Illinois deer research / Randolph County
Randolph County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 52.7, ranked #48 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Randolph County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
80→ 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 | 1,213 | 3,040 | 4,253 |
| 2023 | 1,259 | 2,797 | 4,056 |
| 2022 | 1,215 | 2,873 | 4,088 |
| 2021 | 1,262 | 2,307 | 3,569 |
| 2020 | 1,421 | 2,472 | 3,893 |
| 2019 | 1,289 | 2,505 | 3,794 |
| 2018 | 1,104 | 2,483 | 3,587 |
| 2017 | 1,087 | 2,596 | 3,683 |
| 2016 | 1,005 | 2,508 | 3,513 |
| 2015 | 972 | 2,498 | 3,470 |
| 2014 | 998 | 2,126 | 3,124 |
| 2013 | 943 | 2,369 | 3,312 |
| 2012 | 856 | 2,821 | 3,677 |
| 2011 | 888 | 2,738 | 3,626 |
| 2010 | 919 | 2,672 | 3,591 |
| 2009 | 877 | 2,803 | 3,680 |
| 2008 | 941 | 2,915 | 3,856 |
| 2007 | 919 | 3,035 | 3,954 |
| 2006 | 940 | 3,199 | 4,139 |
| 2005 | 962 | 3,025 | 3,987 |
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: Randolph County averages 3.00 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Randolph County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Randolph County ran 2,074 bucks (males) and 2,179 does (females): 48.8% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,074 | 2,179 | 4,253 | 48.8% |
| 2023 | 2,090 | 1,966 | 4,056 | 51.5% |
| 2022 | 2,053 | 2,035 | 4,088 | 50.2% |
| 2021 | 1,939 | 1,630 | 3,569 | 54.3% |
| 2020 | 2,049 | 1,844 | 3,893 | 52.6% |
| 2019 | 2,037 | 1,757 | 3,794 | 53.7% |
| 2018 | 1,971 | 1,616 | 3,587 | 54.9% |
| 2017 | 1,992 | 1,691 | 3,683 | 54.1% |
| 2016 | 1,972 | 1,541 | 3,513 | 56.1% |
| 2015 | 1,897 | 1,573 | 3,470 | 54.7% |
| 2014 | 1,714 | 1,410 | 3,124 | 54.9% |
| 2013 | 1,678 | 1,634 | 3,312 | 50.7% |
| 2012 | 1,823 | 1,854 | 3,677 | 49.6% |
| 2011 | 1,780 | 1,846 | 3,626 | 49.1% |
| 2010 | 1,837 | 1,754 | 3,591 | 51.2% |
| 2009 | 1,756 | 1,924 | 3,680 | 47.7% |
| 2008 | 1,953 | 1,903 | 3,856 | 50.6% |
| 2007 | 2,088 | 1,866 | 3,954 | 52.8% |
| 2006 | 2,187 | 1,952 | 4,139 | 52.8% |
| 2005 | 2,125 | 1,862 | 3,987 | 53.3% |
See full Randolph County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Randolph County ran 69.1% adult, 15.2% yearling, and 15.7% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,938 | 648 | 667 | 4,253 |
| 2023 | 2,861 | 612 | 583 | 4,056 |
| 2022 | 2,856 | 587 | 645 | 4,088 |
| 2021 | 2,427 | 562 | 580 | 3,569 |
| 2020 | 2,739 | 633 | 521 | 3,893 |
| 2019 | 2,623 | 650 | 521 | 3,794 |
| 2018 | 2,322 | 710 | 555 | 3,587 |
| 2017 | 2,451 | 591 | 641 | 3,683 |
| 2016 | 2,329 | 624 | 560 | 3,513 |
| 2015 | 2,254 | 631 | 585 | 3,470 |
| 2014 | 2,034 | 562 | 528 | 3,124 |
| 2013 | 2,131 | 538 | 643 | 3,312 |
| 2012 | 2,319 | 574 | 784 | 3,677 |
| 2011 | 2,358 | 535 | 733 | 3,626 |
| 2010 | 2,292 | 550 | 749 | 3,591 |
| 2009 | 2,410 | 492 | 778 | 3,680 |
| 2008 | 2,525 | 650 | 681 | 3,856 |
| 2007 | 2,374 | 655 | 925 | 3,954 |
| 2006 | 2,462 | 721 | 955 | 4,138 |
| 2005 | 2,359 | 690 | 927 | 3,976 |
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 Randolph 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: 320,037 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Randolph County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Randolph 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 Randolph County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Randolph County scores 52.7 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #48 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 Randolph County?
Randolph County has a Trophy Index of 80 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 Randolph County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 5 sites in Randolph County, including Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area, Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area, Randolph County State Recreation Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Randolph County last season?
IDNR records show 4,253 deer harvested in Randolph County in 2024, the most recent reported season.