 2,457 |
| 2011 | 1,506 | 459 | 534 | 2,499 |
| 2010 | 1,689 | 410 | 666 | 2,765 |
| 2009 | 1,781 | 444 | 721 | 2,946 |
| 2008 | 1,638 | 490 | 750 | 2,878 |
| 2007 | 1,897 | 503 | 769 | 3,169 |
| 2006 | 1,685 | 423 | 687 | 2,795 |
| 2005 | 1,849 | 449 | 685 | 2,983 |
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 LaSalle 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: 607,729 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in LaSalle County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See LaSalle 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 LaSalle County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
LaSalle County scores 45.3 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #69 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 LaSalle County?
LaSalle County has a Trophy Index of 60 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 LaSalle County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 10 sites in LaSalle County, including Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in LaSalle County last season?
IDNR records show 1,504 deer harvested in LaSalle County in 2024, the most recent reported season.