•October 22, 2025•

Illinois youth deer hunters set a new record for the season, harvesting a preliminary total of 4,714 deer October 11th through 13th. Top harvest counties include Randolph, 259; Pike, 164; Adams, 155; Jefferson, 155; and Marion, 135. Comparatively, youth hunters took 4,097 deer during the season in 2024. 

Youth hunters with an unfilled, valid youth deer permit may still hunt with the permit during the upcoming firearm deer seasons, November 21st through 23rd and December 4th through 7th. This is the first year that unfilled youth permits are valid for both segments of the firearm season. Moultrie County numbers are as follows by year: 2025-30, 2024-36, 2023-28.