Illinois deer research / Will County
Will County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 40.1, ranked #81 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Will County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
91↓ 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 | 720 | 238 | 1,032 |
| 2023 | 718 | 257 | 1,022 |
| 2022 | 702 | 227 | 1,018 |
| 2021 | 730 | 178 | 981 |
| 2020 | 825 | 287 | 1,174 |
| 2019 | 733 | 268 | 1,051 |
| 2018 | 801 | 304 | 1,155 |
| 2017 | 697 | 248 | 1,001 |
| 2016 | 729 | 269 | 1,058 |
| 2015 | 754 | 346 | 1,181 |
| 2014 | 725 | 317 | 1,093 |
| 2013 | 921 | 365 | 1,286 |
| 2012 | 838 | 418 | 1,256 |
| 2011 | 837 | 410 | 1,247 |
| 2010 | 867 | 383 | 1,250 |
| 2009 | 956 | 402 | 1,358 |
| 2008 | 916 | 442 | 1,358 |
| 2007 | 957 | 478 | 1,435 |
| 2006 | 891 | 539 | 1,430 |
| 2005 | 920 | 472 | 1,392 |
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: Will County averages 1.30 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Will County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Will County ran 582 bucks (males) and 450 does (females): 56.4% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 582 | 450 | 1,032 | 56.4% |
| 2023 | 611 | 411 | 1,022 | 59.8% |
| 2022 | 604 | 414 | 1,018 | 59.3% |
| 2021 | 560 | 421 | 981 | 57.1% |
| 2020 | 706 | 468 | 1,174 | 60.1% |
| 2019 | 663 | 388 | 1,051 | 63.1% |
| 2018 | 651 | 504 | 1,155 | 56.4% |
| 2017 | 603 | 398 | 1,001 | 60.2% |
| 2016 | 597 | 461 | 1,058 | 56.4% |
| 2015 | 641 | 540 | 1,181 | 54.3% |
| 2014 | 604 | 489 | 1,093 | 55.3% |
| 2013 | 682 | 604 | 1,286 | 53% |
| 2012 | 684 | 572 | 1,256 | 54.5% |
| 2011 | 711 | 536 | 1,247 | 57% |
| 2010 | 624 | 626 | 1,250 | 49.9% |
| 2009 | 733 | 625 | 1,358 | 54% |
| 2008 | 732 | 626 | 1,358 | 53.9% |
| 2007 | 827 | 608 | 1,435 | 57.6% |
| 2006 | 812 | 618 | 1,430 | 56.8% |
| 2005 | 791 | 601 | 1,392 | 56.8% |
See full Will County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Will County ran 63.6% adult, 18.8% yearling, and 17.6% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 656 | 194 | 182 | 1,032 |
| 2023 | 691 | 191 | 140 | 1,022 |
| 2022 | 667 | 200 | 151 | 1,018 |
| 2021 | 642 | 200 | 138 | 980 |
| 2020 | 787 | 234 | 153 | 1,174 |
| 2019 | 663 | 258 | 129 | 1,050 |
| 2018 | 766 | 220 | 169 | 1,155 |
| 2017 | 617 | 233 | 151 | 1,001 |
| 2016 | 661 | 210 | 187 | 1,058 |
| 2015 | 749 | 233 | 198 | 1,180 |
| 2014 | 680 | 231 | 182 | 1,093 |
| 2013 | 781 | 285 | 220 | 1,286 |
| 2012 | 768 | 242 | 246 | 1,256 |
| 2011 | 763 | 281 | 203 | 1,247 |
| 2010 | 810 | 188 | 252 | 1,250 |
| 2009 | 900 | 223 | 235 | 1,358 |
| 2008 | 898 | 240 | 220 | 1,358 |
| 2007 | 937 | 279 | 219 | 1,435 |
| 2006 | 894 | 251 | 285 | 1,430 |
| 2005 | 887 | 218 | 281 | 1,386 |
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 Will 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: 250,959 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Will County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Will 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 Will County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Will County scores 40.1 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #81 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 Will County?
Will County has a Trophy Index of 91 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 Will County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 21 sites in Will County, including Midewin Other, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Will County last season?
IDNR records show 1,032 deer harvested in Will County in 2024, the most recent reported season.