Over 151,000 Deer Taken During 2018 in Illinois

Print

Published on January 30 2019 10:52 am
Last Updated on January 30 2019 10:52 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 151,577 deer during all 2018-19 archery and firearm seasons, which concluded on Jan. 20. The total preliminary deer harvest for all seasons compares with a total harvest for all seasons of 147,695 deer in 2017-18. During the 2018-19 deer seasons, hunters took 45 percent does and 55 percent males. 

Archery:  Archery deer hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 61,079 deer during the season which began on Oct. 1, 2018 and concluded on Jan. 20, 2019.  That compares with the harvest of 57,929 deer during the 2017-18 archery season.

Youth:  Youth deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 1,650 deer during the three-day Illinois Youth Deer Season (Oct. 6-8, 2018), compared to 2,378 in 2017.

Traditional Firearm Season:  Hunters took a preliminary total of 80,896 deer during the Illinois Firearm Deer Season on Nov. 16-18, 2018 and Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2018, compared with 80,117 deer taken during the 2017 firearm season.

Muzzleloader:  Hunters using muzzleloading rifles harvested 3,863 deer during the Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season on Dec. 7-9, 2018, compared with harvest 3,765 in the 2017 muzzleloader season.

Late-Winter Seasons:  The 2018-19 Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and Special CWD deer seasons concluded on Jan. 20, 2019, with a combined preliminary harvest total for both seasons of 4,089 deer, compared with a harvest of 3,506 deer taken during those seasons in 2017-18.  Season dates for the seven-day Late-Winter and CWD seasons were Dec. 27-30, 2018 and Jan. 18-20, 2019.  

There were 15 northern Illinois counties open to the Special CWD Season in both the 2018-19 and 2017-18 seasons.  The Special CWD season is used to assist in slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd.

There were 20 counties open for the Late-Winter Antlerless Season in 2018-19, while 22 counties were open for the Late-Winter season in 2017-18.  Counties that are at or below their individual deer population goal for two consecutive years may be removed from the Late-Winter season.

In Effingham County, 489 deer were taken by archery, 27 in the youth hunt, 988 by firearms, and 37 by muzzleloader for a total of 1,541 deer. The totals for area counties: Clay--1,949; Cumberland--1,306; Fayette--2,558; Jasper--1,752; and Shelby--2,152.