In a successful start to the Illinois firearm deer season, hunters across the state achieved a preliminary harvest of 53,348 deer during the first weekend from November 17th to 19th. This marks a notable increase compared to the 2022 figures, where hunters took 52,354 deer during the same period.

The state's seven-day firearm deer season is set to conclude between November 30th and December 3rd, offering additional opportunities for hunters to contribute to the overall harvest. Following this, various other deer hunting seasons are scheduled, including the muzzleloader-only deer season from Dec. 8-10, the late-winter antlerless-only, and chronic wasting disease deer seasons (in select counties only) from December 28-31, and January 12-14. Additionally, archery deer season will continue until Jan. 14, though it will be temporarily closed from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in counties open for firearm deer season.

Christian County saw an increase in deer harvest from 2022, going from 403 to 417. Effingham saw an increase from 653 to 696. A busy Fayette area was down slightly from 2022, with 1184 lowered to 1166. Macon and Macoupin counties both saw a decrease in deer harvest by a measure of less than 100 deer. Finally, Sangamon and Shelby Counties saw increases in their deer harvest.

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts can find more information about deer hunting, open counties, and specific regulations on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' website. The success of the opening weekend sets an optimistic tone for the ongoing season, highlighting the enthusiasm and skill of the state's hunting community.