Post by Woody Williams on Nov 28, 2009 8:08:04 GMT -5
Hunters take 66,126 deer during first season
TRI-STATE REGION — Hunters in Illinois killed a preliminary total of 66,126 whitetail deer during the opening firearm hunting season, which concluded Sunday. That number is down nearly 6,000 from the same period last year.
"Standing corn was a significant factor affecting hunter success for the first weekend of firearm deer hunting this year," said Paul Shelton, wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
"The wet weather this fall has delayed corn harvest in many locations, and that makes it tougher for hunters to find deer."
The top county harvest total last weekend was in Pike County with 2,010 deer, followed by Fulton with 1,725, Adams with 1,614 and Jefferson with 1,606.
The number of deer killed in area counties were White County, 692; Wabash County, 211; Wayne County, 1,247; Edwards County, 366; Saline County, 644; and Gallatin County, 421.
The IDNR issued more than 360,000 firearm deer hunting permits for the 2009 season.
The second portion of the firearm season runs from Thursday through Dec. 6.
The muzzleloader-only deer season is Dec. 11-13. The expanded, split late-winter antlerless-only firearm and special seasons are Dec. 31 through Jan 3 and Jan. 15-17.
More information on Illinois' whitetail deer hunting seasons can be found on the IDNR Web site at www.dnr.state.il.us.
TRI-STATE REGION — Hunters in Illinois killed a preliminary total of 66,126 whitetail deer during the opening firearm hunting season, which concluded Sunday. That number is down nearly 6,000 from the same period last year.
"Standing corn was a significant factor affecting hunter success for the first weekend of firearm deer hunting this year," said Paul Shelton, wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
"The wet weather this fall has delayed corn harvest in many locations, and that makes it tougher for hunters to find deer."
The top county harvest total last weekend was in Pike County with 2,010 deer, followed by Fulton with 1,725, Adams with 1,614 and Jefferson with 1,606.
The number of deer killed in area counties were White County, 692; Wabash County, 211; Wayne County, 1,247; Edwards County, 366; Saline County, 644; and Gallatin County, 421.
The IDNR issued more than 360,000 firearm deer hunting permits for the 2009 season.
The second portion of the firearm season runs from Thursday through Dec. 6.
The muzzleloader-only deer season is Dec. 11-13. The expanded, split late-winter antlerless-only firearm and special seasons are Dec. 31 through Jan 3 and Jan. 15-17.
More information on Illinois' whitetail deer hunting seasons can be found on the IDNR Web site at www.dnr.state.il.us.
