State Representative Patrick Windhorst (IL) | Representative Patrick Windhorst (R) 117th District
State Representative Patrick Windhorst (IL) | Representative Patrick Windhorst (R) 117th District
Deer hunting season in Illinois kicks off this Friday, lasting through Sunday, November 24. A second phase is scheduled from December 5 to December 8. Hunters can use shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and centerfire rifles. On private property, vertical, traditional, and crossbows are also permitted.
Clothing regulations require hunters to wear a solid blaze orange or pink hat and an outer garment with at least 400 square inches of the same colors. Legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Tony McCombie in 2018 allows the use of solid pink gear.
“Deer hunting is a way of life in Illinois, including for thousands of outdoor enthusiasts in my district,” stated Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R – Metamora), an avid deer hunter in District 105. “There’s nothing like waking up on opening morning and finding your way to a deer stand just before dawn. Please enjoy this Firearm Deer Season and exercise all safety precautions!”
Hunting hours extend from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Hunters need proper permits and licenses; the bag limit is one deer per hunter with a maximum of two antlered deer over twelve months starting July 1. Reporting guidelines must be followed upon killing a deer as outlined by the IDNR.
In areas under Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance, harvests must be reported by 10 p.m. on the same day via phone or online portal. CWD affects the central nervous system in deer but is not transmissible to humans; however, CDC advises against consuming CWD-positive meat.
Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, IDNR identified 369 CWD-positive cases across northern Illinois counties through testing hunter-harvested deer. Although not dangerous to humans directly, Leader Tony McCombie has engaged with IDNR representatives and residents about addressing CWD concerns.
“The CWD program has been considered to affect the deer population of northwest Illinois," said McCombie. "As I continue to engage with hunters and the DNR to find a solution, I want to hear from those impacted on their ideas as to how we can move forward.”
Hunters help manage overpopulation which poses risks such as increased vehicle collisions when deer enter residential areas and roadways.
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