Illinois deer research / Piatt County
Piatt County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 61.6, ranked #14 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Piatt County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
50↑ 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 | 298 | 162 | 460 |
| 2023 | 261 | 134 | 395 |
| 2022 | 246 | 148 | 394 |
| 2021 | 242 | 121 | 363 |
| 2020 | 285 | 151 | 436 |
| 2019 | 262 | 134 | 396 |
| 2018 | 182 | 126 | 308 |
| 2017 | 174 | 112 | 286 |
| 2016 | 129 | 124 | 253 |
| 2015 | 124 | 107 | 231 |
| 2014 | 162 | 130 | 292 |
| 2013 | 185 | 139 | 324 |
| 2012 | 192 | 209 | 401 |
| 2011 | 251 | 204 | 455 |
| 2010 | 250 | 214 | 464 |
| 2009 | 234 | 213 | 447 |
| 2008 | 226 | 215 | 441 |
| 2007 | 228 | 255 | 483 |
| 2006 | 290 | 234 | 524 |
| 2005 | 321 | 298 | 619 |
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: Piatt County averages 0.47 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Piatt County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Piatt County ran 256 bucks (males) and 204 does (females): 55.7% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 256 | 204 | 460 | 55.7% |
| 2023 | 232 | 163 | 395 | 58.7% |
| 2022 | 222 | 172 | 394 | 56.3% |
| 2021 | 229 | 134 | 363 | 63.1% |
| 2020 | 262 | 174 | 436 | 60.1% |
| 2019 | 227 | 169 | 396 | 57.3% |
| 2018 | 175 | 133 | 308 | 56.8% |
| 2017 | 163 | 123 | 286 | 57% |
| 2016 | 155 | 98 | 253 | 61.3% |
| 2015 | 138 | 93 | 231 | 59.7% |
| 2014 | 140 | 152 | 292 | 47.9% |
| 2013 | 161 | 163 | 324 | 49.7% |
| 2012 | 205 | 196 | 401 | 51.1% |
| 2011 | 226 | 229 | 455 | 49.7% |
| 2010 | 242 | 222 | 464 | 52.2% |
| 2009 | 232 | 215 | 447 | 51.9% |
| 2008 | 226 | 215 | 441 | 51.2% |
| 2007 | 272 | 211 | 483 | 56.3% |
| 2006 | 307 | 217 | 524 | 58.6% |
| 2005 | 340 | 279 | 619 | 54.9% |
See full Piatt County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Piatt County ran 75% adult, 17% yearling, and 8% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 345 | 78 | 37 | 460 |
| 2023 | 279 | 71 | 45 | 395 |
| 2022 | 285 | 66 | 43 | 394 |
| 2021 | 260 | 58 | 45 | 363 |
| 2020 | 298 | 82 | 56 | 436 |
| 2019 | 272 | 81 | 43 | 396 |
| 2018 | 208 | 63 | 37 | 308 |
| 2017 | 209 | 55 | 22 | 286 |
| 2016 | 168 | 53 | 32 | 253 |
| 2015 | 156 | 41 | 34 | 231 |
| 2014 | 194 | 55 | 43 | 292 |
| 2013 | 214 | 53 | 57 | 324 |
| 2012 | 261 | 71 | 69 | 401 |
| 2011 | 291 | 77 | 87 | 455 |
| 2010 | 311 | 65 | 88 | 464 |
| 2009 | 289 | 73 | 85 | 447 |
| 2008 | 297 | 66 | 78 | 441 |
| 2007 | 311 | 94 | 78 | 483 |
| 2006 | 336 | 86 | 102 | 524 |
| 2005 | 402 | 102 | 115 | 619 |
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 Piatt 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: 253,410 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Piatt County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Piatt 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 Piatt County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Piatt County scores 61.6 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #14 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 Piatt County?
Piatt County has a Trophy Index of 50 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 Piatt County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 2 sites in Piatt County, including Robert Allerton Park, Piatt County Unit State Fish and Wildlife Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Piatt County last season?
IDNR records show 460 deer harvested in Piatt County in 2024, the most recent reported season.