Illinois deer hunting: Harvest stays up

LATE WINTER DEER SEASON/SPECIAL CWD DEER SEASON – PRELIMINARY HARVEST RESULTS For the first four-day period (December 31, 2015-January 3, 2016) of the Late Winter Antlerless Deer Season and the Special CWD Deer Season, Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,939 deer, compared to 2,981 for the same period in 2014-2015. The number of counties open to the Late Winter Season was 27 (down from 35 in 2014-2015), while 14 northern Illinois counties were open to the Special CWD Season (compared to 12 in 2014-2015). Top five counties (including both Late Winter and CWD seasons) were JoDaviess (306), Fulton (294), Pike (233), Schuyler (188), and Brown (186). A table of county results is attached [posted at bottom of entry]. ARCHERY DEER PRELIMINARY HARVEST RESULTS Through Sunday, January 3, 2016, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 53,373 deer, compared to 53,188 for the same period in 2014-2015. Harvest to date has consisted of 47% does and 53% males (25,181:28,192), while 45% percent of the harvest has been antlered bucks (23,841). Top five counties are currently Pike (1,995), Fulton (1,526), Jefferson (1,190), Adams (1,135), and JoDaviess (1,051). A table of county results is attached. Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx Paul Shelton, Manager Forest Wildlife Program