Harvest from Illinois’ muzlleloader deer season was down slightly from last year, while archery harvest continued the trend of every week so far this year: down; but harvest is close.
Here is the word from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR):
MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASON Illinois muzzleloader hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,486 deer during the three-day muzzleloading rifle deer season (December 13-15, 2013), compared to preliminary results of 3,576 last year. Harvest sex ratios were 55% does and 45% males (1904; 1582). Counties in the northern and southern parts of the state tended to exceed last year’s results, while most central Illinois counties fell short of last year. Top five counties were Pike (152), JoDaviess (100), Union (95), Jackson (97), and Fulton (85). . . . ARCHERY DEER Through Sunday, December 15, 2013, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 52,166 deer. Preliminary harvest through the same period last year was 53,034. Total harvest to date has consisted of 49% does and 51% males (25647; 26519), with buck harvest during the past seven days at 43%. Top five counties were Pike (2271), Fulton (1489), Jefferson (1289), Adams (1114), and JoDaviess (984). . . .