Illinois deer research / McDonough County
McDonough County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 57, ranked #29 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the McDonough County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
79↓ 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 | 663 | 988 | 1,651 |
| 2023 | 642 | 958 | 1,600 |
| 2022 | 631 | 986 | 1,617 |
| 2021 | 641 | 888 | 1,529 |
| 2020 | 650 | 956 | 1,606 |
| 2019 | 577 | 852 | 1,429 |
| 2018 | 583 | 1,012 | 1,595 |
| 2017 | 536 | 969 | 1,505 |
| 2016 | 503 | 1,013 | 1,516 |
| 2015 | 448 | 1,037 | 1,485 |
| 2014 | 461 | 923 | 1,384 |
| 2013 | 471 | 992 | 1,463 |
| 2012 | 485 | 1,343 | 1,828 |
| 2011 | 562 | 1,321 | 1,883 |
| 2010 | 562 | 1,321 | 1,883 |
| 2009 | 610 | 1,475 | 2,085 |
| 2008 | 617 | 1,328 | 1,945 |
| 2007 | 601 | 1,407 | 2,008 |
| 2006 | 544 | 1,311 | 1,855 |
| 2005 | 593 | 1,440 | 2,033 |
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: McDonough County averages 1.32 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full McDonough County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, McDonough County ran 821 bucks (males) and 830 does (females): 49.7% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 821 | 830 | 1,651 | 49.7% |
| 2023 | 903 | 697 | 1,600 | 56.4% |
| 2022 | 815 | 802 | 1,617 | 50.4% |
| 2021 | 833 | 696 | 1,529 | 54.5% |
| 2020 | 826 | 780 | 1,606 | 51.4% |
| 2019 | 759 | 670 | 1,429 | 53.1% |
| 2018 | 850 | 745 | 1,595 | 53.3% |
| 2017 | 841 | 664 | 1,505 | 55.9% |
| 2016 | 864 | 652 | 1,516 | 57% |
| 2015 | 744 | 741 | 1,485 | 50.1% |
| 2014 | 688 | 696 | 1,384 | 49.7% |
| 2013 | 711 | 752 | 1,463 | 48.6% |
| 2012 | 920 | 908 | 1,828 | 50.3% |
| 2011 | 965 | 918 | 1,883 | 51.2% |
| 2010 | 942 | 941 | 1,883 | 50% |
| 2009 | 997 | 1,088 | 2,085 | 47.8% |
| 2008 | 989 | 956 | 1,945 | 50.8% |
| 2007 | 1,109 | 899 | 2,008 | 55.2% |
| 2006 | 1,028 | 827 | 1,855 | 55.4% |
| 2005 | 1,089 | 944 | 2,033 | 53.6% |
See full McDonough County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, McDonough County ran 71% adult, 13.9% yearling, and 15.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,172 | 230 | 249 | 1,651 |
| 2023 | 1,120 | 235 | 245 | 1,600 |
| 2022 | 1,158 | 220 | 239 | 1,617 |
| 2021 | 1,061 | 222 | 246 | 1,529 |
| 2020 | 1,130 | 219 | 257 | 1,606 |
| 2019 | 941 | 226 | 262 | 1,429 |
| 2018 | 1,052 | 230 | 313 | 1,595 |
| 2017 | 1,027 | 219 | 259 | 1,505 |
| 2016 | 997 | 258 | 261 | 1,516 |
| 2015 | 939 | 213 | 333 | 1,485 |
| 2014 | 865 | 199 | 320 | 1,384 |
| 2013 | 875 | 225 | 363 | 1,463 |
| 2012 | 1,085 | 216 | 527 | 1,828 |
| 2011 | 1,193 | 280 | 410 | 1,883 |
| 2010 | 1,172 | 259 | 452 | 1,883 |
| 2009 | 1,279 | 266 | 540 | 2,085 |
| 2008 | 1,196 | 266 | 483 | 1,945 |
| 2007 | 1,276 | 299 | 433 | 2,008 |
| 2006 | 1,144 | 266 | 445 | 1,855 |
| 2005 | 1,261 | 269 | 496 | 2,026 |
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 McDonough 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: 340,148 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in McDonough County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See McDonough 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 McDonough County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
McDonough County scores 57 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #29 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 McDonough County?
McDonough County has a Trophy Index of 79 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 McDonough County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 1 site in McDonough County, including Argyle Lake State Park. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in McDonough County last season?
IDNR records show 1,651 deer harvested in McDonough County in 2024, the most recent reported season.