Jefferson and Marion County were the number two and three counties in the state for the spring wild turkey season.
A total of 17,208 wild turkeys were taken statewide during the April and May season. Jefferson County hunters took 472 birds, down eight from last year. Marion County hunters took 435 turkeys, up 96 from last year. The top county in the state remained Jo Daviess in the northwest part of the state. 654 turkeys were taken there.
In other area counties, 292 turkey were taken in Clay County, 131 in Clinton County, 345 in Fayette County 193 in Washington County and 371 in Wayne County.
The 2024 harvest total includes the record youth turkey harvest of 2,009 birds, up from 1,309 in 2023.
Hunters this year purchased 86,083 permits, up from 80,642 last spring. Spring turkey hunting was open in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties.
