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The preliminary second-season harvest total, for Dec. 5-8, was
18,483, compared with the 27,213 deer taken by hunters during
the second segment of the season last year. This year's
preliminary first-season deer harvest, for Nov. 22-24, was
55,708, compared with a first-season harvest of 72,111 in 2012.
The preliminary harvest totals include deer taken in all
counties where firearm deer hunting is permitted, as well as at
Chain O'Lakes State Park in Lake County. Logan County had
preliminary totals of 251 for Nov. 22-24 and 83 for Dec. 5-8,
for a combined total of 334 for the firearm season, compared
with 491 last year.
During the second segment of the firearm season, Dec. 5-8,
opening day saw falling temperatures and gusty winds throughout
the state, and southern Illinois saw rain and freezing rain
turning to snow that continued through Friday with substantial
accumulations. Frigid temperatures persisted Friday and
Saturday, with single-digit lows throughout the state on
Saturday and highs that reached 20 degrees only in the south.
Temperatures increased slightly on Sunday, with snow falling
much of the day in northern Illinois. Windy conditions prevailed
throughout much of the season.
"Clearly this year's preliminary firearm harvest numbers are
below previous seasons, and while bad weather conditions
throughout the state played a role, it cannot be the only
factor. Once all deer seasons are complete, our biologists will
evaluate deer management goals on a county-by-county basis to
achieve stability in our deer herd," said IDNR Director Marc
Miller.
Beginning in 2008, the IDNR adopted deer herd management
goals based on recommendations of the General Assembly's Joint
Task Force on Deer Population Control.
Those recommendations called for a 14 percent reduction
statewide from peak levels in the rate of automobile accidents
with deer. Many counties have met their goal, and other counties
are close to meeting this directive.
The reduction in county deer populations, combined in some
instances with localized effects of epizootic hemorrhagic
disease outbreaks in the deer herd and less than optimal hunting
conditions, have resulted in a lower firearm deer harvest in
previous years.
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 In the coming months,
IDNR biologists will examine available data for each county,
including hunter surveys and comments received during open house
forums last spring, to determine where adjustments in deer
management will be made for the coming year.
Continuing and upcoming deer hunting
opportunities in Illinois include:
-
The archery deer
season continues through Jan. 19.
-
The three-day
muzzleloader-only deer season in Illinois is this weekend, Dec.
13-15.
-
The seven-day split late-winter firearm
antlerless-only deer season and special CWD deer season are Dec.
26-29 and Jan. 17-19.
For detailed information on the late-winter and CWD deer seasons,
including information sheets listing open counties and permit
limits, check the IDNR website at this link:
www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/deer. Note that Greene County was
closed to the late-winter season this year.
The counties with the highest preliminary totals for deer taken
during the seven-day firearm season were Pike, 2,269; Jackson,
1,931; Fulton, 1,886; Jo Daviess, 1,870; Randolph, 1,786; and Adams,
1,783.
For a table with preliminary county harvest totals for the first
and second portions of the 2013 firearm deer season, click
here.
[Table from
Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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