Illinois' firearm deer season opens Friday, the latest possible opener
When around 170,000 hunters take to the fields and woods of Illinois Friday for the opening day of the first part of firearm deer season, it will be different.
"With Thanksgiving falling on the 28th this year, our firearm seasons are positioned as late as they can possibly be," emailed Dan Skinner, forest wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "Compared to last year, where first season kicked off five days earlier, firearm hunters will be afield a little farther from the peak of the deer rut. Corn harvest across the state, however, is virtually complete offering deer fewer hiding spots."
Considering that some areas are receiving snow today, I'm curious if any will stick around for opening day.
The first part of firearm season is Friday to Sunday, the second part, Dec. 5-8.
Skinner also emailed this reminder for those hunting in the CWD counties:
Mandatory check stations will once again be operational for firearm deer hunters in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago counties. The Carroll County Check Station has been relocated for 2024 and is now located at the Farm Bureau in Mt. Carroll.