Illinois deer research / Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 52.8, ranked #46 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Montgomery County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
69↓ 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 | 1,026 | 1,172 | 2,198 |
| 2023 | 953 | 993 | 1,946 |
| 2022 | 861 | 965 | 1,826 |
| 2021 | 887 | 851 | 1,738 |
| 2020 | 927 | 881 | 1,808 |
| 2019 | 841 | 871 | 1,712 |
| 2018 | 733 | 848 | 1,581 |
| 2017 | 632 | 837 | 1,469 |
| 2016 | 575 | 842 | 1,417 |
| 2015 | 602 | 996 | 1,598 |
| 2014 | 566 | 981 | 1,547 |
| 2013 | 601 | 961 | 1,562 |
| 2012 | 675 | 1,287 | 1,962 |
| 2011 | 675 | 1,393 | 2,068 |
| 2010 | 701 | 1,308 | 2,009 |
| 2009 | 737 | 1,430 | 2,167 |
| 2008 | 712 | 1,413 | 2,125 |
| 2007 | 674 | 1,677 | 2,351 |
| 2006 | 703 | 1,604 | 2,307 |
| 2005 | 770 | 1,654 | 2,424 |
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: Montgomery County averages 1.18 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Montgomery County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Montgomery County ran 1,176 bucks (males) and 1,022 does (females): 53.5% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,176 | 1,022 | 2,198 | 53.5% |
| 2023 | 1,148 | 798 | 1,946 | 59% |
| 2022 | 1,007 | 819 | 1,826 | 55.1% |
| 2021 | 983 | 755 | 1,738 | 56.6% |
| 2020 | 1,041 | 767 | 1,808 | 57.6% |
| 2019 | 930 | 782 | 1,712 | 54.3% |
| 2018 | 933 | 648 | 1,581 | 59% |
| 2017 | 839 | 630 | 1,469 | 57.1% |
| 2016 | 801 | 616 | 1,417 | 56.5% |
| 2015 | 905 | 693 | 1,598 | 56.6% |
| 2014 | 841 | 706 | 1,547 | 54.4% |
| 2013 | 749 | 813 | 1,562 | 48% |
| 2012 | 962 | 1,000 | 1,962 | 49% |
| 2011 | 1,070 | 998 | 2,068 | 51.7% |
| 2010 | 1,039 | 970 | 2,009 | 51.7% |
| 2009 | 1,126 | 1,041 | 2,167 | 52% |
| 2008 | 1,078 | 1,047 | 2,125 | 50.7% |
| 2007 | 1,232 | 1,119 | 2,351 | 52.4% |
| 2006 | 1,232 | 1,075 | 2,307 | 53.4% |
| 2005 | 1,311 | 1,113 | 2,424 | 54.1% |
See full Montgomery County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Montgomery County ran 67.2% adult, 16.3% yearling, and 16.5% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,477 | 358 | 363 | 2,198 |
| 2023 | 1,331 | 362 | 253 | 1,946 |
| 2022 | 1,207 | 311 | 308 | 1,826 |
| 2021 | 1,162 | 296 | 280 | 1,738 |
| 2020 | 1,231 | 327 | 250 | 1,808 |
| 2019 | 1,152 | 317 | 243 | 1,712 |
| 2018 | 1,028 | 317 | 236 | 1,581 |
| 2017 | 921 | 291 | 257 | 1,469 |
| 2016 | 849 | 278 | 290 | 1,417 |
| 2015 | 937 | 360 | 301 | 1,598 |
| 2014 | 904 | 317 | 326 | 1,547 |
| 2013 | 934 | 257 | 371 | 1,562 |
| 2012 | 1,166 | 328 | 468 | 1,962 |
| 2011 | 1,277 | 339 | 452 | 2,068 |
| 2010 | 1,236 | 334 | 439 | 2,009 |
| 2009 | 1,309 | 362 | 496 | 2,167 |
| 2008 | 1,271 | 369 | 485 | 2,125 |
| 2007 | 1,354 | 451 | 546 | 2,351 |
| 2006 | 1,321 | 418 | 568 | 2,307 |
| 2005 | 1,364 | 430 | 628 | 2,422 |
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 Montgomery 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: 388,119 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Montgomery County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Montgomery County scores 52.8 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #46 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 Montgomery County?
Montgomery County has a Trophy Index of 69 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 Montgomery County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 2 sites in Montgomery County, including Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Freeman Mine State Habitat Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Montgomery County last season?
IDNR records show 2,198 deer harvested in Montgomery County in 2024, the most recent reported season.