The News Outside

Has anyone seen Archery numbers out yet.  It seems like last year they where posted every week.

Ive havent saw any numbers yet myself but im curious where we stand frm last year,,..

Last year released harvest totals 10-4, 10-14, 10-21, 10-27.  Released every week in October.  It is what it is, if the numbers are low, just let us know.  If it was that easy and fast to release them last year - not much of an argument from DNR not to do same this year.

Here’s a link I found.  The bow kill is down by about 2,400 deer or so this year compared to last year. 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/archery-harvest-stays-down-illinois-deer-hunting/

I can guarantee harvest is down. The weather has been horrible for hunting, high temps and wind. In addition, grain costs has forced the farmers to keep crops in fields longer to dry. As long as they stand, deer will be safe. Just hope crops are out in a few weeks.

Not hardly any crops left standing here in Central IL.  Tough to even find a field that hasn’t been tilled under by now.  On the bright side, this warm weather has kept alive the fresh sprouts of the beans left behind by the combines… and deer love that new growth.

Must be nice. Here in East Central Illinois and West Central Indiana. Fields are standing everywhere.  Watched 15 deer stand up out in middle of standing bean field last night at dark. My lease in Indiana has 105 acres of corn still standing along Wabash River. It has not been fun.

Mrcob thanks for link.  I went on DNR website, without clicking on your link, I sure couldn’t find those stats.  I guess they only press release when the numbers are good.  No corn up me either here in central IL

BIGPOND,
My bet is that there have been more retirements and no one being hired to replace them…common at IDNR since Blago took over as governor in 2003.  I know Fisheries has lost close to 40 biologists, both field and administrators, and during that time only a handful have been replaced.  I suspect the Wildlife division is in the same boat. (Pun intended)

Up-to-date archery harvest figures (for either deer or turkey) by county/state sites can be tracked on the web at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/IDNRHarvestQuery.aspx
Tom