Mercer County hunters harvest 833 deer during the two firearm weekends. 518 during the first weekend and 315 the second weekend. Statewide, the total harvest was just over 80,000, which is a bit higher from last year, according to Ed Cross with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Last year, Mercer County’s deer harvest was 33 higher during the two firearm weekends at 866. Randolph County had the largest deer harvest this year at 2,405.