Illinois deer research / Richland County
Richland County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 55.9, ranked #36 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Richland County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
82↓ 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 | 565 | 834 | 1,399 |
| 2023 | 559 | 752 | 1,311 |
| 2022 | 527 | 745 | 1,272 |
| 2021 | 520 | 708 | 1,228 |
| 2020 | 570 | 727 | 1,297 |
| 2019 | 537 | 737 | 1,274 |
| 2018 | 429 | 719 | 1,148 |
| 2017 | 440 | 764 | 1,204 |
| 2016 | 385 | 786 | 1,171 |
| 2015 | 384 | 786 | 1,170 |
| 2014 | 386 | 713 | 1,099 |
| 2013 | 377 | 733 | 1,110 |
| 2012 | 416 | 911 | 1,327 |
| 2011 | 412 | 1,000 | 1,412 |
| 2010 | 448 | 981 | 1,429 |
| 2009 | 426 | 1,050 | 1,476 |
| 2008 | 441 | 1,010 | 1,451 |
| 2007 | 428 | 1,166 | 1,594 |
| 2006 | 465 | 1,230 | 1,695 |
| 2005 | 551 | 1,301 | 1,852 |
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: Richland County averages 1.74 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Richland County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Richland County ran 742 bucks (males) and 657 does (females): 53% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 742 | 657 | 1,399 | 53% |
| 2023 | 737 | 574 | 1,311 | 56.2% |
| 2022 | 670 | 602 | 1,272 | 52.7% |
| 2021 | 674 | 554 | 1,228 | 54.9% |
| 2020 | 711 | 586 | 1,297 | 54.8% |
| 2019 | 687 | 587 | 1,274 | 53.9% |
| 2018 | 631 | 517 | 1,148 | 55% |
| 2017 | 657 | 547 | 1,204 | 54.6% |
| 2016 | 621 | 550 | 1,171 | 53% |
| 2015 | 644 | 526 | 1,170 | 55% |
| 2014 | 576 | 523 | 1,099 | 52.4% |
| 2013 | 543 | 567 | 1,110 | 48.9% |
| 2012 | 668 | 659 | 1,327 | 50.3% |
| 2011 | 670 | 742 | 1,412 | 47.5% |
| 2010 | 666 | 763 | 1,429 | 46.6% |
| 2009 | 713 | 763 | 1,476 | 48.3% |
| 2008 | 724 | 727 | 1,451 | 49.9% |
| 2007 | 815 | 779 | 1,594 | 51.1% |
| 2006 | 856 | 839 | 1,695 | 50.5% |
| 2005 | 977 | 875 | 1,852 | 52.8% |
See full Richland County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Richland County ran 69.9% adult, 13.3% yearling, and 16.8% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 978 | 186 | 235 | 1,399 |
| 2023 | 903 | 201 | 207 | 1,311 |
| 2022 | 863 | 191 | 218 | 1,272 |
| 2021 | 819 | 162 | 247 | 1,228 |
| 2020 | 847 | 225 | 225 | 1,297 |
| 2019 | 839 | 210 | 225 | 1,274 |
| 2018 | 704 | 187 | 257 | 1,148 |
| 2017 | 765 | 205 | 234 | 1,204 |
| 2016 | 758 | 189 | 224 | 1,171 |
| 2015 | 714 | 227 | 229 | 1,170 |
| 2014 | 717 | 151 | 231 | 1,099 |
| 2013 | 692 | 174 | 244 | 1,110 |
| 2012 | 758 | 216 | 353 | 1,327 |
| 2011 | 818 | 224 | 370 | 1,412 |
| 2010 | 892 | 197 | 340 | 1,429 |
| 2009 | 944 | 221 | 311 | 1,476 |
| 2008 | 890 | 227 | 334 | 1,451 |
| 2007 | 935 | 209 | 450 | 1,594 |
| 2006 | 992 | 253 | 450 | 1,695 |
| 2005 | 1,100 | 265 | 485 | 1,850 |
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 Richland 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: 193,366 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Richland County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Richland 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 Richland County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Richland County scores 55.9 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #36 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 Richland County?
Richland County has a Trophy Index of 82 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 Richland County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 1 site in Richland County, including Richland County Wildlife Management Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Richland County last season?
IDNR records show 1,399 deer harvested in Richland County in 2024, the most recent reported season.