Illinois hunters took home nearly 98,000 deer during the seven-day firearm season that ended earlier this week.
The exact preliminary number, at 97,760, is a little less than last year, when the total was 98,944.
Paul Shelton is a program manager the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He says rainy weather during the season affected this year's hunt.
The counties with the highest deer totals were Pike, Fulton, Adams, Jefferson and JoDaviess.
State officials say there are still upcoming deer hunting opportunities. They are archery deer season which continues through mid-January.
There's also Illinois' muzzleloader-only deer season, which starts Friday.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
