Illinois early deer hunting numbers up region-wide

November 30, 2020 8

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois hunters have harvested just over 47,000 deer during the first weekend of firearm season. This first weekend was from Nov. 20-22.

The overall total of 47,147 falls just over 3,000 short of the 2019 mark of 50,173. These figures come from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Dec. 3-6.

Numbers were slightly up in Montgomery County with 540 deer taken, up 20 from 2019. Numbers are also up in several regional counties as well.

Bond County saw an increase to 500 taken compared to 426 in 2019. Deer taken in Fayette County would increase by 24 to 1,004. 38 more deer would be taken in Macoupin County for a total of 1,025. Madison County saw an increase of 63 deer taken for a total of 442. Sangamon County had the lowest uptick, only seeing a 3 deer increase to 329.

However, some deer harvests were down in two regional counties. Christian County would see a 47 deer decline from 2019, falling to 372 from 419. Shelby County would witness a similar decline, falling to 757 from 824.

Many deer hunting weeks to come in Illinois

There will be other deer-hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead. The muzzleloader-only season will take place from Dec. 11-13. Late-winter antlerless will take place from New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 to Jan. 3, 2021. Another antlerless period will run from Jan. 15-17, 2021.

Archery season will not be open from Dec. 3-6 due to the final days of the firearm season. However, it will resume through Jan. 17, 2021. To date, 814 deer were harvested during the season, 24 fewer than in 2019.

More deer hunting information, including open counties, can be found through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.