Prairie State Wire

Youth hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 4,057 deer during the youth deer hunting season held from October 12 to 14. This marks a decrease compared to the previous year when 4,576 deer were taken. However, those with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit will have another opportunity to hunt during the first firearm deer season scheduled for November 22-24.

The data shows varying results across different counties. In Adams County, hunters harvested 145 deer in 2024, down from 153 in 2023. Conversely, Bond County saw an increase with 42 deer taken this year compared to last year's total of 36. Other counties such as Brown and Calhoun also experienced declines in their harvest numbers.

Overall, these figures provide insights into the performance of youth hunters across the state and reflect changes from previous years' outcomes.