Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) says Illinois Hunters harvested a preliminary total of more than 51,000 deer during the first week of the firearm deer season. That was this past weekend November 21st through the 23rd.

That number is down a bit from the previous two years.

The state’s seven-day firearm deer season will end December 4th through the 7th.

Youth hunters with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit may hunt with the permit during the upcoming firearm deer season December 4-7.

However if you miss that window of opportunity, other dates include:

Muzzleloader-only deer season December 12th through the 14th.

Late Winter antlerless-only and chronic wasting disease deer season in select counties is from January 1st through the 4th and the 16th through the 18th.

And archery deer season continues through January 18th.

For more information visit IDNR online.