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More than 54,000 deer harvested during first weekend of Illinois firearm deer season

By Lindsay Romano Dec 1, 2024 | 8:09 AM

brokinhrt2 / CC

December 1, 2024 – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 54,661 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 22-24. Comparatively, hunters took 53,348 and 52,354 deer during the first firearm weekends in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
In Macon County, hunters harvested 156 deer. That compares to 135 last year and 155 in 2022.
Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Dec. 5-8.
Remaining 2024-2025 deer hunting opportunities in Illinois include:
  • Muzzleloader-only deer season Dec. 13-15.
  • Late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease deer seasons in select counties only, Dec. 26-29 and Jan. 17-19.
  • Archery deer season continues through Jan. 19. Please note that archery deer hunting is closed Dec. 5-8 in counties open for firearm deer season.
Go online to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website for more information about deer hunting.