Illinois deer research / Woodford County
Woodford County, Illinois Deer Hunting Research
Central IL region. FDR Deer Herd Index 55.2, ranked #39 of 102 Illinois counties. Built from IDNR public harvest records and the Trophy Index.
B - StrongWhat drives the Woodford County index
Five weighted components, each scored 0–100 against all Illinois counties.
Trophy Index
69→ 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 | 833 | 949 | 1,782 |
| 2023 | 839 | 821 | 1,660 |
| 2022 | 828 | 716 | 1,544 |
| 2021 | 752 | 633 | 1,385 |
| 2020 | 790 | 645 | 1,435 |
| 2019 | 695 | 686 | 1,381 |
| 2018 | 570 | 609 | 1,179 |
| 2017 | 542 | 674 | 1,216 |
| 2016 | 474 | 651 | 1,125 |
| 2015 | 496 | 748 | 1,244 |
| 2014 | 450 | 650 | 1,100 |
| 2013 | 536 | 709 | 1,245 |
| 2012 | 608 | 1,226 | 1,834 |
| 2011 | 652 | 1,029 | 1,681 |
| 2010 | 671 | 1,270 | 1,941 |
| 2009 | 686 | 1,273 | 1,959 |
| 2008 | 734 | 1,301 | 2,035 |
| 2007 | 631 | 1,280 | 1,911 |
| 2006 | 608 | 1,149 | 1,757 |
| 2005 | 669 | 1,220 | 1,889 |
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: Woodford County averages 1.23 adult bucks harvested per 1,000 huntable acres (2005-2024).
See full Woodford County harvest charts →
Harvest by sex
IDNR records each harvested deer by sex. In 2024, Woodford County ran 880 bucks (males) and 902 does (females): 49.4% bucks.
| Season | Bucks (M) | Does (F) | Total | % bucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 880 | 902 | 1,782 | 49.4% |
| 2023 | 864 | 796 | 1,660 | 52% |
| 2022 | 792 | 752 | 1,544 | 51.3% |
| 2021 | 709 | 676 | 1,385 | 51.2% |
| 2020 | 723 | 712 | 1,435 | 50.4% |
| 2019 | 681 | 700 | 1,381 | 49.3% |
| 2018 | 626 | 553 | 1,179 | 53.1% |
| 2017 | 628 | 588 | 1,216 | 51.6% |
| 2016 | 626 | 499 | 1,125 | 55.6% |
| 2015 | 699 | 545 | 1,244 | 56.2% |
| 2014 | 611 | 489 | 1,100 | 55.5% |
| 2013 | 616 | 629 | 1,245 | 49.5% |
| 2012 | 895 | 939 | 1,834 | 48.8% |
| 2011 | 798 | 883 | 1,681 | 47.5% |
| 2010 | 864 | 1,077 | 1,941 | 44.5% |
| 2009 | 922 | 1,037 | 1,959 | 47.1% |
| 2008 | 946 | 1,089 | 2,035 | 46.5% |
| 2007 | 949 | 962 | 1,911 | 49.7% |
| 2006 | 912 | 845 | 1,757 | 51.9% |
| 2005 | 946 | 943 | 1,889 | 50.1% |
See full Woodford County sex-composition chart →
Age structure
IDNR classifies each deer as adult, yearling (1.5-yr), or fawn. In 2024, Woodford County ran 65.5% adult, 14.1% yearling, and 20.4% fawn. A higher adult share points to a more mature age structure.
| Season | Adult | Yearling | Fawn | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,168 | 251 | 363 | 1,782 |
| 2023 | 1,165 | 233 | 262 | 1,660 |
| 2022 | 1,004 | 249 | 291 | 1,544 |
| 2021 | 926 | 209 | 250 | 1,385 |
| 2020 | 950 | 216 | 269 | 1,435 |
| 2019 | 899 | 223 | 259 | 1,381 |
| 2018 | 773 | 174 | 232 | 1,179 |
| 2017 | 764 | 204 | 248 | 1,216 |
| 2016 | 695 | 194 | 236 | 1,125 |
| 2015 | 750 | 208 | 286 | 1,244 |
| 2014 | 640 | 222 | 238 | 1,100 |
| 2013 | 668 | 197 | 380 | 1,245 |
| 2012 | 1,096 | 242 | 496 | 1,834 |
| 2011 | 993 | 206 | 482 | 1,681 |
| 2010 | 1,160 | 234 | 547 | 1,941 |
| 2009 | 1,107 | 235 | 617 | 1,959 |
| 2008 | 1,206 | 282 | 547 | 2,035 |
| 2007 | 1,091 | 276 | 544 | 1,911 |
| 2006 | 976 | 254 | 527 | 1,757 |
| 2005 | 1,073 | 248 | 568 | 1,889 |
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 Woodford 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: 277,868 acres (10 m estimate). Verify current season dates, permits, and site-specific rules with IDNR before hunting.
Where to hunt public in Woodford County
Full list on the Illinois public hunting land directory.
See Woodford 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 Woodford County, Illinois good for deer hunting?
Woodford County scores 55.2 of 100 on the FDR Deer Herd Index (B - Strong), ranked #39 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 Woodford County?
Woodford County has a Trophy Index of 69 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 Woodford County, Illinois?
Yes: the Illinois public hunting land directory lists 3 sites in Woodford County, including Franklin Kenyon Preserve, Spring Bay Fen State Natural Area, Hazle Preserve. Always verify current site regulations and permit requirements before hunting.
How many deer were harvested in Woodford County last season?
IDNR records show 1,782 deer harvested in Woodford County in 2024, the most recent reported season.