Illinois deer research / Massac County
Massac County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 37, ranked #92 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
D - AverageWhat drives the Massac County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
62↓ 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 | 414 | 420 | 834 |
| 2023 | 389 | 419 | 808 |
| 2022 | 368 | 427 | 795 |
| 2021 | 367 | 413 | 780 |
| 2020 | 402 | 420 | 822 |
| 2019 | 401 | 465 | 866 |
| 2018 | 334 | 479 | 813 |
| 2017 | 328 | 559 | 887 |
| 2016 | 338 | 622 | 960 |
| 2015 | 369 | 709 | 1,078 |
| 2014 | 395 | 603 | 998 |
| 2013 | 398 | 614 | 1,012 |
| 2012 | 377 | 759 | 1,136 |
| 2011 | 404 | 714 | 1,118 |
| 2010 | 393 | 743 | 1,136 |
| 2009 | 332 | 717 | 1,049 |
| 2008 | 439 | 720 | 1,159 |
| 2007 | 384 | 843 | 1,227 |
| 2006 | 336 | 815 | 1,151 |
| 2005 | 397 | 759 | 1,156 |
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: Massac County averages 2.39 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Massac County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Massac County ran 452 bucks (males) and 382 does (females): 54.2% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 452 | 382 | 834 | 54.2% |
| 2023 | 479 | 329 | 808 | 59.3% |
| 2022 | 469 | 326 | 795 | 59% |
| 2021 | 433 | 347 | 780 | 55.5% |
| 2020 | 455 | 367 | 822 | 55.4% |
| 2019 | 477 | 389 | 866 | 55.1% |
| 2018 | 439 | 374 | 813 | 54% |
| 2017 | 487 | 400 | 887 | 54.9% |
| 2016 | 515 | 445 | 960 | 53.6% |
| 2015 | 582 | 496 | 1,078 | 54% |
| 2014 | 505 | 493 | 998 | 50.6% |
| 2013 | 538 | 474 | 1,012 | 53.2% |
| 2012 | 575 | 561 | 1,136 | 50.6% |
| 2011 | 575 | 543 | 1,118 | 51.4% |
| 2010 | 599 | 537 | 1,136 | 52.7% |
| 2009 | 526 | 523 | 1,049 | 50.1% |
| 2008 | 586 | 573 | 1,159 | 50.6% |
| 2007 | 657 | 570 | 1,227 | 53.5% |
| 2006 | 637 | 514 | 1,151 | 55.3% |
| 2005 | 619 | 537 | 1,156 | 53.5% |
See full Massac County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Massac County ran 72.3% adult, 19.3% yearling, and 8.4% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 603 | 161 | 70 | 834 |
| 2023 | 606 | 141 | 61 | 808 |
| 2022 | 586 | 132 | 77 | 795 |
| 2021 | 567 | 130 | 83 | 780 |
| 2020 | 612 | 123 | 87 | 822 |
| 2019 | 638 | 144 | 84 | 866 |
| 2018 | 580 | 148 | 85 | 813 |
| 2017 | 648 | 147 | 92 | 887 |
| 2016 | 692 | 160 | 108 | 960 |
| 2015 | 766 | 177 | 135 | 1,078 |
| 2014 | 695 | 158 | 145 | 998 |
| 2013 | 712 | 174 | 126 | 1,012 |
| 2012 | 767 | 168 | 201 | 1,136 |
| 2011 | 759 | 182 | 177 | 1,118 |
| 2010 | 756 | 182 | 198 | 1,136 |
| 2009 | 720 | 171 | 158 | 1,049 |
| 2008 | 765 | 171 | 223 | 1,159 |
| 2007 | 847 | 163 | 217 | 1,227 |
| 2006 | 738 | 217 | 196 | 1,151 |
| 2005 | 748 | 191 | 216 | 1,155 |
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 Massac 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: 123,358 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Massac County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Massac 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 Massac County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Massac County scores 37 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (D - Average), ranked #92 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 Massac County?
Massac County has a Trophy Index of 62 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 Massac County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 3 sites in Massac County, including Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Fort Massac State Park, Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Massac County last season?
IDNR records show 834 deer harvested in Massac County in 2024, the most recent reported season.