Illinois deer research / Wayne County
Wayne County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Southern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 52.8, ranked #47 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Wayne County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
70↑ 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 | 1,387 | 1,879 | 3,266 |
| 2023 | 1,290 | 1,569 | 2,859 |
| 2022 | 1,130 | 1,662 | 2,792 |
| 2021 | 1,102 | 1,453 | 2,555 |
| 2020 | 1,245 | 1,564 | 2,809 |
| 2019 | 1,092 | 1,526 | 2,618 |
| 2018 | 852 | 1,566 | 2,418 |
| 2017 | 921 | 1,644 | 2,565 |
| 2016 | 836 | 1,689 | 2,525 |
| 2015 | 888 | 1,716 | 2,604 |
| 2014 | 841 | 1,789 | 2,630 |
| 2013 | 806 | 1,732 | 2,538 |
| 2012 | 897 | 2,243 | 3,140 |
| 2011 | 939 | 2,462 | 3,401 |
| 2010 | 946 | 2,334 | 3,280 |
| 2009 | 1,007 | 2,501 | 3,508 |
| 2008 | 957 | 2,424 | 3,381 |
| 2007 | 978 | 2,562 | 3,540 |
| 2006 | 912 | 2,386 | 3,298 |
| 2005 | 941 | 2,559 | 3,500 |
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: Wayne County averages 1.83 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Wayne County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Wayne County ran 1,766 bucks (males) and 1,500 does (females): 54.1% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,766 | 1,500 | 3,266 | 54.1% |
| 2023 | 1,585 | 1,274 | 2,859 | 55.4% |
| 2022 | 1,488 | 1,304 | 2,792 | 53.3% |
| 2021 | 1,425 | 1,130 | 2,555 | 55.8% |
| 2020 | 1,523 | 1,286 | 2,809 | 54.2% |
| 2019 | 1,407 | 1,211 | 2,618 | 53.7% |
| 2018 | 1,278 | 1,140 | 2,418 | 52.9% |
| 2017 | 1,373 | 1,192 | 2,565 | 53.5% |
| 2016 | 1,410 | 1,115 | 2,525 | 55.8% |
| 2015 | 1,392 | 1,212 | 2,604 | 53.5% |
| 2014 | 1,287 | 1,343 | 2,630 | 48.9% |
| 2013 | 1,196 | 1,342 | 2,538 | 47.1% |
| 2012 | 1,544 | 1,596 | 3,140 | 49.2% |
| 2011 | 1,624 | 1,777 | 3,401 | 47.8% |
| 2010 | 1,641 | 1,639 | 3,280 | 50% |
| 2009 | 1,641 | 1,867 | 3,508 | 46.8% |
| 2008 | 1,648 | 1,733 | 3,381 | 48.7% |
| 2007 | 1,859 | 1,681 | 3,540 | 52.5% |
| 2006 | 1,689 | 1,609 | 3,298 | 51.2% |
| 2005 | 1,828 | 1,672 | 3,500 | 52.2% |
See full Wayne County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Wayne County ran 69.9% adult, 15% yearling, and 15% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,284 | 491 | 491 | 3,266 |
| 2023 | 2,006 | 427 | 426 | 2,859 |
| 2022 | 1,934 | 419 | 439 | 2,792 |
| 2021 | 1,697 | 401 | 457 | 2,555 |
| 2020 | 1,921 | 435 | 453 | 2,809 |
| 2019 | 1,745 | 465 | 408 | 2,618 |
| 2018 | 1,540 | 402 | 476 | 2,418 |
| 2017 | 1,676 | 412 | 477 | 2,565 |
| 2016 | 1,624 | 413 | 488 | 2,525 |
| 2015 | 1,657 | 449 | 498 | 2,604 |
| 2014 | 1,691 | 367 | 572 | 2,630 |
| 2013 | 1,636 | 373 | 529 | 2,538 |
| 2012 | 1,861 | 413 | 866 | 3,140 |
| 2011 | 2,112 | 469 | 820 | 3,401 |
| 2010 | 2,060 | 445 | 775 | 3,280 |
| 2009 | 2,224 | 474 | 810 | 3,508 |
| 2008 | 2,104 | 487 | 790 | 3,381 |
| 2007 | 2,065 | 515 | 960 | 3,540 |
| 2006 | 1,954 | 483 | 861 | 3,298 |
| 2005 | 2,052 | 545 | 894 | 3,491 |
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 Wayne 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: 406,884 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Wayne County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Wayne 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 Wayne County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Wayne County scores 52.8 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #47 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 Wayne County?
Wayne County has a Trophy Index of 70 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 Wayne County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 3 sites in Wayne County, including Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area, Sam And Florence Atkinson Forest, Alvah Borah State Habitat Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Wayne County last season?
IDNR records show 3,266 deer harvested in Wayne County in 2024, the most recent reported season.