Illinois' 2005 Bowhunting Outlook
Can bowhunting for deer get any better in our state? Yes! To help you increase your odds of filling your own tag, here's a county-by-county rating system.
By Daniel D. Lamoreux
Photo by Ron Sinfelt
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The total deer harvest in Illinois continues to climb, and archers are taking an ever-increasing percentage of the kill. More than 168,000 deer were killed during the 2003-2004 seasons, with bowhunters responsible for 34.25 percent of the take. That amounts to 57,802 filled archery tags. Last season looks to have gone better yet.
"We anticipate that this year will, once again, be as good or better than last year," said Paul Shelton, the Forest Wildlife Program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "The archery harvest is getting pretty substantial, and now we'd like to see it contributing more to our management objectives."
In particular, Shelton highlighted the need to increase the statewide harvest of does. "For several years the population has been relatively stable but it is creeping up a bit and we need to take care of that," Shelton said. "The question is whether archers are willing and able to take them."
As a whole, Illinois sportsmen and sportswomen have another exceptional season ahead. To help you increase the odds of filling your own tag, we have once again rated every county with scoring based upon the two most important factors for bowhunters: Access and general harvest potential. Counties were awarded one point for each of the following standards they could satisfy:
The statewide archery harvest in 2003-'04, the last season for which data is available, increased by 11.89 percent from the previous year. The individual county must have experienced an increase of this percentage or more;
The county must have shown some increase in harvest for each of the last three years;
The county's harvest total for 2003-'04 must have been above the five-year average for that county;
There must be access to public ground;
Access to public ground exceeds 10,000 acres;
Access to public ground exceeds 20,000 acres;
Access is available within that county to the Shawnee National Forest;
Hunting opportunities are made available for disabled hunters.
The highest possible score is eight.
ADAMS -- 6
Continues to rate among the best with a harvest of 1,015 deer. That's an increase of 20.98 percent over previous season and sixth consecutive increase.
ALEXANDER -- 2
Harvest dropped to 167 from the previous high of 191 but remains in line with five-year average of 168.
BOND -- 2
Good numbers, 398 up from 364, and healthy upward trend but no public access.
BOONE -- 1
The steady decline finally broke when 215 deer were killed in 2003-'04, up from 196 the previous season. No public access.
BROWN -- 2
The harvest decline in 2002 (694) was a mere blip on the radar, evidenced by the jump to 801 in 2003-'04. That's a 15.42 percent increase.
BUREAU -- 4
Harvests are level, with five-year average of 581 but slam-dunked in 2003-'04 with 736 deer going to the freezer. Limited access.
CALHOUN -- 4
Growth spurt continues with 14.49 percent improvement and 1,043 filled tags. Over 8,000 acres of public land.
CARROLL -- 4
A 19.74 percent increase marked the 2003-'04 season when 455 hunters took home venison. A lot of public acreage.
CASS -- 7
Just keeps getting better. Stats show nine straight years of kill increases, with the last round topping out at 565. That's a 17.71 percent increase over the previous year. A lot of access and opportunities.
CHAMPAIGN -- 2
The harvest graph is a rollercoaster, but the 2003-'04 season at least produced a hill with 237 kills. No access and still no real clue where their numbers are going.
CHRISTIAN -- 3
A 10.77 percent harvest increase put them at 401 critters bagged versus the five-year average of 363. Some access available.
CLARK -- 2
Improved by 8.18 percent but that's below the statewide average. The season marked with 529 filled tags versus 489 the previous season.
CLAY -- 2
Has shown consistent growth since 1998. An 11.43 percent increase last round (624) over the previous season (560). No access.
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