IDNR: Deer numbers down

Posted on November 27, 2019
The total harvest during the first weekend of firearm deer season was 50,173, compared to 58,836 a year ago. (Facebook/Illinois Department of Natural Resources)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The Thanksgiving meal will include less venison than previously.

The total harvest during the first weekend of firearm deer season was 50,173, compared to 58,836 a year ago. Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesman Tim Schweizer says 2019’s Thanksgiving – and thus firearm deer season – is the latest it can be, and that could be a reason for the drop.

We did hear from some hunters who thought maybe the peak of the deer rut – the deer mating season – had already passed with the later weekend,” Schweizer says.  “That may have been a factor. Weather may have been a factor in some places, with hunters not wanting to go out or not seeing the deer they normally might see.”

Schweizer says archery season – which, with the except of the firearm days, runs through January 19 – is growing in popularity, with new rules promoting crossbows. Firearm season concludes December 5-8.

Illinois firearm season is customarily a three-day weekend prior to Thanksgiving and then a four-day weekend following Thanksgiving weekend.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

 

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