Here are the best states for hunting whitetail deer part 4. Coming in number 3, Illinois. Illinois has a smaller deer population, estimated around 660,000 (according to deerfriendly.com), but they make up for it with an abundant agriculture and massive deer. Illinois has seen an increase in non resident hunting pressure (according to dnr.illinois.gov, they have limited out of state hunting permits to 25,000). This does not affect the overall success rate in the state. Illinois also holds multipl