1st Week of Archery Season Along with Youth Season Shows Reduction

Its that time of the year again.  Deer numbers will be coming out each week and you can catch those here at Capitol Outdoors. Totals for the first week of the season are down by 2,367, but we feel that the majority of that is due to the warm weather and rains throughout the state during the first week of October.  The harvest consisted of 70% does and 30% males and this will only level out as we get closer to the rut.

Youth season is now at the beginning of the year and also saw a reduction of 725 during the three day season.  There were a very close ratio between doe and bucks during this time. 

Please see the county by county comparison HERE 

This information was provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:

Parker shot this Christian County 9 point buck the evening before participating in the Sangamon Valley Fall Classic.

ARCHERY DEER SEASON

Through Monday, October 8, 2018, Illinois archery deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,583 deer, compared to 4,950 for the same period in 2017.

Harvest to date has consisted of 70% does and 30% males (1796:787). Top five counties were Pike (121), Fulton (77), JoDaviess (72), Carroll (68), and Jefferson (63).

YOUTH DEER SEASON

Youth deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 1,650 deer during the 3-day Youth Deer Season (October 6-8, 2018), compared to 2,375 in 2017.

Harvest sex ratios were 54% female to 46% male (898:752). Top five harvest counties were Pike (82), Adams (78), Randolph (76), Jefferson (57), and Fulton (53).