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November 28, 2023 -Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 53,348 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 17-19. Comparatively, hunters took 52,354 deer during the first firearm weekend in 2022.
Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Other deer hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead include:
- muzzleloader-only deer season Dec. 8-10;
- late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease deer seasons (in select counties only) Dec. 28-31 and Jan. 12-14; and
- archery deer season through Jan. 14. (Note: archery deer hunting is closed Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in counties open for firearm deer season.)
Go online to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website for more details about deer hunting, open counties, and other information.
In Macon County, hunters harvested 135 deer, which is down from 2022’s first firearm season total of 155.
