Published: November 19, 2009 10:27 pm      

Fiream hunting season kicks off

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — About 6,000 licensed deer hunters are expected to take part in the first of a seven-day firearm deer hunting season in Jefferson County today. However, as hunters make their way into the woods, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters, as well as drivers, to make safety the No. 1 priority.

“Safety should be the first priority in anything,” said IDNR Conservation Police Officer Jeff Cariens. “The last couple of years there have been incidents with property damage with firearms. Hunters should know their target and what’s beyond their target so they’re not putting a bullet in a car or a house.”

“Deer hunting is part of our outdoor heritage in Illinois, and we want to encourage all hunters heading to the field this week for the start of the firearm season to make safety their first priority,” said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller. “Hunters always need to be conscious of firearm and tree stand safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt.”

According to the IDNR, Illinois hunters harvested a preliminary total of 106,018 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season last year. More than 360,000 permits have been issued to date for the 2009 firearm season.

Officials also warn drivers to be extra cautious this weekend as a result of the season.

“There is over 6,000 licensed hunters in Jefferson County for this weekend, so there’s a lot of guys that are going to be in the woods,” Cariens said. “We’re going to see an increased presence of deer because the deer are going to go where it’s safer. Every year in November we get an increase in vehicle/deer accidents. A rule of thumb may be not just to obey the speed limit, but maybe even drive a bit under it in case of crossing deer. And, with the fields being taken out and harvested, it pushes deer out closer to roads.”

According to a report released last month by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Jefferson County has been identified as a “hot spot” — an area that has a lot of deer complaints, vehicle/deer accidents, deer in residential areas, deer destroying crops and limited hunter access in part of the county.

Despite a reduction in vehicle/deer crashes last year statewide, officials warn deer are most active during the hours around dawn and dusk — when many motorists are driving to and from work and also near the legal hunting hour times, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

The firearm hunting season begins today through Sunday and will conclude Dec. 3 through 6.

Hunters successful in taking a deer during the firearm season in most counties must check the deer they harvest by going online at www.dnr.state.il.us/vcheck or by phoning 1-866-IL-CHECK (1-866-452-4325). Hunters using the online or phone-in system must register their harvest by 10 p.m. on the day they take the deer.

For more information on Illinois deer hunting regulations changes for 2009-2010, check the IDNR web site at http://www.dnr.-state.il.us/pubaffairs/2009/September/deer.html. For information on remaining permits, check the IDNR web site at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/firearm.htm.