State Representative David Friess (IL) | Representative David Friess (R) 115th District
State Representative David Friess (IL) | Representative David Friess (R) 115th District
Deer hunting season in Illinois opens tomorrow, marking the start of a busy weekend for hunters. The firearm hunting season runs from Friday through Sunday, November 24, with a second round scheduled from December 5 to 8.
Hunters are permitted to use shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and centerfire rifles during this period. Additionally, vertical, traditional, and crossbows are allowed on private property. Hunters must comply with clothing requirements that include wearing a solid blaze orange or blaze pink hat and an outer garment displaying at least 400 square inches of the same colors. In 2018, legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Tony McCombie allowed hunters to wear solid pink gear alongside solid orange.
Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R – Metamora), an avid deer hunter in District 105, stated: “Deer hunting is a way of life in Illinois, including for thousands of outdoor enthusiasts in my district.” He encouraged hunters to enjoy the season while taking all necessary safety precautions.
Hunting hours are set from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Hunters must possess proper deer permits and a valid hunting license. The bag limit is one deer per hunter, with no more than two antlered deer allowed over a year starting July 1. Hunters must follow reporting guidelines as outlined by the IDNR upon harvesting a deer.
In counties under Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance, harvests must be reported by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest via phone or online portal. CWD is a fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of deer and elk but is not transmissible to humans. However, the CDC advises against consuming CWD-positive meat.
From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, IDNR identified 369 CWD-positive deer across 18 northern Illinois counties through its wildlife disease program. Testing of hunter-harvested deer helps monitor CWD distribution.
Leader Tony McCombie has engaged with IDNR representatives and local residents about concerns regarding CWD policies affecting northwest Illinois' deer population. She stated: “The CWD program has been considered to affect the deer population of northwest Illinois... I want to hear from those impacted on their ideas as to how we can move forward.”
Deer hunters play an important role in controlling overpopulation which can threaten other species and human safety due to increased vehicle collisions when deer migrate into residential areas and roadways.
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