Climb in deer numbers this firearm season

Posted on December 6, 2018
Jackson, Adams, Randolph, and Pike Counties had the most kills in the 2018 firearm season, all with more than 2,000 each. (Facebook/Illinois Department of Natural Resources)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Deer hunters in Illinois killed almost 80,896 deer in the firearm season, up 779 from a year ago.

DNR spokesman Ed Cross says before Thanksgiving, the weather was on the hunters’ side, as were the deer.

“You saw the mating season at its hottest during that first firearm season, harvesting close to 59,000 that first weekend, showing you how perfect the conditions were,” Cross said. “Then, you look at the second week, weather was probably the biggest factor,” with only 22,060 harvested, down almost 6,600 from 2017’s second weekend.

Jackson, Adams, Randolph, and Pike Counties had the most kills in the 2018 firearm season, all with more than 2,000 each.

The firearm season is the weekend before and the weekend after Thanksgiving. Archery season continues through Jan. 20.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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