Hunters Take More Illinois Deer in 20-21 Season

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Published on February 3 2021 9:32 am
Last Updated on February 3 2021 9:33 am

BY KAY SHIPMAN, FARMWEEK

Deer hunters in Illinois took more deer, a preliminary total of 162,575, during the 2020-21 archery and firearm seasons compared to the previous year, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The 2019-20 seasons saw a total of 153,174 deer hunted in Illinois.

During the most recent seasons, the hunted deer were 45.4% does and 54.6% bucks.

Archery hunters set a preliminary record of 75,544 deer between Oct. 1 and Jan. 17. Youth hunters took a preliminary total of 2,321 deer during the three-day youth deer season Oct. 10-12.

During the traditional firearm season, a preliminary total of 76,579 deer were shot, a larger number compared to with 75,417 the previous year. Muzzleloader hunters shot 3,447 deer Dec. 11-13. During the late-winter seasons for antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease (CWD) seasons that ended Jan. 17, the combined preliminary totals were 4,684 deer.