Indiana deer research / Hamilton County

Hamilton County, Indiana Deer Hunting Research

Provisional FDR Deer Herd Index 20.4 Provisional, ranked #91 of 92 ranked Indiana counties. Built from Indiana DNR (IDNR) county deer harvest (antlered/antlerless), 2013–2024.

E - Below Average
20.4 / 100
Provisional FDR Index
#91 of 92
Ranked-county rank
95↑
Trophy Index
574
2024 deer harvest

What drives the Hamilton County index

Provisional components, each scored 0–100 against the ranked Indiana counties. Provisional.

Herd quality · 28%22
Population · 18%9
Trophy history · 15%16
Habitat · 15%17
Momentum · 12%59
Deer-vehicle crash rate · 12%6

Trophy Index

95↑ 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).

2013–2024 harvest trend

SeasonTotal harvest
2024574
2023565
2022561
2021488
2020487
2019478
2018507
2017411
2016469
2015529
2014517
2013486

Harvest totals from Indiana DNR (IDNR) county deer harvest (antlered/antlerless), 2013–2024. Indiana DNR reports totals by county and season; archery / firearm splits are not broken out in this dataset.

Harvest composition

Indiana DNR reports each deer as antlered or antlerless. In 2024, the Hamilton County harvest was 260 antlered and 314 antlerless deer.

SeasonAntleredAntlerlessTotal
2024260314574
2023276289565
2022243318561
2021212276488
2020207280487
2019227251478
2018196311507
2017151260411
2016177292469
2015180349529
2014182335517
2013162324486

The dataset carries antlered and antlerless counts only, with no finer split of the antlerless count.

Herd & land detail

MetricValue
Latest season (2024)574 deer
Harvest per sq mi1.46
Antlered harvest260
Antlerless harvest314
County land (sq mi)394.40

Methodology

Provisional index. Provisional index: herd, harvest, trophy (the Trophy Index), and roadway (exposure-normalized deer-vehicle crash rate) components; habitat/age-structure partial where the state does not publish them.. FULLY DRAWN RESEARCH · Indiana DNR (IDNR) PROVISIONAL COUNTY DEER INDEX

Informational only. Built from public-record Indiana DNR (IDNR) county harvest data, US Census TIGER county land area, the Trophy Index, and exposure-normalized deer-vehicle crash rates where published. Provisional index; some components partial or pending. Not a prediction or guarantee. Verify with the Indiana DNR (IDNR).

See Hamilton County on the map

Parcels with owner & acreage, public hunting land, leaf-off imagery, and this research, together on one hunting map.

Nearby counties

Frequently asked questions

Is Hamilton County, Indiana good for deer hunting?

Hamilton County scores 20.4 of 100 on the provisional FDR Deer Herd Index (E - Below Average), ranked #91 of 92 ranked Indiana counties. The provisional index is built from Indiana DNR public harvest records, the Trophy Index and deer-vehicle crash data; some components are partial, as noted in the methodology.

How many deer were harvested in Hamilton County last season?

Indiana DNR records show 574 deer harvested in Hamilton County, Indiana in 2024, the most recent reported season.

Sources: Indiana DNR (IDNR) county deer harvest (antlered/antlerless), 2013–2024. Public-record data only: no private contact information, no landowner lists. This provisional index includes harvest, trophy and roadway records. Other inputs may be partial.

Fully Drawn Research is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Indiana DNR. Historical data and modeled indexes describe the past; they are not a promise of hunting outcomes. Always verify current seasons, permits, and site rules with the Indiana DNR before you hunt.

© Fully Drawn Research · Fully Drawn Scout