Statewide numbers down, but local deer harvest in line with last year

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 47,147 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season Nov. 20-22 compared with 50,173 deer taken during the first firearm weekend in 2019, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reported.

While that statewide total is down just over 6%, numbers in most area counties are in line with this time a year ago.

In La Salle County, 465 deer were successfully hunted opening weekend compared to 469 a year ago.

In Bureau County, 635 deer were harvested compared to 622 a year ago.

In Livingston County, 279 deer were successfully hunted compared to 275 a year ago.

In DeKalb County, 77 deer were successfully hunted compared to 80 on 2019's opening weekend.

In Kendall County, 57 deer were successfully hunted compared to 53 a year ago.

Both Grundy and Putnam counties did see sizable drops more on line with the state totals. Grundy had 148 deer harvested compared to 194 a year ago. Putnam County had 207 deer successfully hunted compared to 250 on 2019's opening weekend.

Illinois’ seven-day Firearm Deer Season will conclude Dec. 3-6.