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SPRINGFIELD, IL - Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 73,425 deer on the opening weekend of the firearm deer season Nov. 17-19, Department of Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced today.
The preliminary total for the first three days of the 2000 firearm season is a nine percent increase compared with the 1999 first weekend harvest of 67,113.
The preliminary harvest figure includes only those deer taken in countywide hunts and does not include special hunt areas for which harvest figures are still being compiled.
"The first-season harvest was excellent, pointing to what we expect will be a very successful firearm deer season in Illinois," Manning said.
Twenty-three counties reported harvests in excess of 1,000 for the opening weekend, led by Pike County with 2,755.
"Overall, hunting conditions were great, with 99 percent of corn harvested and temperatures remaining mostly in the 20s and 30s. Although some hunters might have preferred slightly warmer conditions and less wind, I don^t think we could have asked for much better," said IDNR Forest Wildlife Program Manager Paul Shelton. "The deer were very active, and bucks were still rutting heavily. Many hunters commented about the high quality of the deer they saw in the field and brought into the check stations."
The Department issued approximately 270,000 deer hunting permits for the 2000 firearm season, including free landowner and paid landowner permits. The firearm deer season concludes with the four-day second season Nov. 30-Dec. 3.
Uploaded: 11/29/2000
Uploaded: 11/29/2000