Firearm deer hunting season begins
Illinois’ most popular hunting season begins Friday, Nov. 18, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 20, as hunters head to the field for the opening weekend of the firearm deer season.
The seven-day firearm hunt will conclude on Dec. 1-4.
“Firearm deer season in Illinois is an anxiously awaited time of year for thousands of hunters,” Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR, director Marc Miller said in a news release.
“We encourage hunters to enjoy their outdoor heritage and time afield, but to always make ethics and safety top priorities, for the good of the sport.”
“Conservation Police Officers will be out in full force during the firearm deer season,” said IDNR Conservation Police chief Rafael Gutierrez.
“We will be conducting airplane details in addition to our regular checks to prevent poaching and protect hunting opportunities for the thousands of legal sportsmen and women in the field.”
Hunters in Illinois harvested 98,944 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season in 2010.
So far this season, more than 327,000 permits have been issued.
For information about remaining permits, check the IDNR website at this link: <a href="http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx">http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx</a>.
The legal hunting hours for the firearm deer season are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Hunters successful in taking a deer during the firearm season in most counties must register the deer they harvest online through the IDNR website at <a href="http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/HarvestReporting.aspx">http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/HarvestReporting.aspx</a> or by phoning 1-866-IL-CHECK (1-866-452-4325).
Hunters using the online or phone-in system must register their harvest by 10 p.m. on the day they take the deer.
IDNR recommends that hunters who use cellular phones to register their harvest wait until they are out of the field and have a clear cell phone signal before attempting to make the harvest report phone call.
For more information about Illinois deer hunting regulations, check the IDNR web site at this link: <a href="http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx">http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx</a>.
Hunting Safety Facts
Illinois law requires that anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, must successfully complete a hunter safety course before a regular Illinois hunting license is issued.
The number one cause of hunting accidents in Illinois is falling from a tree stand.
Last year in Illinois, there were 22 reported hunting accidents, 11 involving tree stands (two fatalities).
When using a tree stand, remember the following:
Check ladder stands before climbing to make sure they are secure.
Wear a fall arrest system/full body safety harness when leaving the ground until returning to the ground from the tree stand.
Use a haul line to raise and lower your equipment and unloaded firearm or bow into a tree stand.
When hunting with a firearm, sportsmen should remember three primary rules of firearm safety:
Know your target and what is beyond your target.
Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.