Illinois deer research / Shelby County

Shelby County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research

Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 59.2, ranked #22 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Buck Index.

B - Strong
59.2 / 100
FDR Herd Index
#22 of 102
Statewide rank
82→
Buck Index
214,223
Bow-huntable acres (10 m estimate)
2,833
2024 deer harvest

What drives the Shelby County index

The FDR Index combines five measured parts into one 0 to 100 score. Each part is scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.

Habitat67
Herd quality46
Population76
Momentum97
Buck Index24

Buck Index

82→ out of 100. How this county ranks on the Buck Index against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Land is measured as what a hunter can actually hunt (10 m estimate).

Hunting pressure

Pressure Index 4.8 / 10 (Middle). About 5.4 deer hunters per square mile of huntable land: 48th percentile of 3,051 rated counties in 48 states, 66th percentile within Illinois. How often deer run into people, 0 to 10 on one scale across every rated state; 10 is the most crowded county in the country.

Modeled. Illinois does not publish hunter numbers by county, so FDR places this county within Illinois from deer harvest per huntable acre (2020 to 2024 seasons) and population density. The model was checked against agency hunter counts in Michigan, Indiana and Missouri, and against agency hunter surveys by hunting unit in 10 more states. It estimates crowding; it is not a hunter count. Illinois averages 5.2 deer hunters per square mile of huntable land (state wildlife agency count, 2023-24 season).

2005–2024 harvest trend

SeasonArcheryFirearmTotal
20241,1821,6512,833
20231,0901,5172,607
20221,0581,4922,550
20211,0571,3852,442
20201,0401,4932,533
20191,0041,2962,300
20188321,3212,153
20177401,2061,946
20166481,2511,899
20156751,3342,009
20146261,1061,732
20136641,0741,738
20126911,4992,190
20118361,7022,538
20107461,6272,373
20097521,7432,495
20087461,6512,397
20077661,7882,554
20067131,7282,441
20058211,6072,428

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: Shelby County averages 2.63 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).

See full Shelby County harvest charts →

Harvest by sex

IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Shelby County ran 1,504 bucks (males) and 1,329 does (females): 53.1% bucks.

SeasonBucks (M)Does (F)Total% bucks
20241,5041,3292,83353.1%
20231,4861,1212,60757%
20221,3521,1982,55053%
20211,4001,0422,44257.3%
20201,4321,1012,53356.5%
20191,2821,0182,30055.7%
20181,1959582,15355.5%
20171,0918551,94656.1%
20161,1047951,89958.1%
20151,1128972,00955.4%
20149308021,73253.7%
20138968421,73851.6%
20121,1361,0542,19051.9%
20111,2281,3102,53848.4%
20101,1181,2552,37347.1%
20091,2221,2732,49549%
20081,1451,2522,39747.8%
20071,4301,1242,55456%
20061,3011,1402,44153.3%
20051,3681,0602,42856.3%

See full Shelby County sex-composition chart →

Age structure

IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Shelby County ran 69.1% adult, 14.8% yearling, and 16.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.

SeasonAdultYearlingFawnTotal
20241,9574204562,833
20231,7844523712,607
20221,7474133902,550
20211,5924434072,442
20201,6434564342,533
20191,4504603902,300
20181,3154174212,153
20171,2063763641,946
20161,1263833901,899
20151,2304063732,009
20141,0432903991,732
20131,0413393581,738
20121,1983816112,190
20111,5683975732,538
20101,4563495682,373
20091,5583875502,495
20081,4843735402,397
20071,5185085282,554
20061,4284235902,441
20051,4464695132,428

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 Shelby County composition charts →

Seasons & access

SeasonMethodDatesTags
Archery · Oct 1 to mid-Janarchery2026-10-01 → 2027-01-17otc
Firearm · 1st + 2nd Shotgun Seasonfirearm2026-11-20 → 2026-12-06otc
Muzzleloader · Decembermuzzleloader2026-12-11 → 2026-12-13otc

Bow-huntable land, public and private: 214,223 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.

Where to hunt public in Shelby County

Eagle Creek State Recreation Area · 2,486 acHidden Springs State Forest · 1,096 acMargaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands State Natural Area · 156 acForest Park · 115 acShelbyville Lake Park · 107 acShelbyville Dam West Access Area · 96 acWolf Creek State Recreation Area · 1 ac

Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.

See Shelby 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.

See all Shelby County charts

Nearby counties

Moultrie · 56.3Effingham · 47.4Fayette · 50.8Macon · 58.7Christian · 54Cumberland · 57Coles · 64.9Piatt · 64.1
← #21 Pike County#23 McLean County →

Frequently asked questions

Is Shelby County, Illinois good for deer hunting?

Shelby County scores 59.2 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #22 of 102 Illinois counties. The index is built from IDNR public harvest records, habitat, herd quality, momentum, and the Buck Index.

What is the Buck Index for Shelby County?

Shelby County has a Buck Index of 82 out of 100. How this county ranks on the Buck Index against every county we cover. 100 is the top. Land is measured as what a hunter can actually hunt (10 m estimate).

Is there public hunting land in Shelby County, Illinois?

Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 7 sites in Shelby County, including Eagle Creek State Recreation Area, Hidden Springs State Forest, Margaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands State Natural Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.

How many deer were harvested in Shelby County last season?

IDNR records show 2,833 deer harvested in Shelby County in 2024, the most recent reported season.

Cite this

Fully Drawn Research. "Shelby County, Illinois deer hunting research." County page. https://www.fullydrawnresearch.ai/research/il/shelby. Accessed Nov 1, 2026.

Data and charts from this page are free to use with attribution. See the Content Lab.

Sources: Illinois DNR public harvest and public-land records, plus FDR's own land data for the Buck Index. Public-record data only: no private contact information, no landowner lists.

Fully Drawn Research is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Historical data and modeled indexes describe the past; they are not a promise of hunting outcomes. Always verify current seasons, permits, and site rules with IDNR before you hunt.

© Fully Drawn Research · FDR Scout