Illinois hunters completed the 2008 deer season by taking a preliminary total of 188,922 deer in all of the different hunting seasons. As in years past, the major harvest tends to take place in counties found along rivers and in areas with large numbers of public-hunting acres. A few areas in the west-central part of the state, where significant outfitter operations are present, reported good harvest numbers as well. Because private landowners and outfitter operations control the age/sex harvest, those figures can be askew from what might otherwise occur.

Figures from our stateís Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provide a picture of the total Illinois deer herd and an indication of areas the 2009 deer hunter might wish to consider this fall.

Tom Micetich, deer project manager for the DNR, explains that the figures need to be considered ìpreliminaryî because of some of the data needing to be cleaned up. The figures reported do not always match the hunting permits issued. Mostly, this is due to misunderstandings on the part of the reporting person.

DNR preliminary figures show a harvest total of 188,425 from all methods of hunting. However, the same data shows a harvest of 93,969 does and 94,953 bucks, which would be more than that total number when added together. These are the kinds of figures that need to be reconciled before final figures are determined. The final harvest for 2007 was 199,671.

Most of Illinois is in the hands of outfitters or landowners. The public-land harvest of deer continues to rise each year and has done so since 1985.

Taken by zones, the most successful harvest comes from the west-central section near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Zone 4 produced a harvest of 47,118 deer. In second place is Zone 8 in the southeast part of Illinois, with huge tracts of public lands available in the Shawnee National Forest, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and numerous state parks. Those counties produced a deer harvest of 33,103.

According to DNR Director Marc Miller, 2009 plans for the deer seasons and the implementation of changes in regulations should enhance hunting opportunities and improve herd management.

Basic deer hunting regulations are printed in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2008-2009, which is available at DNR offices and vendor locations. The digest includes names and location information for all public land in Illinois. Since it was published, some modifications have been made to the seasons and license procedures.

In an effort to expand the availability of deer hunting permits, unsold firearms and muzzleloader-only deer permits will be made available over the counter through DNR direct license and permit agents.

ZONE 1
This far northwest area of the state contains large tracts of wooded lands both private and public. Zone 1 produced 17,218 deer in 2008 compared with 17,922 in 2007. The top three counties in the harvest figures are Jo Daviess, Knox and Carroll. Jo Daviess and Carroll counties had a harvest of 3,714 and 1,915, respectively. Farther south in Knox County, 2,975 deer were taken.

Jo Daviess County figures show that 1,883 does and 1,836 bucks were taken in the past season. In Carroll County, 989 does and 930 bucks were harvested. In Knox County, 1,453 does and 1,525 bucks were taken.

Most of the public hunting in Jo Daviess County is located in the far northwest part of the state with its western border along the Mississippi River. Public hunting is available on state-owned land totaling some 17,047 acres, primarily along the river. The deep canyons and heavy forestation contributes to excellent habitat and forage for white-tailed deer.