Jefferson County, Illinois Deer Movement Today
Jefferson County in southern Illinois mixes crop fields, fencerows and hardwood draws around Rend Lake. It led Illinois in deer harvest last season across all seasons. Check today's score before you decide on a morning or evening sit.
Fair — An average day. Short, well-timed sits make more sense than all-day ones.
Today, Sunday, October 25, 2026 · Scored for the county seat ZIP. Your own spot can differ, so run your ZIP below.
Check today's deer movement score for Mount Vernon (62864) →Legal hunting hours today
6:44 AM – 6:34 PM (Mount Vernon, 62864)
Illinois ordinary deer seasons: 30 minutes before official sunrise through 30 minutes after official sunset for the location, calculated in local time (17 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 650, 660 and 670; amendments effective September 2, 2025). IDNR sites may restrict hours: Banner Marsh and some Mississippi River walk-in areas have later openings during duck season. Check the current site Hunter Fact Sheet and special-hunt permit.
Today's sit windows
6:49 AM – 9:04 AM
Good · 67/100
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Poor · 33/100
4:14 PM – 6:29 PM
Fair · 63/100
Hunting Jefferson County
Public ground: Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, with bottomland hardwoods, upland ag fields and brushy edges, offers deer hunting under statewide rules.
Cover mix: woodlands broken by ag fields and fencerows, classic edge country.
Rut timing: our 2026 estimate puts the Illinois rut start at Nov 7, two weeks before the Nov 20 firearm opener.
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Planning more than today?
This page shows today's free 0–100 deer movement score for Jefferson County. When you're deciding which days to take off, Pro lays out the next 5 days for your spot, so you can line up your sits ahead of time instead of checking one day at a time.
Start with your own ZIP in the free forecast. You'll see what Pro adds from there.
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