Illinois Deer # way down

[sportsman223]

Found on another site, If this is true wander what Indiana # will be.

 

[singlestacksig]

since their seasons do not end until Jan, that would have to be last years numbers.. or the year before..

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I know I'm not seeing the numbers around my place I used to this year.

 

[Mgderf]

I know I'm not seeing the numbers around my place I used to this year.

This ^ times 2

 

[HuntMeister]

since their seasons do not end until Jan, that would have to be last years numbers.. or the year before..

Nope, those are this year's numbers through their 2nd firearms season. That map is showing the total harvest difference in % between this year and last.
Full IL DNR article here... News : Firearm Deer Season Preliminary Harvest Totals 74,191

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2013

CONTACTS:
Chris McCloud
217-785-0075

​

Firearm Deer Season Preliminary Harvest Totals 74,191 ​

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Firearm deer hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 74,191 deer during the seven-day firearm deer season on Nov. 22-24 and Dec. 5-8, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today. This year’s preliminary firearm season harvest total compares with the 99,546 deer taken during the 2012 firearm season.

The preliminary second-season (Dec. 5-8) harvest total was 18,483, compared with the 27,213 deer taken by hunters during the second segment of the season last year. This year’s preliminary first-season (Nov. 22-24) deer harvest was 55,708, compared with a first-season harvest of 72,111 in 2012. The preliminary harvest totals include deer taken in all counties in which firearm deer hunting is permitted, as well as at Chain O’Lakes State Park in Lake County.

During the second segment of the firearm season (Dec. 5-8), opening day saw falling temperatures and gusty winds throughout the state, and southern Illinois saw rain/freezing rain turning to snow that continued through Friday with substantial accumulations. Frigid temperatures persisted Friday and Saturday, with single-digit lows throughout the state on Saturday and highs that reached 20 degrees only in the south. Temperatures increased slightly on Sunday, with snow falling through much of the day in northern Illinois. Windy conditions prevailed throughout much of the season.

“Clearly this year’s preliminary firearm harvest numbers are below previous seasons, and while bad weather conditions throughout the state played a role, it cannot be the only factor. Once all deer seasons are complete, our biologists will evaluate deer management goals on a county-by-county basis to achieve stability in our deer herd,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller.

Beginning in 2008, the IDNR adopted deer herd management goals based on recommendations of the General Assembly's Joint Task Force on Deer Population Control. Those recommendations called for a 14 percent reduction statewide (from peak levels) in the rate of automobile accidents with deer. Many counties have met their goal, and other counties are close to meeting this directive.

The reduction in county deer populations, combined in some instances with localized effects of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) outbreaks in the deer herd and less than optimal hunting conditions, have resulted in a lower firearm deer harvest than in previous years. In the coming months, IDNR biologists will examine available data for each county, including hunter surveys and comments received during open house forums this past spring to determine where adjustments in deer management will be made for the coming year.

Continuing and upcoming deer hunting opportunities in Illinois include:

• The Archery Deer Season, continuing through Jan. 19, 2014;
• The three-day Illinois Muzzleloader-only Deer Season is this week, on Dec. 13-15, 2013;
• The seven-day split Late-Winter Firearm Antlerless-only Deer Season and Special CWD Deer Season are Dec. 26-29, 2013 and Jan. 17-19, 2014.

For detailed information on the Late-Winter and CWD deer seasons, including information sheets listing open counties and permit limits, check the IDNR website at this link: www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/deer. Note that Greene County was closed to the Late-Winter Season this year.

The counties with the highest preliminary harvest totals for deer taken during the seven-day firearm season were Pike (2,269), Jackson (1,931), Fulton (1,886), Jo Daviess (1,870), Randolph (1,786), and Adams (1,783).

A table with preliminary county harvest totals for the first and second portions of the 2013 firearm deer season can be found at this link:
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/2013prelimfirearmdeertotals.pdf

 

[buckstopshere]

EHD was bad from Missouri to Ohio. I think we are seeing the effects of that.

I will say I saw more deer in Parke county this year compared to last year. Still not a ton but more for sure.

 

[sportsman223]

Our places and everyone I know have seen a sharp decline in #'s. EHD was bad last year and people not keeping seed for the nexted year
They could have 100 tags per county still would not make a difference to me. No doe's will be shot on any of our places most of the neighboring property's are on the same page

 

[remauto1187]

I hunted in IL 1st and 2nd shotgun season. Even though I bagged an 8 pt by 7:15am the opening day of shotgun season I can attest that there simply was not the usual amount of deer running around that I am use to. On the 230 acres that I hunt on, 3 of us got a buck (4, 6, 8pt) and one doe so far. I live in the southwest corner of Parke Co. and during bowhunting I have only seen 1- 3pt buck and zero does. Last winter was almost as bad. It seems after that drought last year the deer were driven more toward the Wabash which is across my woods, across a bean field and through a small section of timber from me. 2011 I could set my watch to an hour before sundown watching deer go across the bean field and head north right in to my woods in single file of 8-12! Havent seen that since 2011.

 

[Lammchop93]

Some of these people out in rural counties who hunt on their own land just may not be buying tags. Especially for does, and the harvests don't get recorded.

 

[kludge]

Even if you are exempt from license requirements (i.e. land owner) you are still required so tag and check deer so that the numbers are reported.

 

[Willie]

BUT - Kentucky seems to be on the way to setting a new deer kill record...

 

[HuntMeister]

BUT - Kentucky seems to be on the way to setting a new deer kill record...

I have not been paying any attention to KY regs and hunting the last few years. Are they trying to reduce the herd like IL & IN are?

 

[Willie]

As far as I know they have not many any major changes in the managing. Some areas it is you can kill as many does as you want to buy tags for. Doe tags are CHEAP too..

Centerfires in the rut too...