SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) � Hunters took more than 75,000 deer during Illinois� seven-day firearm hunting season this fall, according to preliminary totals compiled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
That number represents a 7% drop in the number of deer harvested from 2018, when nearly 81,000 deer were taken.
But the second part of this year’s season, from Dec. 5-8, saw an uptick over last year. More than 25,000 deer were harvested during the second season, a 14 percent increase from 2018.
State wildlife officials say that there are other hunting opportunities under way or approaching, including archery hunting and hunting with muzzleloaders.
