Illinois deer hunting: A belated update before the seasons end

File photo scene from a deer blind during Illinois’ 2020-21 deer seasons. | Dale Bowman

I will be very curious to see the total harvest for the firearm season, whenever the preliminary final numbers come out. I am assuming we will see those figures late next week. The final three seasons in Illinois deer hunting end on Sunday, Jan. 17.

Here is the word from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:

Here is an update on the 2020-2021 Illinois Late-Winter and Special CWD deer hunting seasons from the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources:

CWD AND LATE-WINTER DEER UPDATE

During the first segment of the 2020-2021 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Late-Winter (LW) firearm deer seasons (December 31, 2020- January 3, 2021), Illinois deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,168 deer (620 CWD: 1548 LW).

Harvest in CWD counties consisted of 264 males and 356 females (183 antlered: 437 antlerless). Harvest in Late-Winter counties is restricted to antlerless deer.

The CWD and Late-Winter firearm deer seasons – open in select counties only – will conclude January 15-17, 2021.