Illinois deer research / Winnebago County
Winnebago County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Northern IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 40, ranked #83 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
C - Above AverageWhat drives the Winnebago County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
81→ 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 | 539 | 330 | 957 |
| 2023 | 514 | 300 | 865 |
| 2022 | 436 | 241 | 772 |
| 2021 | 468 | 265 | 813 |
| 2020 | 559 | 297 | 920 |
| 2019 | 480 | 284 | 831 |
| 2018 | 462 | 390 | 944 |
| 2017 | 453 | 377 | 883 |
| 2016 | 459 | 369 | 934 |
| 2015 | 485 | 401 | 1,021 |
| 2014 | 425 | 357 | 912 |
| 2013 | 391 | 350 | 860 |
| 2012 | 390 | 554 | 1,033 |
| 2011 | 379 | 455 | 925 |
| 2010 | 383 | 467 | 943 |
| 2009 | 442 | 505 | 1,139 |
| 2008 | 418 | 539 | 1,038 |
| 2007 | 418 | 601 | 1,086 |
| 2006 | 444 | 573 | 1,121 |
| 2005 | 446 | 716 | 1,254 |
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: Winnebago County averages 1.32 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Winnebago County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Winnebago County ran 593 bucks (males) and 364 does (females): 62% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 593 | 364 | 957 | 62% |
| 2023 | 564 | 301 | 865 | 65.2% |
| 2022 | 474 | 298 | 772 | 61.4% |
| 2021 | 517 | 296 | 813 | 63.6% |
| 2020 | 568 | 352 | 920 | 61.7% |
| 2019 | 512 | 319 | 831 | 61.6% |
| 2018 | 580 | 364 | 944 | 61.4% |
| 2017 | 530 | 353 | 883 | 60% |
| 2016 | 600 | 334 | 934 | 64.2% |
| 2015 | 622 | 399 | 1,021 | 60.9% |
| 2014 | 507 | 405 | 912 | 55.6% |
| 2013 | 482 | 378 | 860 | 56% |
| 2012 | 607 | 426 | 1,033 | 58.8% |
| 2011 | 547 | 378 | 925 | 59.1% |
| 2010 | 564 | 379 | 943 | 59.8% |
| 2009 | 618 | 521 | 1,139 | 54.3% |
| 2008 | 566 | 472 | 1,038 | 54.5% |
| 2007 | 615 | 471 | 1,086 | 56.6% |
| 2006 | 653 | 468 | 1,121 | 58.3% |
| 2005 | 713 | 541 | 1,254 | 56.9% |
See full Winnebago County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Winnebago County ran 67% adult, 20% yearling, and 13.1% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 641 | 191 | 125 | 957 |
| 2023 | 551 | 193 | 121 | 865 |
| 2022 | 517 | 165 | 90 | 772 |
| 2021 | 512 | 179 | 121 | 812 |
| 2020 | 597 | 200 | 123 | 920 |
| 2019 | 537 | 172 | 121 | 830 |
| 2018 | 599 | 233 | 112 | 944 |
| 2017 | 520 | 223 | 140 | 883 |
| 2016 | 544 | 229 | 161 | 934 |
| 2015 | 574 | 240 | 204 | 1,018 |
| 2014 | 554 | 193 | 164 | 911 |
| 2013 | 493 | 193 | 174 | 860 |
| 2012 | 594 | 236 | 203 | 1,033 |
| 2011 | 513 | 221 | 191 | 925 |
| 2010 | 511 | 219 | 213 | 943 |
| 2009 | 637 | 219 | 280 | 1,136 |
| 2008 | 573 | 211 | 252 | 1,036 |
| 2007 | 591 | 247 | 247 | 1,085 |
| 2006 | 599 | 253 | 266 | 1,118 |
| 2005 | 720 | 225 | 291 | 1,236 |
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 Winnebago 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: 189,757 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Winnebago County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Winnebago 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 Winnebago County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Winnebago County scores 40 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (C - Above Average), ranked #83 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 Winnebago County?
Winnebago County has a Trophy Index of 81 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 Winnebago County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 11 sites in Winnebago County, including Rock Cut State Park, Sugar River, Crooked River Forest Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Winnebago County last season?
IDNR records show 957 deer harvested in Winnebago County in 2024, the most recent reported season.