Tapping opening day for Illinois deer

Weather mellowed for opening day Friday of the first part of Illinois' firearm deer season.

"We've had steady flow, steady traffic," said Dan Skinner, forest wildlife program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

At the Ogle County check station, Skinner said about one in three deer were killed with a rifle, of which select single-shot centerfires were legalized for deer last year.

"I think guys who made the switch did it for accuracy and reduction in recoil," he said.

By the end of the seasons, he expects rifles to account for 25 to 33 percent of harvest, up from roughly 20 percent the first year.

As to conditions, Skinner noted, "The weather moved out of the area."

Ken Jahnke messaged Thursday, "I’m down in Clark County. Snowing hard and windy tonight. Lots of deer eating in fields tonight."

Bob Coine messaged from Ogle County that two big bucks were down opening morning, "For your rut-gun season report: I guess my prediction of good hunting this weekend was accurate."

On Thursday from Edwards County, Gary Bloom messaged, "Scouting last two days and saw one shooter buck, 13 does. Watching now."

Skinner said the Kankakee station reported a couple big bucks opening morning while the Jo Daviess station was running about three bucks to every doe.