Illinois Department of Natural Resources For Immediate Release December 10, 2008 Hunters in Illinois Harvest 105,595 Deer During Seven Day Firearm Season [last year's total = 116708] Hunters prepare for three day muzzleloader-only season this week SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 105,595 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 4-7. The preliminary second-season (Dec. 4-7) harvest total was 33,701, compared with the 31,218 deer taken by hunters during the second season in 2007. This year’s preliminary first-season (Nov. 21-23) deer harvest was 71,894, compared with a first-season harvest of 85,490 in 2007. The preliminary harvest total includes deer taken in all 99 counties in which firearm deer hunting is permitted, as well as Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County. Preliminary reports show that Pike County once again topped the county deer harvest totals for the firearm season as hunters there took 3,342 deer. Other top county harvest totals were Fulton (2,688), Adams (2,649), Randolph (2,489), and Jefferson (2,451). “A number of factors may have impacted our deer harvest this year, including the cold, wintry weather during both the first and second portions of the firearm season, the amount of standing corn in parts of northern Illinois, and even the slightly later timing of the seasons,” said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program manager Paul Shelton. “In addition, our effort to reduce deer numbers may be paying off in some areas.” The three-day Illinois muzzleloader-only deer season is this week, Dec. 12-14, while the Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-only Deer Season and Special CWD Deer Season are Jan. 16-18, 2009. The statewide archery deer hunting season continues through Jan. 15, 2009. Deer hunters with unfilled deer permits from the firearm season, muzzleloader season or youth season may use those permits during the Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-only Deer Season if the permits are for one of the counties open for the Late-Winter season. Counties that will be open for the Late-Winter season are: Adams, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Knox, LaSalle, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson, and Woodford. Hunters in Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and that portion of Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47 can participate in the Special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Deer Season Jan. 16-18, 2009 to help control deer densities and the spread of chronic wasting disease. Antlerless-only permits for the CWD season are scheduled to be available over-the-counter beginning Dec. 15 for $5 each at participating DNR Direct license and permit vendors in those counties. In addition, hunters with unfilled 2008 firearm, muzzleloader, youth deer hunt, or archery deer permits valid for one of the open counties may use those permits to hunt during the CWD season. Hunters using unfilled permits from the 2008 firearm, muzzleloader, youth, or archery season during the CWD hunt may take deer appropriate for that permit (antlerless-only or either-sex). Check stations will be manned during the CWD season in the open counties: Boone Co. - Boone County Fairgrounds, Rt. 76 and Business Rt. 20, Belvidere DeKalb Co. and Kane Co. (west of Ill. Rt. 47) - Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd., Shabbona McHenry Co. - McHenry Dam Day Use Area, Moraine Hills State Park, east of McHenry on River Road, 2.2 miles south of Route 120 Winnebago Co. - Ro
MO numbers are way down this year compared to last. I think this year during our 10 day firearm we took just over 200,000 deer while last year it was around 260,000. So far this year we are at 262,045 deer including all seasons and weapons. That's only roughly 2000 more than last year's firearm season alone.
It's always crazy to me how we can shoot 100,000+ deer every year and next year there's a bunch more to take their place. And part of me is glad to see the numbers are down, it means that maybe I don't just suck at hunting. :D
Man Justin, I couldn't agree more. Missouri estimates it's deer population at right around 1M, and hunters in MO harvest 275,000-300,000 deer annually. And our population is holding fairly steady, overall. Now, that's not to say individual populations don't fluctuate, but as a whole is remains fairly constant. Man, if that doesn't explain how well the whitetail deer adapts and survives, and explains the explosion in population over the last 10 years.....It's just incredible. We reduce the population by 25% and they rebound each year. Amazing.
In KY this year the total harvest is 109,212 clmpared to last years113,436. We still have a 8 day ML coming up, and our archery doesn't go out until Jan. 19. So we should be on track...I think. I can't believe that 200,000+ were harvested during MO's gun last year. That's crazy. Everyone kills way more deer with their guns than we kill altogether. I thought we had more hunters than that.
It doesn't surprise me at all that the harvest numbers are down so much... its been such a strange year. I was starting to wonder the same thing myself Justin, at least I know I'm not a alone and that a bunch of other hunters have been struggling right along with me.
