Deer harvest numbers released

December 12, 2008 10:03 pm

— Staff Report
SPRINGFIELD — Hunters harvested just under 105,600 deer during all seven days of the firearm season, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Jefferson County was the fifth highest county for the deer harvest, with 2,451 deer taken in 2008, compared to 2,805 last year.
Deer taken during the season was down slightly from last year overall during the season, which was held Nov. 21 through 23 and Dec. 4 though 7.
“A number of factors may have impacted our deer harvest this year, including the cold, wintry weather during both the first and second portions of the firearm season, the amount of standing corn in parts of northern Illinois, and even slightly later timing of the seasons,” IDNR forest wildlife program manager Paul Shelton said. “In addition, our effort to reduce numbers may be paying off in some areas.”
The top 10 counties during the deer harvest were Pike County with 3,342 deer; Fulton County with 2,688 deer; Adams County with 2,649 deer; Randolph County with 2,489 deer; Jefferson County with 2,451 deer; JoDavies County with 2,371 deer; Hancock County with 2,353 deer; Jackson County with 2,204 deer; Fayette County with 2,109 deer; and Marion County with 2,035 deer.
Other local county deer harvest totals were Franklin County at 1,204, Hamilton County with 1,347 deer, Wayne County with 1,987 deer, White County with 1,040 deer and Washington County with 1,180 deer.
Deer hunters who have unfilled deer permits from firearm, muzzleloader season or youth season can use their permits during the Late Winter Antlerless-only deer season in counties which allow the hunting season.
Jefferson County is a Late Winter season county, in addition to Adams, Bond, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Jersey, Jo Davies, Johnson, Knox, LaSalle, Lawrence, Lee, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Massac, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, St. Clair, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Union, Vermilion, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson and Woodford counties.