Illinois' 2004 Bowhunting Outlook
If you are a bowhunter, you'll want to know how your county ranks heading into the upcoming deer season.
By Daniel D. Lamoreux
In last year's forecast, we projected a bowhunting harvest that could potentially reach a record of 50,000 deer. We underestimated. Once again, a new archery record was set last fall as 51,660 deer were killed by arrow.
According to Paul Shelton with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the stage is set to raise the bar yet again. "We will probably set another all-time high bow harvest," he said. "And we need our biggest doe harvest."
Shelton also indicated that there has been no shortage of trophy deer. "There were 600 heads in Bloomington at the Deer & Turkey Classic, and there were 60 new Boone and Crockett entries for Illinois."
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 that they could satisfy:
- The statewide archery harvest in 2002-03 increased by 7.94 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 2002-03 must have been above the eight-year average for that county;
- There must be access to public land;
- Access to public land exceeds 10,000 acres;
- Access to public land 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 as one of the best in our state with a harvest last season of 839 deer. This represents an increase over the previous season of 12 percent. That's five consecutive seasons showing increases.
ALEXANDER - 5
The numbers aren't as grand but the trend is the same. Last season saw 191 deer tagged, a 15.76 percent increase over 2001-02.
BOND - 2
Shows good numbers and a healthy trend, but no public access. There were 364 deer tagged last season, up from 338.
BOONE - 0
Steady declines in harvest are the trend here, though the difference in harvests is not significant. It fell from 218 deer in 1999-2000 to 196 last season. No public access.
BROWN - 1
Had been experiencing a good growth trend since 1998, but the string was broken last year. The 2001 record harvest of 733 dropped to 694 last season.
BUREAU - 3
Harvest in the last two seasons has leveled off with kills of 582 and 584, respectively. This is far better than the 396 bagged in 1998, but limited access available.
CALHOUN - 3
Good growth in harvest again last season at 6.92 percent, only slightly below the statewide average. Total take was 911 deer, and access is available.
CARROLL - 4
Two years of minor declines were reversed last year when 380 deer were killed. That represents an increase of 10.79 percent. A lot of acreage for public-land hunters.
CASS - 7
Just keeps getting better. Our stats show eight straight years of harvest increases, with last season topping out at 480. That's a 13.74 percent increase over the previous year. A lot of access and opportunities.
Photo by Ron Sinfelt
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CHAMPAIGN - 0
The harvest graph looks like a roller coaster, and they lost another 7.86 percent in total numbers (211) last season. No access and no clue where their numbers are going.
CHRISTIAN - 3
Relatively stable over last three seasons with harvest totals of 366, 355 and 362, respectively. Some access helped their score.
CLARK - 3
Last season was marked with a 19.56 percent increase (489) over previous year (409), but no visible trend seen in eight seasons.
CLAY - 3
With the exception of a minor glitch in 1998, has shown consistent growth. A 15.94 percent increase last season (560) over 2001-02 (483). No access.
CLINTON - 4
Last season was best in an eight-year trend upward. A 20.85 percent increase to 481 shows high promise. Very limited public acreage.
COLES - 2
Best season was 2001 with 506. Last year dropped to harvest of 466. Eight-year average is 364.
COOK - 1
The best season here was in 1995, when 159 deer were tagged. The numbers have been up and down since. The eight-year average kill is 137. Last season saw 128 bagged.
CRAWFORD - 3
No significant difference between the last two seasons. 2001 saw 562 deer tagged compared to 564 last year. Eight-year average is 463. Some access is available.
CUMBERLAND - 2
The 2001 season showed significant growth (248) over 2000 (175) but leveled off last year at 252. Lack of access hurt score.
DE KALB - 2
The 1997 season was their best with 292 kills, and that number has not been reached since, but the eight-year average remains at a respectable 263. Limited access.
DE WITT - 3
The recovery has continued for three seasons. The number of tags filled last year (254) is short of 1996 (303), but represents an improvement of 26.37 percent over 2001.
DOUGLAS - 3
Harvest numbers are not high (137 last season) but a growth of 25.69 percent from the previous year is positive. Very limited public access.
DU PAGE - 1
Last season's harvest (106) was exactly the eight-year average but still far short of the 1995 best of 152.
EDGAR - 2
Roller coaster numbers over eight years. Last season filled 302 tags, and the average is 271.
EDWARDS - 0
Last season's take of 168 was thee worst year in three, but consistent with eight-year average of 170. No public access.
EFFINGHAM - 3
Slow but steady increases over eight years resulted in a record kill of 375 deer last season. They would score better with more than just 500 acres of public access.
FAYETTE - 5
Last year's take of 653 deer was their best, and, with the exception of the 2000 season, is another in a long string of improvements. With over 10,000 acres of public land, this area holds much promise.
FORD - 1
Numbers have never been strong, with an eight-year average harvest of 46. Last year produced 61 deer but was below the 2001 high of 71.
FRANKLIN - 4
Ups and downs are characteristic of this area, but the last two seasons have been exceptionally strong, with harvests of 709 and 840, respectively. Average take is 599.
FULTON - 4
Experienced another big gain of 17.65 percent last season (1,193) over the previous year (1,014), which is more than double that experienced in 1995 (525).
GALLATIN - 3
Relatively stable with an average of 190 over eight years and a spike in numbers last season to 254.
GREENE - 2
Good harvest of 608 deer last season and 592 the year before, but no public access.
GRUNDY - 3
With only minor variations, has maintained an eight-year average harvest of 349 kills. Access to over 4,000 acres.
HAMILTON - 5
Has come a long way. The 1995 harvest was 191 and steadily climbed to a new high of 468 last year. Plenty of access and good potential.
HANCOCK - 3
Has also been a steady climber with another 9 percent increase last season (546) over the previous year (499), but lacks public access.
HARDIN - 3
Harvest increases not as dramatic but relatively steady. The last three years produced 324, 351 and 356 deer, respectively.
HENDERSON - 4
Three years of good recovery from the dip in 1999 (139) to last season's high of 227. Access available on 8,000 acres.
HENRY - 3
The 2001 season was best in eight years (418), with a 7 percent decline last year to 388 kills. Some access.
IROQUOIS - 2
Last year's harvest of 339 was below the previous year (364) by nearly 7 percent but still above the eight-year average of 302.
JACKSON - 7
Had suffered declines in harvest from 1995 through 1999 but has made a strong recovery to a record high of 737 filled tags last year. A lot of access and great potential.
JASPER - 5
Another 12 percent increase in harvest last year over the year before. Expect around 550 deer or more to go in the freezer.
JEFFERSON - 5
Highly productive area that gained a whopping 31.29 percent increase last year (1,389) over the previous season's 1,058 deer. Public access on 10,000 acres.
JERSEY - 5
Seven straight years of moderate but steady harvest increases. Tagged 536 deer last year. Over 12,000 acres open to the public.
JO DAVIESS - 4
Still below the high of 538 in 1999, but closing the gap again to last year's 520. Access to 10,000 acres.
JOHNSON - 5
Finally recovering to numbers consistent with the late 1990s, with a 498 deer average over eight years and 537 last season.
KANE - 0
Last year saw the lowest harvest in four years with 412 killed. Eight-year average is 449.
KANKAKEE - 3
Reasonably stable harvest average of 215 annually, with actual experience not varying more than 20 deer in either direction over eight years.
KENDALL - 3
Expect approximately 160 deer arrowed. Minimum access.
KNOX - 2
Last season saw a 5 percent drop in harvest (592) from that of previous year (625). Some access.
LAKE - 1
Harvest fell, though insignificantly, for the third straight year. Bowhunters killed 535 deer last season.
LA SALLE - 3
Harvest continued upward last season to a high of 1,068 filled tags from previous year's 1,017.
LAWRENCE - 4
Last year's take of 492 was 11.56 percent better than the previous year. That represents five straight seasons of growth.
LEE - 4
A 14.56 percent improvement was experienced here when a total of 535 deer were killed.
LIVINGSTON - 2
Growth here has been steady but not dynamic. Hunters bagged 259 deer last year, but no public ground.
LOGAN - 1
Harvest dropped last year by 7 percent to 226 filled tags. Eight-year average is 198.
MACON - 2
Two years of improvement followed two years of decline. Best year was 1995 with 295 deer. Eight-year average is 258.
MACOUPIN - 3
Roller coaster harvest graph, with last year as a high of 755 deer killed. Very limited public access.
MADISON - 4
Strong showing last season (915) compared to previous year's 781. About 2,000 acres of public land.
MARION - 3
Last season's harvest of 1,067 deer smokes the 484 experienced in 1995, but a lack of public access keeps score at midlevel.
MARSHALL - 3
After several years of reasonable growth, the harvest leveled off the last two years at roughly 266 deer. Good access opportunities.
MASON - 2
Harvest dropped last year by 2.5 percent. Has experienced highs (497) and lows (347).
MASSAC - 4
Good growth rates reversed with a drop to 378 last season from the prior year's 404. Plenty of access keeps them rated high.
MCDONOUGH - 3
Showed unusual improvement of 21.5 percent with 390 deer taken last year. Little access available.
MCHENRY - 0
The decline continues from a high harvest of 735 in 1995 to the low of 603 last season.
MCLEAN - 2
Minor decline in harvest last season to 462. Eight-year average is 432.
MENARD - 2
Also experienced a minor decline last year to 332, though the last two years have been well above the eight-year average of 249.
MERCER - 4
Though totals are not dramatic, the increases have been relatively substantial. Rose from a low of 89 in 1996 to last season's high of 289. Public land includes over 2,800 acres.
MONROE - 2
Steady, reasonable increases since 1995 (108) to last year's 280 kills, but no public access available.
MONTGOMERY - 3
Last year saw a new high harvest (513), but history has been relatively unstable. Some public access.
MORGAN - 1
Last season was the worst in three (495), with the best being the year before (527). Eight-year average kill is 432.
MOULTRIE - 4
On an improving trend. Climbed 19 percent again last year to 155 kills. Access to over 6,000 acres.
OGLE - 2
Last year was the worst in four (600), but still above average of 591.
PEORIA - 4
Excellent gains since 1998 (594) culminating in high of 889 last season. Plenty of public land.
PERRY - 4
Strong gains (19.36 percent) to 709 filled tags last season. Public land includes over 5,400 acres.
PIATT - 1
Showed improvement last season (123) but still well below the high of 177 in 1998. No public ground.
PIKE - 5
Just keeps getting better, with 2,874 deer arrowed last season, and it has over 17,000 acres of access.
POPE - 4
Relatively stable harvests of over 700 deer in each of last four seasons.
PULASKI - 2
Average harvest is 313 deer. Hunters took 325 last year. No access.
PUTNAM - 3
Increased harvest from 155 in 2001 to last season's 175. No access.
RANDOLPH - 5
Incredible harvest growth of 35.97 percent from 620 in 2001 to 843 last year. Over 18,000 acres of access.
RICHLAND - 2
Recovered nicely last year to 441 from previous year's slump of 382.
ROCK ISLAND - 3
Two years of declines were reversed to an eight-year-high harvest of 418 last season. Public land exceeds 5,000 acres.
SALINE - 6
Highest improvement in the state, with a 38.76 percent gain in harvest from 307 in 2001 to 426 last year. Plenty of access.
SANGAMON - 2
2001 was best season at 681 kills, but dropped to 624 last year.
SCHUYLER - 4
Steady gains over four years to high of 558 last season. No public access hurts the score.
SCOTT - 2
Slow but steady gains continue, with harvest of 229 last year. The average is 180, but lack of public access limits the score.
SHELBY - 6
Climb continues to last season's high of 631 deer. Over 10,000 acres of access definitely helps.
STARK - 1
Last year's improvement of 162 kills just doesn't compare to high of 481 in 1999.
ST. CLAIR - 4
The 1999 slump of 98 deer is all but forgotten with last year's harvest high of 683. Some access is available.
STEPHENSON - 1
Simply unstable. High harvest in 1999 of 437 while last year it was at 396. No public hunting access.
TAZEWELL - 3
Good improvement last year to 654 tagged deer after three relatively stable years. Access to over 3,000 acres.
UNION - 5
A 10 percent increase in harvest last year (570) from 2001 (515) and nearly 9,000 acres of public ground.
VERMILLION - 3
Showing good recovery from previous slumps. Total harvest last year was 915. Another good year should raise their score.
WABASH - 2
Experienced a 4 percent decline in harvest last season and has an unsteady harvest history.
WARREN - 1
Also suffered a slight decline, and there's a lack of public access.
WASHINGTON - 4
The numbers are good, but the lack of access keeps the score midlevel. Last year saw 524 deer tagged, a 19.63 percent increase.
WAYNE - 3
Slight drop experienced last year (722) compared with previous season (745). Limited access.
WHITE - 3
Good growth continues, with a 15 percent increase last year to 552 kills. No public access.
WHITESIDE - 3
Recovered last year to 368 after previous season's slump of 329.
WILL - 3
A slight decline last year to 805 kills from previous season's 836 filled tags. Eight-year average is 762, and over 7,400 acres of access.
WILLIAMSON - 7
Another 15 percent harvest increase to 797 and more public ground than you can shake a stick at.
WINNEBAGO - 1
Last season was worst in four, with a harvest of 469.
WOODFORD - 3
Best year so far was experienced last season with a bowkill of 539.
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