The Illinois DNR released their preliminary numbers which concludes the 2017 -2018 Illinois Whitetail Season. This year, hunters harvested 147,535 during ALL of the seasons, an increase in 3,232 from the 2016 - 2017 season. The only decline in numbers were during the youth season, a drop of about 1,100.
If you're wondering specifics on the crossbow numberswe'll have more information coming to you later.
Illinois’ 2017-18 Deer Seasons Conclude with Preliminary Harvest of 147,535 Deer
2017-18 archery and firearm seasons, which concluded on Jan. 14. The total preliminary deer
harvest for all seasons compares with a total harvest for all seasons of 144,303 deer in 2016-17.
During the 2017-18 deer seasons, hunters took 44 percent does and 56 percent males.
Archery: Archery deer hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 57,937 deer during the
season which began on Oct. 1, 2017 and concluded on Jan. 14, 2018. That compares with the
harvest of 53,468 during the 2016-17 archery season.
Youth: Youth deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,372 deer during the three-day
Illinois Youth Deer Season (Oct. 7-9, 2017), compared to 3,272 in 2016.
Traditional Firearm Season: Hunters took a preliminary total of 80,021 deer during the Illinois
Firearm Deer Season on Nov. 17-19, 2017 and Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2017, compared with 79,559
deer taken during the 2016 firearm season.
Muzzleloader: Hunters using muzzleloading rifles harvested 3,700 deer during the
Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season on Dec. 8-10, 2017, compared with harvest 3,308 in the 2016
muzzleloader season.
Late-Winter Seasons: The 2017-18 Late-Winter Antlerless-Only and Special CWD deer seasons
concluded on Jan. 14, 2018, with a combined preliminary harvest total for both seasons of 3,505
deer, compared with a harvest of 4,696 deer taken during those seasons in 2016-17. Season
dates for the seven-day Late-Winter and CWD seasons were Dec. 28-31, 2017 and Jan. 12-14,
2018.
There were 15 northern Illinois counties open to the Special CWD Season in 2017-18, while 14
counties were open for the 2016-17 seasons. The Special CWD season is used to assist in
slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd.
There were 22 counties open for the Late-Winter Antlerless Season in 2017-18, two fewer
counties than were open for the Late-Winter season in 2016-17. Counties that are at or below their individual deer population goal for two consecutive years may be removed from the Late-
Winter season.
If you wish to see the county by county numbers for the 2017 - 2018 season click here.
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