The percentage of bucks in the harvest by Illinois deer hunters jumped again last week, as would be expected for what is usually the top week for the rut; but overall harvest by bow remains well off last year, in part because of the weekend weather.
Here is the latest word from the IDNR:
Through Sunday, November 17, 2013, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 44,387 deer. Preliminary harvest through the same period last year was 48,179. Rains/storms on Saturday and Sunday resulted in harvest levels significantly lower than would be expected on what is traditionally the highest harvest weekend of the archery season. Total harvest to date has consisted of 50% does and 50% males (22314; 22073), but buck harvest during the past week was 65%.
