The 2016 firearm deer hunting season ended Sunday in Illinois with hunters tagging less deer in 2016 than in 2015.
That’s according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and IDNR spokesman Tim Schweizer who tells WGIL the state saw an 8.5 percent decrease in deer harvested.
“Preliminary totals for the seven days of firearm deer hunting this year was 79,429 deer,” Schweizer says. “The harvest last year for the seven day season was 86,847, so, there was a bit of a decrease but still good success for hunters statewide.”
Schweizer says the statewide decrease was not necessarily a surprise. He says 2016 figures are slightly higher than figures seen in 2013 and 2014.
Counties that fall under the WGIL listening area followed suit with the state average. Knox County hunters tagged 136 fewer deer. Warren County saw 46 fewer deer and hunters in Henry and Fulton counties each tagged 156 fewer deer.
Henderson, Hancock and Schuyler counties all reported lower numbers, as well, with McDonough seeing the only local increase with 12 more deer in 2016.
Upcoming deer hunts in Illinois include the muzzleloader-only season this coming weekend and the anterless-only season later this month.
Archery deer season began in October and continues through Jan. 15. Schweizer says archery harvest figures are also currently below last year’s average.
