Illinois deer research / Mercer County
Mercer County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 56.1, ranked #35 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Mercer County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
81↓ 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 | 590 | 989 | 1,579 |
| 2023 | 575 | 975 | 1,550 |
| 2022 | 532 | 937 | 1,469 |
| 2021 | 498 | 890 | 1,388 |
| 2020 | 624 | 984 | 1,608 |
| 2019 | 538 | 927 | 1,465 |
| 2018 | 520 | 1,026 | 1,546 |
| 2017 | 504 | 975 | 1,479 |
| 2016 | 415 | 1,076 | 1,491 |
| 2015 | 519 | 1,086 | 1,605 |
| 2014 | 418 | 940 | 1,358 |
| 2013 | 404 | 967 | 1,371 |
| 2012 | 384 | 1,201 | 1,585 |
| 2011 | 423 | 1,137 | 1,560 |
| 2010 | 427 | 1,174 | 1,601 |
| 2009 | 411 | 1,115 | 1,526 |
| 2008 | 387 | 1,128 | 1,515 |
| 2007 | 382 | 1,213 | 1,595 |
| 2006 | 451 | 1,172 | 1,623 |
| 2005 | 390 | 1,162 | 1,552 |
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: Mercer County averages 1.14 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Mercer County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Mercer County ran 828 bucks (males) and 751 does (females): 52.4% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 828 | 751 | 1,579 | 52.4% |
| 2023 | 878 | 672 | 1,550 | 56.6% |
| 2022 | 804 | 665 | 1,469 | 54.7% |
| 2021 | 769 | 619 | 1,388 | 55.4% |
| 2020 | 894 | 714 | 1,608 | 55.6% |
| 2019 | 764 | 701 | 1,465 | 52.2% |
| 2018 | 823 | 723 | 1,546 | 53.2% |
| 2017 | 830 | 649 | 1,479 | 56.1% |
| 2016 | 788 | 703 | 1,491 | 52.9% |
| 2015 | 826 | 779 | 1,605 | 51.5% |
| 2014 | 677 | 681 | 1,358 | 49.9% |
| 2013 | 688 | 683 | 1,371 | 50.2% |
| 2012 | 821 | 764 | 1,585 | 51.8% |
| 2011 | 798 | 762 | 1,560 | 51.2% |
| 2010 | 773 | 828 | 1,601 | 48.3% |
| 2009 | 771 | 755 | 1,526 | 50.5% |
| 2008 | 780 | 735 | 1,515 | 51.5% |
| 2007 | 877 | 718 | 1,595 | 55% |
| 2006 | 913 | 710 | 1,623 | 56.3% |
| 2005 | 879 | 673 | 1,552 | 56.6% |
See full Mercer County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Mercer County ran 68.7% adult, 14.4% yearling, and 17% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,084 | 227 | 268 | 1,579 |
| 2023 | 1,056 | 253 | 241 | 1,550 |
| 2022 | 1,011 | 216 | 242 | 1,469 |
| 2021 | 931 | 215 | 242 | 1,388 |
| 2020 | 1,090 | 264 | 254 | 1,608 |
| 2019 | 921 | 241 | 303 | 1,465 |
| 2018 | 989 | 235 | 322 | 1,546 |
| 2017 | 932 | 248 | 299 | 1,479 |
| 2016 | 949 | 216 | 326 | 1,491 |
| 2015 | 962 | 241 | 402 | 1,605 |
| 2014 | 836 | 234 | 288 | 1,358 |
| 2013 | 778 | 228 | 365 | 1,371 |
| 2012 | 984 | 211 | 390 | 1,585 |
| 2011 | 976 | 234 | 350 | 1,560 |
| 2010 | 990 | 241 | 370 | 1,601 |
| 2009 | 891 | 235 | 400 | 1,526 |
| 2008 | 929 | 227 | 359 | 1,515 |
| 2007 | 927 | 280 | 388 | 1,595 |
| 2006 | 961 | 272 | 390 | 1,623 |
| 2005 | 909 | 260 | 383 | 1,552 |
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 Mercer 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: 330,277 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Mercer County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Mercer 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 Mercer County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Mercer County scores 56.1 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #35 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 Mercer County?
Mercer County has a Trophy Index of 81 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 Mercer County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 1 site in Mercer County, including Mississippi River Pool #17. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Mercer County last season?
IDNR records show 1,579 deer harvested in Mercer County in 2024, the most recent reported season.