Mercer County hunters harvested 542 deer during the first firearm weekend Nov. 22-24. That compares to 600 last year and 509 in 2022.
The rest of the first weekend numbers in area counties—318 in Henderson, 300 in Henry, 715 in Knox, 480 in Rock Island, and 352 in Warren County.
Statewide, hunters harvested a preliminary total of 54,661 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm season last weekend. Comparatively, hunters took 53,348 last year and 52,354 deer in 2022.
The second firearm deer hunting weekend is Dec. 5-8.
