Deer hunters across South Central Illinois and statewide brought in more deer during the first shotgun deer hunting weekend last week.
Statewide, 54,661 deer were harvested up 1,294 from the first season last year and another 100 from two years ago.
Here’s how hunters fared in area counties:
- Marion County hunters bagged 1,272 deer during the first season, up 70 from last year and 86 from two years ago.
- Jefferson County continued to be in the top five, with 1,406 deer taken. That’s up from 1,286 last year.
- Fayette County had 1,298 deer taken, up from 1,166 last year.
- Clay County hunters bagged 1,118 deer, up from 1,007 last year.
- In Clinton County, 735 deer were taken up from 588 in 2023.
- In Washington County, the harvest increased 55 deer to 802.
- Wayne County hunters brought in 802 deer, up from 747 the prior year.
The second shotgun deer hunting weekend is December 5th through the 8th. There is a muzzle loader only season December 13-15th. Archery deer season continues through January 19th, except December 5th through 8th.
