Putting It Together
Using the criterion discussed above, we allotted point values to each descriptor and assigned these values to the top 25 counties for each respective category.

The only counties to score in each category were Calhoun, Randolph and Perry counties. Hunters in these counties delivered excellent harvest rates and densities.

There's plenty of public ground in all three of these counties, too, providing many opportunities for deer hunters to log success afield.

In the southern third of the state, Jackson, Union, Williamson, Pope, Marion, Jefferson, Clay and Pulaski counties all scored marks in three categories. All but Pulaski and Clay counties scored among the top harvesting counties. All of these counties also scored marks for density, and many of these counties demonstrated an increase in harvest. Pulaski, Clay, Jefferson and Marion counties likewise had some of the highest hunter success rates in the state.

Fayette County made the top 25 list for high harvests along with Wayne County, which also had a high mark for hunter success. Jasper County received two marks for increase and success. Richland, Edwards, Hamilton and White counties received marks for hunter success. White County also scored a mark for density. Moreover, Massac and Alexander counties saw significant harvest increases in 2006 over 2005.

Greene County was the only county to score in three areas in the west-central region; however, Pike, Adams, Brown, Schuyler, Hancock and Jersey counties scored in the areas of harvest and density. Jersey County missed getting a mark for deer-kill density but earned a mark for an increased deer kill over 2005. So did Hancock County, but this deer factory on the Mississippi River also had one of the highest hunter success rates in the state.

Macoupin and Madison counties stood among the top counties for deer harvest numbers, while Christian County gained a mark for increase, and Washington and Monroe counties scored marks for hunter success.

There were no counties in Zone 3 that made the top 25 list for density or harvest. However, Cumberland, Moultrie and Champaign counties all scored marks in hunter success and harvest increase. Clark and Shelby counties scored marks among the top 25 for hunter success. Edgar County scored a mark for percentage of increase.

The lone county that had any representation in Zone 2 was Will County, which saw the overall best percentage of harvest increase over 2005.

Although not observed in the formula we used to rate deer hunting success, Grundy County -- especially near the Illinois and Mazon rivers basins -- has been putting out the deer for a few years. In addition, McHenry and Lake counties are chock-full of whitetails; but with dwindling areas to hunt, these totals are not well represented in the counties' harvest numbers. Find a place to hunt in any of these four near-Metro counties, and chances are good you'll see some deer.

Zone 1 had four of the top counties for deer harvest in 2006. Among the highest scoring county was Jo Daviess, which had representation in harvest, density and increase. Both Peoria and Fulton counties rank among the top 25 for harvest, and both rank there for harvest density, as well. LaSalle County found its way into the top 25 for harvest, and with extremely low densities through this large area, the prime focus is on the Illinois, Vermilion, Little Vermilion and Fox rivers corridors.

Little Putnam County -- 166 square miles -- on the Illinois River ranked for deer kill density; Rock Island County displayed a high rate of increase over 2005's harvest; and both Henderson and McDonough are among the counties with the highest rates of hunter success in the state.

Other Noteworthy Areas
After applying the formula for identifying the counties above as the best areas for success, there are always a few counties with respectable deer herds that slip through the cracks. Hunters who happen to be near one of these will find their time afield well spent.