More Than 51,000 Deer Harvested During First Weekend of Illinois Firearm Deer Season

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 51,409 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 21-23. Comparatively, hunters took 54,661 and 53,348 deer during the first firearm weekends in 2024 and 2023.

Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude December 4-7. Youth hunters with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit may hunt with the permit during the upcoming firearm deer season, December 4-7. This is the first year that unfilled youth permits are valid for both segments of firearm season.

Other deer hunting opportunities in the weeks ahead include:

• Muzzleloader-only deer season Dec. 12-14.
• Late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease deer seasons in select counties only, Jan. 1-4 and Jan. 16-18.
• Archery deer season continues through Jan. 18. Please note that archery deer hunting is closed Dec. 4-7 in counties open for firearm deer season.

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources online for more details about deer hunting.

A table of preliminary Illinois firearm deer harvest totals by county for the first weekend of the 2025 season, and comparable totals for 2024 and 2023 follows.

***Courtesy of The Illinois Department of Natural Resources***