Hunters across Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 170,758 deer during the 2024-2025 archery and firearm seasons, which concluded on January 19. This marks an increase from the 160,313 deer harvested during the 2023-2024 season, reflecting a strong turnout and successful year for the state’s hunting community.
Deer hunting is an integral part of Illinois’ outdoor traditions, particularly in central Illinois, where vast rural landscapes provide an ideal environment for the sport. Hunting plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation, helping to manage deer populations and prevent overpopulation, which can lead to habitat degradation and an increase in deer-related vehicle collisions. Additionally, deer hunting contributes significantly to local economies through the sale of permits, equipment, and related tourism.
Breakdown of the 2024-2025 Deer Harvest
The harvest was composed of 46.27% female deer and 53.72% male deer. Hunters participated in various designated seasons, with final county-specific totals set to be released in the annual deer harvest report later this spring.
Archery Season: Running from October 1 to January 19, archery hunters harvested 73,598 deer, up from 71,226 in the previous season.
Youth Season: During the youth-only hunting period from October 12-14, young hunters harvested 4,057 deer, a decrease from the 4,576 harvested in 2023.
Firearm Season: The main firearm season, which took place November 22-24 and December 5-8, accounted for the largest share of the harvest, with 82,496 deer taken—an increase from 76,494 the previous year.
Muzzleloader Season: The muzzleloader-only season from December 13-15 resulted in 2,832 deer harvested, down from 3,378 in 2023.
Late-Winter and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Seasons: These specialized seasons, designed to manage herd populations and control disease spread, saw a combined harvest of 7,775 deer between December 26-29 and January 17-19, a significant increase from the 4,639 harvested in the prior year.
Managing Deer Populations and Disease Control
Eighteen northern Illinois counties participated in the special CWD season, a program aimed at slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease in the state’s deer population. Meanwhile, 27 counties were open for the late-winter antlerless-only season, compared to 23 in the previous year. Counties that meet their deer population goals for two consecutive years may be removed from late-winter hunting eligibility to maintain balanced herds.
The Importance of Deer Hunting in Illinois
Beyond providing outdoor recreation for thousands of hunters, deer hunting is a vital tool for wildlife management. Regulated hunting ensures a sustainable balance between deer populations and their natural habitats while reducing agricultural damage and minimizing deer-vehicle collisions. It also generates significant revenue for conservation efforts through licensing fees and excise taxes on hunting equipment.