Illinois Population and Management ArchiveIllinois Page

View the archive by scrolling through the window below or Load the Archive DocumentHistoric deer hunt data is below the Archive window on the left column with links to sources.    A list of all articles in the Archive is below the window.

Illinois Deer Population and Management Archive

Annual Reported Deer Hunt

1957  1,955 

1958  2,813 

1959  2,727 

1960  2,553 

1961  4,481 

1962  6,457 

1963  6,960 

1964  7,457 

1965  7,845 

1966  7,530 

1967  6,929 

1968  8,581 

1969  8,695 

1970  9,694 

1971  10,947 

1972  11,000 

1973  14,686 

1974  14,278 

1975  17,222 

1976  16,908 

1977  19,041 

1978   20,381 

1979   21,132 

1980   22,288 

1981  22,566 

1982  24,862 

1983   28,666 

1984   32,235 

1985   35,515 

1986  40,413 

1987  49,578 

1988  55,606 

1989  66,143 

1990  81,296 

1991  100,285 

1992  103,203 

1993  115,491 

1994  123,330 

1995  142,233 

1996  132,737 

1997  133,274 

1998  135,336 

1999  136,534 

2000  149,660 

2001  153,066 

2002  159,858 

2003  168,762

2004  190,456 

2005  201,209 

2006  196,241 

2007  199,610 

2008  188,901 

2009  189,634 

2010  182,270 

2011  181,451 

2012  180,811

2013  148,614

2014  145,720

2015  155,229

2016  144,303

2017  147,695

2018: 151,709

2019: 153,174

2020: 162,575

2021: 146,148

2022*  158,010

*Preliminary



Harvest Reports Source


Illinois 1954 Deer Survey


2021

Deer Hunting Seasons Conclude with Hunters in Illinois Taking Preliminary Total of 162,575

2020

Concerning numbers arise for IDNR surrounding deer season September 25, 2020, Illinois

Figures announced for opening of deer hunting season December 24, 2020 Illinois

The County's first hunting license November 29, 2020 Illinois

2019

Deer not always a common sight in Illinois January 7, 2020

Illinois 2018-19 Deer Hunting Seasons Result in Preliminary Harvest of 151,577 Deer January 29, 2019

Illinois Deer Population, A century ago in January December 30, 2019

2018

IDNR Prohibiting Archery Harvest of Antlerless Deer Oct. 1-15 in Five East-Central Illinois Counties September 21, 2018 Illinois

2017

Deer herd healthy; average harvest expected October 26, 2017 Illinois

Effects of human state park visitation rates on escape behavior of white-tailed deer NM Sutton, EJ Heske - Human–Wildlife Interactions, 2017, Illinois

Hunters in Illinois Harvested a Preliminary Total of 144,150 Deer During 2016-17 Seasons

New studies attempt to predict deer activity October 25, 2017 Illinois

Reproductive characteristics of female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Midwestern USA ML Green, AC Kelly, D Satterthwaite-Phillips… - Theriogenology, 2017

Some History December 3, 2017 Illinois

Stage set for big firearm deer hunt October 23, 2017 Illinois

2016

4 new laws expand hunting, fishing opportunities in Illinois August 22, 2016 Illinois,

Deer harvest down, as expected: Illinois firearm deer season November 23, 2016

Deer harvest promising November 18, 2016 Illinois

Deer season to look similar August 4, 2016 Illinois

Hunters kill fewer deer in Illinois December 19, 2016

Illinois Deer Hunters Harvest Preliminary Total of 155131 Deer January 20, 2016

Illinois gets 'B' as deer hunting state September 8, 2016

Localized removal affects white‐tailed deer space use and contacts MI Tosa, EM Schauber, CK Nielsen

Social and Environmental Influences on Female White-Tailed Deer Dispersal Behavior, Illinois, CM Nixon, PC Mankin - Great Plains Research, 2016

Southern Illinois deer herd stable September 8, 2016

2015

2015 Trophy Deer Forecast: Illinois October 21, 2015

A Piece of Our History: Illinois may have an open deer season May 1, 2015

Archery deer hunt kicks off Thursday September 27, 2015 Illinois

Are Illinois hunters ready for rifles in the deer woods? March 10, 2015

Deer herds on the decline January 31, 2015 Illinois

Deer hunting numbers strong in McHenry County despite Illinois kill drop January 23, 2015 Illinois

Deer hunting rules changes in works June 3, 2015 Illinois

Firearm deer season will send numbers higher November 18, 2015 Illinois,

Hunting brings in big money for region October 6, 2015 Illinois,

Hunting rules updated October 29, 2015 Illinois

Illinois Beach, First deer hunt coming to Illinois Beach State Park October 8, 2015 Illinois,

Illinois Deer Forecast for 2015 September 3, 2015

Illinois deer harvest is down again January 22, 2015

Illinois hunters harvest 86,711 deer during firearm season December 10, 2015

Illinois scientist documents 50 years of deer behavior September 21, 2015

Illinois Youth Deer Season Harvest Up from Last Year - But Not in Will County October 20, 2015

New director, new deer herd? May 30, 2015 Illinois

States banning use of drones for hunting, fishing January 31, 2015 Illinois

Stop bill to allow deer 'hunting' on preserves February 5, 2015 Illinois

The kind of deer study Illinois hunters would endorse May 11, 2015 Illinois,

Will things change for Illinois deer? February 17, 2015

2014

Archery deer harvest up October 10, 2014 Illinois

Big game dispute, sling bow arrow July 7, 2014 Illinois

Biologist expects slightly higher deer harvest November 20, 2014 Illinois

Bobcat hunting may return to Illinois after 40-year hiatus December 22, 2014 Illinois

Changes may be coming in deer management March 5, 2014 Illinois

Declining deer harvest a big issue in Illinois December 27, 2014 Illinois,

Deer harvest back on the upswing November 7, 2014 Illinois

Deer harvest down in Illinois, Kane County February 25, 2014 Illinois

Deer harvest should rebound this season October 17, 2014 Illinois

Deer hunt down 18% February 14, 2014 Illinois

Deer hunting changes this winter July 23, 2014 Illinois

Deer hunting practices need to change December 26, 2014 Illinois

Deer numbers down, and hunters aren't happy about it January 10, 2014 Illinois

Deer numbers top outdoors story of 2013 January 2, 2014 Illinoi

Deer permits may drop this year February 14, 2014 Illinois

Deer population concerning to Illinois lawmakers March 22, 2014 Illinois

Expect changes in deer seasons as DNR tries to improve herd March 21, 2014 Illiinois

Fences can kill deer; Hunter trying to raise awareness September 8, 2014 Illinois

Few wolves in Illinois but 'coywolves' on the rise January 29, 2014 Illinois

Firearm deer hunt is under way November 23, 2014 Illinois

First, it was goose management … now it's deer February 7, 2014 Illinois

Group hopes to manage deer population March 15, 2014 Illinois

Hunters: 'we know the score' December 25, 2014 Illinois

IDNR announces changes for 2014-15 deer hunting seasons October 6, 2014 Illinois

IDNR Announces Changes for 2014-2015 Deer Hunting Seasons July 22, 2014 Illinois

IDNR announces changes in deer hunting seasons July 31, 2014 Illinois

IDNR cutting deer permits July 26, 2014 Illiinois

IDNR makes changes to upcoming deer-hunting season July 22, 2014 Illinois

IDNR tweaked deer-hunting regulations for the good of the herd August 16, 2014 Illiinois

Illinois deer hunters expecting to see rise in harvest numbers November 19, 2014

Illinois deer hunters get chance to weigh in on potential regulation changes February 19, 2014

Illinois deer hunting: Update from the IDNR April 29, 2014

Illinois Drop In Archery Deer Harvest October 27, 2014

Illinois firearms deer harvest continues to decline November 28, 2014

Illinois hunting: Rut signs & deer harvest up November 10, 2014

Illinois receives $22 million for wildlife restoration April 9, 2014

Illinois Whitetail Alliance addresses concerns on low deer population February 24, 2014

Illinois Whitetail Alliance finally gets deer meeting with IDNR February 21, 2014

Kane County forest commissioners might expand deer hunting April 25, 2014 Illinois

Kane County, State officials want to shoot up to 130 deer in Kane County forest preserves October 31, 2014 Illinois

Odd info from the 2012 agriculture census, deer farms May 11, 2014 Illinois

Scientist documents 50 years of deer behavior January 23, 2014 Illinois

Second firearms deer season harvest makes up some ground December 10, 2014 Illinois

Several area counties close to late-season deer hunt December 13, 2014 Illinois

State wants bigger deer population in Bureau, Putnam counties February 14, 2014 Illinois

State wants to boost deer numbers, but not here February 24, 2014 Illinois

Strong deer advocacy group formed & meet Miller February 22, 2014 Illinois

Summary of 2013-14 Illinois Deer Seasons June 26, 2014

The Crossbow Effect September 19, 2014 Illinois

Trouble ahead for deer population January 18, 2014 Illinois

U.S. Deer Herds in Trouble September 17, 2014 Illinois

Weather again plays factor in deer harvest December 18, 2014 Illinois

Where have all the deer gone? December 1, 2014 Illinois

White-tailed deer: A reason to stay home from school September 25, 2014 Illinois

Will County, Where have the deer gone? January 13, 2014 Illinois

2013

An update on the deer archery season from the DNR January 7, 2013 Illinois

Deer Baiting on the Radar of Local Conservation Officers October 25, 2013, Illinois

Deer harvest continued slide in 2012-2013 November 13, 2013 Illinois

Deer harvest declines, but Pike is king December 3, 2013 Illinois

Deer harvest declines, but Pike is king December 3, 2013 Illinois

Deer harvest numbers down from last year December 16, 2013 Illinois

Deer harvest tumbles December 18, 2013 Illinois

Deer Numbers Down Across Illinois December 23, 2013

Deer season’s greetings in Illinois, Herd Status November 16, 2013 Chicago

DNR creative with spending cuts and deer reduction March 24, 2013 Illinois

Effects of coyotes on deer getting new look October 8, 2013 Illinois, HuntNetwork

Far fewer deer killed this year December 28, 2013 Illinois

Firearm deer season opens November 21, 2013 Illinois

G&F Forecast: Best Places for Illinois Deer Hunting in 2013 October, 2013

Habitat key to the future of upland game October 31, 2013 Illinois

Historic drop in harvest in firearm deer seasons indicates need for change December 14, 2013 Illiinois

Hunters asked to forgo lead use September 13, 2013 Illinois

Hunters can buy secret baits for deer but can't use them October 2, 2013 Illinois

Hunters Harvest 55,708 Deer During Illinois Firearm First Season November 27, 2013

IDNR deer herd meeting uneventful June 5, 2013 Illinois

IL Deer Harvest Largely Unaffected by Drought January 28, 2013 Illinois

Illinois deer harvest totals 180,669 February 5, 2013

Illinois deer hunters see significant decline in harvest totals November 30, 2013

Illinois Deer Season 2013: Hunting Forecast October 4, 2013

Illinois Herd History, 5 Things to Know About Hunting November 21, 2013

Illinois hunting: Firearm harvest down dramatically December 12, 2013

Illinois protects all-white whitetails July 13, 2013 Peoria

Nature Conservancy land will be offered for deer hunting February 17, 2013 Illinois

New Illinois Law Requires Using All the Deer August 8, 2013

New Wildlife Website Launched, Living with Wildlife April 8, 2013 Illinois

No plans to research coyote-deer correlation September 25, 2013 Illinois

Public Meetiings Just Public Relations? Miller's Time for the Illinois deer herd March 12, 2013

Springbrook Prairie, Deer population program begins November 5, 2013 Illinois

The Illinois whitetail disaster December 31, 2013

White deer is not protected July 16, 2013 Illinois

Wintering Deer seek Conifer cover December 16, 2013 Illinois

2012

Clinton man gets probation in deer killing March 7, 2012 Illinois

Controversial arrow pointed at crossbow November 16, 2012 Illinois

Controversy surrounds deer breeding June 17, 2012 Illinois

Cougars, They're b-a-a-a-c-k November 8, 2012 Illinois

Deer herd appears to hit stable point in Illinois August 9, 2012

Deer season dates, info released June 15, 2012 Illinois

Department of Natural Resources reaping what it has sown March 6, 2012 Illinois

DNR looking at deer herd numbers April 10, 2012 Illinois

Don't bait deer with cocaine November 16, 2012 Illinois

How big is the estimated deer herd in Illinois? September 29, 2012, Chicago

Hunters harvesting more deer this year than last November 21, 2012 Illinois

Illinois Deer Harvest Totals 181411 During 2011-12 Seasons January 19, 2012

Illinois deer hunting: Firearm season up, slightly December 5, 2012

Illinois deer hunting: Firearm season up, slightly December 5, 2012

Illinois Firearm Deer Season Opens This Weekend November 16, 2012

Illinois' proposal for entry fees at state parks is seen as a sign of the times March 28, 2012

Kane County, Forest Preserve District of Kane County 2012 Deer Management Program. Controlled Archery Component. General Information. Program Rationale September 30, 2012 Illinois

Man Pleads Guilty Of Acquiring Whitetail Deer Sperm July 12, 2012 Illinois

Move to expand Ind. fenced deer hunting shelved February 3, 2012 Illinois

Nibbled plants grow back stronger January 4, 2012 Illinois

Not-so-white winter hinders annual Kane deer count March 26, 2012 Illinois

Star Bucks November 8, 2012 Illinois

State announces deer harvest totals January 28, 2012 Illinois

Trophy buck shot in Midwest fathering fawns in La. May 12, 2012 Illinois

Warm Temperatures to Blame for Poor Hunting Weekend December 3, 2012 Illinois

Wildlife in the spotlight [census] March 30, 2012 Illinois

Will County, Forest preserve deer culling program on hold for now October 3, 2012 Illinois

2004 Deer Population Estimate

2011

'Tis the season for deer hunting numbers December 10, 2011 Illinois

Aledo hunter gone wild August 5, 2011 Illinois

Chris Young: As deer hunting drops, turkey hunting rises March 24, 2011 Illinois

Deer hunt bill worth pursuit April 2, 2011 Illinois

Deer hunters warned of strict new rules September 29, 2011 Illinois

Deer numbers down slightly January 22, 2011 Illinois

Deer population getting back to equal October 14, 2011 Illinois

Deer tally worrying to hunters December 17, 2011 Illinois

Firearm Deer Season Closes with a harvest of over 97,000 December 14, 2011 Illinois

Firearm deer season enters final phase December 31, 2011 Illinois

IDNR Busts Five Alleged Deer Poachers on 41 Wildlife Violations November 10, 2011 Illinois

Illinois deer herd is estimated to be between 750000 and 800000 May 30, 2011

Illinois Firearm Deer Season Closes with Preliminary Harvest of 97,760 December 7, 2011

Illinois hunters bag nearly 182000 deer January 20, 2011

Iowa, Illinois deer herds have rebounded from 'nothing' December 28, 2011 Illinois

It's important for bucks, does to be harvested equally December 9, 2011 Illinois

Northern Ill.'s deer population concerns readers December 19, 2011 Illinois

Oh, deer: Open season for complaints (cultural carrying capacity) May 26, 2011 Illinois

Region's deer population shrinks, everyone is asking, why? November 29, 2011 Illinois

Sharpshooters to cull deer in Springbrook Prairie preserve December 9, 2011 Illinois

Will County taking to the skies to count Homer Township deer December 8, 2011 Illinois

Illinois Deer Populations 1940 to 1968A list of articles in the Archive.  Alphabetical Order by Year.