Illinois is well known throughout the deer enthusiasts' world as a hunting destination not only for trophy bucks but also as a state that allows all hunters a good chance at killing a whitetail. With an estimated 750,000 deer in the Prairie State, this hunting season holds excellent promise for success. Our bowhunting harvest is at a record level, firearms totals are outstanding and stable, the hunter success ratio is high, and public opportunities are at an all-time high.

If you've been wondering where all the hotbeds for deer are in Illinois, then pay close attention to the following projection. We've taken a critical look at harvest totals, hunter success rates and harvest densities throughout our state to create an analysis guaranteed to put you where the deer are.

According to Tom Micetich, manager of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources deer program, there are currently about 750,000 deer in the Land of Lincoln. Hunters in the bowhunting season and the first and second shotgun seasons in 2005 killed 178,683 deer in total. This was down 1 percent from the record-setting mark in 2004 of 180,317 whitetails. The first firearms season of 2005 brought in 77,051 deer, an increase of 4 percent over 73,819 in 2004. In the second gun season, 37,158 were harvested compared with 42,856 in 2004, a decrease of 13 percent, which is primarily attributed to the extraordinarily cold weather in the beginning of last December. Archers in 2005 brought in a record 64,474 deer, thus besting the previous record of 63,639 established in 2004.

Statewide in 2005, the gun kill averaged 2.04 deer per square mile, and the aggregate of all three seasons averaged 3.19. At the same time, bowhunter success stands at nearly 50 percent, and paid permit firearms hunter success is at 48 percent.

To arrive at a projection, we took figures from the archery, first shotgun and second shotgun seasons -- the most prominent kill descriptors -- and established a harvest density for each county. The harvest density is described in terms of deer killed per square mile. Densities throughout Illinois ranged from .16 deer harvested per square mile to 9.8. Relative hunter success percentages are also included in the projection, as is availability of public access.

Pike County led all counties in 2005 with 7,558 deer harvested. The deer kill per square mile was 9.1, and the hunter success rate was just over 50 percent. Adams County recorded 4,345 deer in the aggregate of all their seasons. Harvest per square mile was 5.0 and hunter success was likewise 50 percent. Fulton was next with 4,323 deer and a harvest density of 4.9, and half of all paid permit holders enjoyed success last year. Jefferson County brought in 4,124 animals, and densities were high, with 7.1 deer killed per square mile. Hunter success was likewise high, with 59 percent of firearms hunters scoring.

Calhoun County led all county harvest densities with 9.8 deer killed per square mile. Pike was a close second with 9.1, while Brown was at 8.0, followed by Pope (7.6), Hardin (7.3), Jefferson (7.1), Johnson (6.8), Williamson (6.5), Union (6.3) and Schuyler (6.1).

It has been said that you can go anywhere in Illinois and have a good chance to fill your deer tag. But closer to home, here's the best potential in your neck of the woods.