Same Ole Same Ole for Round 9 - That's a Good Thing

Round 9 of the Illinois archery harvest numbers show more of the same.  For pretty much the entire deer season, excluding firearm and muzzleloader, the harvest has been up compared to 2016.  The question is, why this year?  Could it be the lack of blue tongue this year, which had more deer in the field?  Could it be the crossbows?  Or could it be a rebound of the deer herd or just the weather in general?  It's hard to say what played a part in the increase, but by the end of the late winter season we'll sure find out.

Illinois CPOs Hard at Work Issuing Over 1,800 Citations and Warnings

While we're out in the field waterfowl hunting, deer hunting or just doing a little fishing, Illinois CPOs are hard at work enforcing Illinois wildlife laws.  It's easy to forget about law enforcement officers when you obey the law.  However, just because you and I are responsible doesn't mean accidents or negligence in the field doesn't happen.  Below you'll read about how our CPOs issued over 1,800 citations and warnings in less than a month.  While reading this don't forget about the last big bust in regards to fishing, CPOs cited a father and son who were in possession of over 115 perch!  

Our CPOs are doing the best job the can, especially being understaffed. (IDNR is Seeking Applicants for Conservation Police Officer Training).  But, they can't do it by themselves.  Poaching and those in violations of the law need to be reported and that's where you can help.  Make sure to take out your cell phones and add this number.  Call 1-877-2DNRLAW (236-7529) to report anyone you see who is doing something they shouldn't be!

IDNR Conservation Police Issue More Than 1,800 Citations and Warnings to Violators During Illinois’ Busiest Hunting Season

SPRINGFIELD, IL – While firearm deer hunters in Illinois took more than 80,000 deer during the state’s busiest hunting season, Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police report just four hunting-related accidents were reported, three of them involving injuries resulting from tree stand falls.

Muzzleloader and Archery Deer Harvest Numbers up for Round 8

The recent cold snap had some of us heading to Milwaukee for the Ice Show or just talking about ice fishing.  However, deer season is still going strong here in Illinois.  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Divison of Wildlife released last weekends muzzleloader and archery numbers and they are up.

Our pro-staffer Rick working on his euro-mount from a buck he harvested this year. 

MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASON
During the 3-day Muzzleloader Deer Season (Dec. 8-10), Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,700 deer, compared to 3,308 in 2016. 

Harvest sex ratios were 55% does and 45% males (2040:1660). 

Top five counties were Pike (168), Adams (120), Jefferson (112), Randolph (103), and Fulton (102). 

ARCHERY DEER SEASON

Through Sunday, Dec.10, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 52,650 deer, compared to 48,228 for the same period in 2016. 

Top five counties were Pike (1852), Fulton (1474), Jefferson (1236), Adams (1155), and Williamson (1040).

Total harvest to date has consisted of 44% does and 56% males (23322:29328). During the past 7 days, harvest sex ratios have been 54% female and 46% male.

Interested in comparing County by County? 

• Archery 
• Muzzleloader

Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web athttp://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx

Second Firearm Season see Increase in Harvest Numbers

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their second round of preliminary firearm deer season numbers. It seems as though the bowhunters took the rut this year since in most years it's the other way around. With the first round suffering from a day of intense rain throughout most of the state., the second season found themselves with great weather with some wind on Sunday. 

Combined the two seasons took a total of just over 80,000 deer this year and an increase of 462 over the 2016 season. As for the second firearm season it saw an increase of 3,679 deer.

As some of you may of heard, Michigan expects more cases of CWD this year and sampling this year was held throughout Illinois.   If you're interested in learning what the sample entails click here for a video.

If you are interested in the county by county ratio, they are listed below along with the DNR press release.

Ca

Illinois Firearm Season Preliminary Harvest Totals 80,021 Deer

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters harvested a preliminary total of 80,021 deer during the seven-day Illinois Firearm Deer Season that concluded on Sunday, Dec. 3. The 2017 preliminary harvest total compares to the final total of 79,559 deer harvested during the firearm season in 2016.

The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the firearm season on Nov. 30 through Dec. 3 was 28,656, compared with 24,977 during the second season in 2016. The preliminary harvest for the first segment of firearm season on Nov. 17-19 was 51,365 deer.

Deer hunting opportunities remain available in Illinois during the remainder of the 2017-18 season:

• The Illinois Muzzleloader-only Season is this weekend, Dec. 8-10.
• The Late-Winter Antlerless-Only Season and CWD Deer Season first segments (in designated counties only) will be Dec. 28-31.
• The second segments of the Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and CWD Deer Seasons (in designated counties only) will be Jan. 12-14, 2018.
• Archery Deer Season continues through Jan. 14, 2018.

Details on the Late-Winter and CWD seasons are available on the IDNR website at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Documents/LateWinterDeerCWDHuntingPermitInformation2017-2018.pdf

A map showing the counties open to the Late-Winter and CWD seasons can be found at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/wildlife/Documents/IllinoisLateWinterDeerSeasonsMap2017_2018.pdf

For more deer hunting information, visit: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/DeerHunting.aspx

A table of preliminary Firearm Deer Season harvest totals for 2017 by county, and comparable totals for 2016, is below.

County	2017 1st Season	2017 2nd Season	2017 Total	2016 Total
ADAMS	1408	771	2179	2362
ALEXANDER	291	197	488	424
BOND	441	217	658	579
BOONE	82	47	129	121
BROWN	663	355	1018	967
BUREAU	632	373	1005	1001
CALHOUN	505	308	813	793
CARROLL	425	260	685	750
CASS	429	223	652	684
CHAMPAIGN	133	66	199	227
CHRISTIAN	360	191	551	608
CLARK	775	370	1145	998
CLAY	760	352	1112	1091
CLINTON	495	199	694	627
COLES	382	210	592	550
CRAWFORD	673	343	1016	949
CUMBERLAND	478	297	775	708
DEKALB	67	40	107	139
DEWITT	180	136	316	356
DOUGLAS	96	36	132	138
EDGAR	365	197	562	566
EDWARDS	273	142	415	412
EFFINGHAM	580	292	872	807
FAYETTE	1008	536	1544	1501
FORD	64	48	112	124
FRANKLIN	854	496	1350	1297
FULTON	1270	727	1997	2013
GALLATIN	282	166	448	470
GREENE	641	418	1059	1055
GRUNDY	157	124	281	296
HAMILTON	779	396	1175	1167
HANCOCK	1082	737	1819	1639
HARDIN	646	317	963	890
HENDERSON	319	175	494	522
HENRY	356	178	534	592
IROQUOIS	297	220	517	518
JACKSON	1487	816	2303	2247
JASPER	663	321	984	973
JEFFERSON	1328	755	2083	1878
JERSEY	410	231	641	674
JODAVIESS	1155	704	1859	1859
JOHNSON	1091	496	1587	1640
KANE	19	10	29	29
KANKAKEE	118	75	193	186
KENDALL	52	30	82	98
KNOX	697	448	1145	1200
LAKE	3	0	3	4
LASALLE	431	260	691	745
LAWRENCE	394	219	613