SPRINGFIELD — Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 51,409 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 21-23. Comparatively, hunters took 54,661 and 53,348 deer during the first firearm weekends in 2024 and 2023.
Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Dec. 4-7. Youth hunters with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit may hunt with the permit during the upcoming firearm deer season, Dec. 4-7. This is the first year that unfilled youth permits are valid for both segments of firearm season.

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