Deer harvest numbers were indeed down in IL. I don't know how much because I'm not sure all the official numbers are in. I have yet to take a deer this year, but am hoping to do so within the next week and a half before archery close. I've passed up several deer, and I'm still seeing several as well. I haven't been seeing any mature bucks lately though, just 1.5-2 y/o, yearlings, and does.
that is exactly what i have been hearing from all my buddies and what i have found myself... take the good with the bad i suppose....
Same thing up here in Wi. All season, a lot of guys not seeing much either bow or gun. A rare amount of hunters coming across alot in one session. I truly believe, as do many other hunters, that the DNR fudged their #'s to make it appear that there are more deer than there really are. With all the hunting seasons we had this fall, the DNR says the deer registered is down 20%, well no duh! Less deer in the woods means less deer at registration. The DNR even admitted that there bear count was off, and that there are more bears than they initially thought. It's all politics. The insurance agenicies give them one heck of check towards their budget in reduce the deer pop. and now to everyone's bad hunting season, they've accomplished their quota.
I heard that at last count archery deer kill numbers were actually up in IL. Gun numbers were down. (then again they sold like 10K less firearms tags) So you guys just suck. Kidding!!
