Average Deer Tracking Fees in Illinois

Hunters searching for deer tracking services in Illinois can choose from trained blood tracking dog teams located throughout the state. Based on pricing information listed by Illinois trackers in the TRAKR database, many teams provide recovery assistance for free or primarily accept tips or donations.

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• 63% of Illinois tracker profiles offer free tracking services or operate primarily for tips or donations.

• Among Illinois trackers with a fixed or calculable paid rate, the average listed deer tracking fee is approximately $224.

• Drone deer recovery is currently illegal in Illinois. For that reason, drone recovery rates are not included in this Illinois pricing analysis.

How Illinois Deer Tracking Rates Were Calculated

These averages are based on rates and pricing instructions supplied by trackers through their TRAKR profiles. When a tracker listed mileage charges or travel-based pricing, the estimated rate was calculated using a standard travel distance of 50 miles each way.

Fee ranges were calculated using the midpoint. Separate recovery or finder fees were added to the initial tracking fee. When separate rates were listed for bucks and does, the buck rate was used because more than 80 percent of tracking requests involve bucks.

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The rates shown are estimates based on available information and do not represent fixed, required, or recommended prices. TRAKR does not set tracker fees and does not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any listed rate. Individual trackers independently determine their own pricing, service areas, travel charges, deposits, recovery fees, and other terms. Illinois tracking pricing data last updated August 2026.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DEER TRACKING IN ILLINOIS

Illinois is one of the Midwest's best-known whitetail states, with deer habitat ranging from the agricultural landscape of northern and central Illinois to the larger hardwood forests, steep ridges, creek bottoms, and rugged terrain of southern Illinois.

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Large corn and soybean fields can create particularly difficult recovery situations. A wounded deer may travel into standing crops where blood is difficult to see and visibility can be reduced to only a few rows. River bottoms, CRP fields, cattail marshes, brushy fence lines, and thick hardwood cover can create additional challenges.

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Trained tracking dogs give hunters another recovery option when a visible blood trail becomes sparse or disappears. Rather than depending only on visible blood, an experienced tracking dog can follow scent associated with the individual wounded deer and continue working a trail through vegetation, agricultural fields, leaves, creek crossings, and other difficult terrain.

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Size and Impact

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Some publicly available Illinois deer hunting statistics include:

• Illinois hunters harvested a preliminary 81,225 deer during the seven-day 2025 firearm deer season.

• Illinois youth hunters set a record during the 2025 Youth Deer Season, harvesting a preliminary 4,714 deer over the three-day season.

• ​Deer hunting opportunities extend across most of Illinois, with archery, youth firearm, firearm, muzzleloader, and special late-season opportunities available under state regulations.

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Illinois Tracking Dog Regulations

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Illinois law specifically allows dogs to be used to track wounded deer. The governing provision is 520 ILCS 5/2.26 of the Illinois Wildlife Code.

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The law requires the handler to maintain physical control of the dog using a lead no longer than 50 feet attached to the dog's collar or harness.

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Nighttime tracking is expressly permitted. However, when tracking occurs outside legal hunting hours or outside an open deer season, the handler and anyone accompanying the dog may not possess a firearm or archery device.

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Handlers tracking with dogs during firearm deer seasons must also comply with Illinois blaze orange or blaze pink requirements.

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Dog handlers do not need their own hunting license or deer permit when they are accompanying the licensed hunter who wounded the deer.

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Why Illinois Allows Tracking Dogs

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Illinois generally prohibits using dogs to take deer and prohibits dog owners from allowing their dogs to pursue, harass, or kill deer. The wounded-deer tracking provision creates a narrowly defined exception that allows dogs to assist in recovery without turning the activity into the pursuit of healthy deer.

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Controlled tracking can help hunters make a reasonable effort to recover wounded game while reducing uncontrolled pursuit of wildlife, interference with neighboring properties, and the possibility of a tracking dog switching onto a healthy deer.

Certification and Training

Illinois does not require a state-issued tracking-dog certification or special tracking-dog handler license.

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The state's legal requirements focus on how the dog is used: the dog must remain under physical control on a lead no longer than 50 feet, applicable nighttime and weapon restrictions must be followed, and blaze orange or blaze pink requirements apply during firearm deer seasons.

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Some Illinois handlers voluntarily train or test their dogs through blood-tracking organizations such as United Blood Trackers or the American Blood Trackers Association.

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Formal certification is not required by Illinois law, so hunters may also want to consider a tracker's experience, number of tracks completed, service area, availability, equipment, reviews, and the experience of the individual dog when selecting a recovery team.

TRAKR in Illinois

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At this time, Illinois does not have an official statewide TRAKR Network.​

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Hunters can still use the TRAKR app to submit a tracking request and notify available tracking dog handlers who provide service in their area.

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If you’re an Illinois tracking dog handler interested in helping hunters recover wounded deer, TRAKR is actively expanding across the United States and welcomes experienced recovery teams.