The shotgun deer hunting harvest was up statewide and locally.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports 82,946 deer were taken during the two-weekend season that ended on December 8th. The total was up for 76,494 last year.
In Marion County, 551 additional deer were harvested in the second weekend of the season, bringing the total to 1,823. That’s 154 more deer than harvested last year.
In Clinton County, 1,012 deer were harvested, including 277 in the second weekend. That’s an increase of 213 deer over last year.
In Jefferson County, the total shotgun deer harvest was 2,083, including 677 in the second weekend. That’s up 171 deer from last year.
In Fayette County, 1,967 deer were harvested this year, including 669 in the second weekend. That is up 284 from last year.
In Clay County, 1,552 deer were harvested, including 434 in the second week. That is an increase of 196 from last year.
In Washington County, 1,165 deer were taken, including 363 in the second weekend. The total number of deer taken last year was 1,041.
In Wayne County, 1,733 deer were harvested, including 620 in the second weekend. 320 more deer were harvested than the prior year.
IDNR reminds everyone the archery deer season continues through January 19th.
