County Deer Harvest Down a Bit from Last Year

Hunters in Washington County harvested a preliminary total of 1,624 deer during the 2021-22 archery and firearm hunting seasons that concluded January 16.

That total is down a bit from a big harvest last year, when 1,715 deer were taken. The 2020-21 season was the highest county total in the last ten years.

Though this year’s total was lower than last year’s, it is the second highest mark in the county over the last five years:

* 2021-22 – 1,624

* 2020-21 – 1,715

* 2019-20 – 1,607

* 2018-19 – 1,594

* 2017-18 – 1,586

As in past years, the lion’s share of deer were taken in the regular firearm season, which ran November 19-21 and December 2-5. Hunters in the county harvested 921 deer.

Archery hunters took fewer deer this season (638) than last year (700). The archery season runs from October 1 through January 16.

Young hunters in Washington County took 20 deer in the Illinois Youth Deer Season October 9-11, and 42 deer were harvested during the Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season Dec. 10-12.

Statewide totals were also down a bit from last year, with 147,004 deer taken this year compared with 162,752 in 2020-2021.