Hunters took less deer in Bureau, La Salle counties in 2024

Illinois hunters took a preliminary total of 82,496 deer during the seven-day 2024 Illinois firearm deer season that concluded Dec. 8.

Comparatively, hunters tallied 76,494 deer during the 2023 firearm season.

In Bureau County, hunters took 966 deer in 2024 compared to 982 in 2023. Hunters tallied 601 deer in 2024 compared to 701 in 2023 in La Salle County; and hunters recorded 365 deer in 2024 compared to 336 in 2023 in Putnam County.

Hunters also took 439 deer in Livingston County, 657 deer in Marshall County and 655 deer in Lee County.

The preliminary harvest for the second segment of the 2024 firearm season Dec. 5-8 was 27,835 compared with 22,883 deer during the second part of the 2023 season.

The preliminary harvest for the first segment of this year’s firearm season Nov. 22-24 was 54,661 deer.

Remaining 2024-25 deer hunting opportunities in Illinois include: late-winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease season, in designated counties only, Dec. 26-29 and Jan. 17-19; and archery deer season continues through Jan. 19.