Illinois hunters harvested more than 153,000 deer in season

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Hunters brought in more than 153,000 deer during the latest archery and firearm seasons, according to updates totals that Illinois officials released this week.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in a statement that hunters harvested 153,048 deer statewide in 2019 and early this year before the season ended on Jan. 19.

The traditional firearm season in November and December brought in the most deer, totaling 75,349. The archery season harvested 67,696 deer between October and mid-January.

The remainder of the harvest came during the brief muzzle loader season in mid-December, the late-winter deer season in late December and mid-January and during the mid-October hunt for youth hunters.

The statewide total is up slightly from last year, when the state reported 151,709 deer had been harvested.