Illinois deer research / Whiteside County
Whiteside County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Northern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 35.9, ranked #94 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
D - AverageWhat drives the Whiteside County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
46↓ 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 | 667 | 727 | 1,394 |
| 2023 | 633 | 660 | 1,293 |
| 2022 | 547 | 631 | 1,178 |
| 2021 | 518 | 537 | 1,055 |
| 2020 | 574 | 648 | 1,222 |
| 2019 | 493 | 600 | 1,093 |
| 2018 | 488 | 669 | 1,157 |
| 2017 | 463 | 660 | 1,123 |
| 2016 | 481 | 626 | 1,107 |
| 2015 | 477 | 756 | 1,233 |
| 2014 | 473 | 628 | 1,101 |
| 2013 | 488 | 777 | 1,265 |
| 2012 | 492 | 1,043 | 1,535 |
| 2011 | 455 | 903 | 1,358 |
| 2010 | 435 | 1,035 | 1,470 |
| 2009 | 523 | 1,036 | 1,559 |
| 2008 | 523 | 981 | 1,504 |
| 2007 | 504 | 1,159 | 1,663 |
| 2006 | 471 | 1,111 | 1,582 |
| 2005 | 489 | 1,215 | 1,704 |
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: Whiteside County averages 0.75 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Whiteside County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Whiteside County ran 751 bucks (males) and 643 does (females): 53.9% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 751 | 643 | 1,394 | 53.9% |
| 2023 | 752 | 541 | 1,293 | 58.2% |
| 2022 | 651 | 527 | 1,178 | 55.3% |
| 2021 | 580 | 475 | 1,055 | 55% |
| 2020 | 639 | 583 | 1,222 | 52.3% |
| 2019 | 622 | 471 | 1,093 | 56.9% |
| 2018 | 628 | 529 | 1,157 | 54.3% |
| 2017 | 603 | 520 | 1,123 | 53.7% |
| 2016 | 585 | 522 | 1,107 | 52.8% |
| 2015 | 646 | 587 | 1,233 | 52.4% |
| 2014 | 566 | 535 | 1,101 | 51.4% |
| 2013 | 633 | 632 | 1,265 | 50% |
| 2012 | 785 | 750 | 1,535 | 51.1% |
| 2011 | 634 | 724 | 1,358 | 46.7% |
| 2010 | 699 | 771 | 1,470 | 47.6% |
| 2009 | 736 | 823 | 1,559 | 47.2% |
| 2008 | 726 | 778 | 1,504 | 48.3% |
| 2007 | 852 | 811 | 1,663 | 51.2% |
| 2006 | 792 | 790 | 1,582 | 50.1% |
| 2005 | 893 | 811 | 1,704 | 52.4% |
See full Whiteside County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Whiteside County ran 66.5% adult, 19.4% yearling, and 14.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 927 | 271 | 196 | 1,394 |
| 2023 | 830 | 252 | 211 | 1,293 |
| 2022 | 790 | 210 | 178 | 1,178 |
| 2021 | 644 | 207 | 204 | 1,055 |
| 2020 | 784 | 196 | 242 | 1,222 |
| 2019 | 690 | 228 | 175 | 1,093 |
| 2018 | 702 | 240 | 215 | 1,157 |
| 2017 | 693 | 223 | 207 | 1,123 |
| 2016 | 692 | 212 | 203 | 1,107 |
| 2015 | 770 | 221 | 242 | 1,233 |
| 2014 | 646 | 225 | 230 | 1,101 |
| 2013 | 700 | 232 | 333 | 1,265 |
| 2012 | 891 | 244 | 400 | 1,535 |
| 2011 | 821 | 212 | 325 | 1,358 |
| 2010 | 837 | 219 | 414 | 1,470 |
| 2009 | 865 | 234 | 460 | 1,559 |
| 2008 | 857 | 223 | 424 | 1,504 |
| 2007 | 986 | 239 | 438 | 1,663 |
| 2006 | 897 | 252 | 433 | 1,582 |
| 2005 | 975 | 265 | 460 | 1,700 |
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 Whiteside 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: 379,828 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Whiteside County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Whiteside 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 Whiteside County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Whiteside County scores 35.9 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (D - Average), ranked #94 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 Whiteside County?
Whiteside County has a Trophy Index of 46 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 Whiteside County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 5 sites in Whiteside County, including Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area, Springs Slough, Lyndon Prairie. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Whiteside County last season?
IDNR records show 1,394 deer harvested in Whiteside County in 2024, the most recent reported season.