Firearm Deer Season Solid Economic Engine for Southern Illinois
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Hunters in Illinois head to the field this week for the state's most popular hunting season as the 2009 Illinois Firearm Deer Season opens this Friday through Sunday, Nov. 20-22. The seven-day firearm season will conclude on Dec. 3-6.
"Deer hunting is part of our outdoor heritage in Illinois, and we want to encourage all hunters heading to the field this week for the start of the firearm season to make safety their first priority," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Director Marc Miller. "Hunters always need to be conscious of firearm and tree stand safety to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt."
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 106,018 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season in 2008. More than 360,000 permits have been issued to date for the 2009 firearm season. For information on remaining permits, check the IDNR web site at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/firearm.htm
The legal hunting hours for the firearm deer season are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Hunters successful in taking a deer during the firearm season in most counties must register (check in) the deer they harvest by going online at www.dnr.state.il.us/vcheck or by phoning 1-866-IL-CHECK (1-866-452-4325). Hunters using the online or phone-in system must register their harvest by 10 p.m. on the day they take the deer. It is recommended that hunters using cell phones to register their harvest wait until they are out of the field and have a clear cell phone signal before attempting to make the harvest report phone call.
For more information on Illinois deer hunting regulations changes for 2009-2010, check the IDNR web site at this link:
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/pubaffairs/2009/September/deer.html
Hunting Safety Facts:
* Illinois law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1980, must successfully complete a hunter safety course before a regular Illinois hunting license is issued.
* The number one cause of hunting accidents in Illinois is falling from a tree stand.
* Last year in Illinois, there were 38 reported hunting accidents; 30 were the result of tree stand falls and five of those resulted in fatalities. So far during 2009, there have been 13 reported hunting accidents in Illinois, of which six have involved falls from tree stands.
When using a tree stand, remember the following:
* Check ladder stands before you climb to make sure they are
* Wear a Fall Arrest System/Full Body Safety Harness the moment you leave the ground until you return.
* Use a haul line to raise an unloaded firearm or bow into a stand.
When hunting with a firearm, sportsmen should remember three primary rules of firearm safety:
* Point the muzzle in a safe direction.
* Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
* Know your target and what is beyond your target.
Deer Hunting in Illinois
Firearm Shotgun, Muzzleloader and Handgun
√ First season: Nov. 20-22
√ Second season: Dec. 3-6
Muzzleloaders only
√ Only season: Dec. 11-13
Late Winter Season
√ First season: Dec. 31-Jan. 3
√ Second season: Jan. 15-17
Archery-Bowhunting
No hunting: Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6
√ The season: Began October 1 and continues until January 17
Fast-Facts
√ Permits issued : IDNR reports nearly 360,000 statewide for firearm season.
√ 2009 predicted firearm harvest : 197, 287, according to IDNR
√ 2008 firearm harvest: IDNR reported 105, 595 deer taken during the seven-day firearm season last year. Cold, wintry weather during each portion of last season cut down the harvest from 117, 708 in 2007. Standing corn also effected the harvest, especially in the northern half of the state.
√ 2009 firearm forecast: Its less than 48 hours away now and things appear favorable as the weather looks very promising. IDNR estimates as many as 830,000 deer roaming Illinois' timber and fields.
√ Economic impact : Huge, across the entire state. It's turned into a mega-million dollar industry in Illinois. Locally and statewide, its become a huge tourism vehicle. Hotels, hunting clubs, lodges and even several campgrounds in and Perry County are expected to have plenty of occupants both weekends. Local eating establishments should also see their share of out-of-town hunters.