Hunters in 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 seasons.

During the 2024-2025 deer seasons, hunters took 46.27% females and 53.72% males. Final harvest totals by season and county will be available in the annual deer harvest report, set to be published later this spring.

Archery hunters took a preliminary total of 73,598 deer, up from 71,226 in the previous season. Youth hunters harvested 4,057 deer during the three-day youth season from October 12-14, compared to 4,576 in 2023.

Firearm hunters reported a preliminary total of 82,496 deer during the firearm season held November 22-24 and December 5-8, an increase from the 76,494 deer taken in 2023.

Muzzleloader hunters harvested 2,832 deer during the muzzleloader-only season from December 13-15, compared to 3,378 in the previous year.

The late-winter antlerless-only and special chronic wasting disease (CWD) deer seasons concluded with a combined preliminary harvest total of 7,775 deer. These seasons ran from December 26-29 and January 17-19. In the 2023-2024 seasons, a total of 4,639 deer were taken.

Eighteen northern Illinois counties participated in the special CWD season, aimed at slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease in the state's deer herd. The late-winter antlerless season was open in 27 counties for 2024-2025, up from 23 counties in the previous year. Counties that meet or fall below their individual deer population goals for two consecutive years may be removed from the late-winter season.