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Harvest numbers down in first firearm deer hunting weekend

Hunters in Knox County had a busy first three days to the firearm season but not as good as it was last year.

Numbers released Wednesday by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources show that hunters in the county harvested 708 head of deer. That number is down from 862 the year before.

Statewide, deer hunters harvested 50,173 deer during the three-day event. Hunters last year took in 58,836 — a decline of 8,663 deer.

Neighboring counties also saw declines to their harvest totals.

Fulton County had the largest harvest with 1,243 — but that is down from 1,329 last year. Warren County harvested 303 head of deer but that too was down from 347.

Henry County had harvest totals of 254 against 346 last year; McDonough County had 461 harvested this year as opposed to 607 last year, and Stark County hunters brought in only 94 this year against 132 last year.

The seven-day firearm season will conclude December 5-8.

Archery season continues through January 19, 2020, with the exception of during the final four-days of the firearm season.

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