Illinois deer research / Warren County
Warren County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 59.1, ranked #21 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Warren County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
75→ 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 | 346 | 542 | 888 |
| 2023 | 333 | 531 | 864 |
| 2022 | 279 | 485 | 764 |
| 2021 | 286 | 454 | 740 |
| 2020 | 317 | 498 | 815 |
| 2019 | 281 | 488 | 769 |
| 2018 | 271 | 514 | 785 |
| 2017 | 264 | 580 | 844 |
| 2016 | 247 | 603 | 850 |
| 2015 | 279 | 630 | 909 |
| 2014 | 279 | 605 | 884 |
| 2013 | 253 | 610 | 863 |
| 2012 | 268 | 872 | 1,140 |
| 2011 | 282 | 751 | 1,033 |
| 2010 | 306 | 729 | 1,035 |
| 2009 | 298 | 774 | 1,072 |
| 2008 | 265 | 827 | 1,092 |
| 2007 | 275 | 806 | 1,081 |
| 2006 | 302 | 835 | 1,137 |
| 2005 | 359 | 917 | 1,276 |
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: Warren County averages 0.83 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Warren County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Warren County ran 512 bucks (males) and 376 does (females): 57.7% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 512 | 376 | 888 | 57.7% |
| 2023 | 532 | 332 | 864 | 61.6% |
| 2022 | 462 | 302 | 764 | 60.5% |
| 2021 | 418 | 322 | 740 | 56.5% |
| 2020 | 474 | 341 | 815 | 58.2% |
| 2019 | 428 | 341 | 769 | 55.7% |
| 2018 | 447 | 338 | 785 | 56.9% |
| 2017 | 520 | 324 | 844 | 61.6% |
| 2016 | 489 | 361 | 850 | 57.5% |
| 2015 | 522 | 387 | 909 | 57.4% |
| 2014 | 430 | 454 | 884 | 48.6% |
| 2013 | 451 | 412 | 863 | 52.3% |
| 2012 | 613 | 527 | 1,140 | 53.8% |
| 2011 | 523 | 510 | 1,033 | 50.6% |
| 2010 | 524 | 511 | 1,035 | 50.6% |
| 2009 | 519 | 553 | 1,072 | 48.4% |
| 2008 | 595 | 497 | 1,092 | 54.5% |
| 2007 | 600 | 481 | 1,081 | 55.5% |
| 2006 | 615 | 522 | 1,137 | 54.1% |
| 2005 | 693 | 583 | 1,276 | 54.3% |
See full Warren County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Warren County ran 70.9% adult, 16.4% yearling, and 12.6% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 630 | 146 | 112 | 888 |
| 2023 | 575 | 137 | 152 | 864 |
| 2022 | 514 | 139 | 111 | 764 |
| 2021 | 498 | 142 | 100 | 740 |
| 2020 | 552 | 139 | 124 | 815 |
| 2019 | 528 | 138 | 103 | 769 |
| 2018 | 498 | 138 | 149 | 785 |
| 2017 | 577 | 148 | 119 | 844 |
| 2016 | 567 | 144 | 139 | 850 |
| 2015 | 555 | 178 | 176 | 909 |
| 2014 | 555 | 149 | 180 | 884 |
| 2013 | 520 | 123 | 220 | 863 |
| 2012 | 756 | 152 | 232 | 1,140 |
| 2011 | 658 | 148 | 227 | 1,033 |
| 2010 | 710 | 138 | 187 | 1,035 |
| 2009 | 697 | 148 | 227 | 1,072 |
| 2008 | 687 | 177 | 228 | 1,092 |
| 2007 | 719 | 169 | 193 | 1,081 |
| 2006 | 703 | 171 | 263 | 1,137 |
| 2005 | 803 | 185 | 287 | 1,275 |
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 Warren 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: 321,584 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
See Warren 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 Warren County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Warren County scores 59.1 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #21 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 Warren County?
Warren County has a Trophy Index of 75 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).
How many deer were harvested in Warren County last season?
IDNR records show 888 deer harvested in Warren County in 2024, the most recent reported season.