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Youth deer hunters set Illinois record, Lawrence Co. numbers up

Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:45 PM

By Staff report

Young hunters in Illinois set a new youth deer season harvest record with a preliminary total of 4,852 deer taken Oct. 10-12.

The total surpasses the previous record of 4,714 deer harvested in 2025.

The top harvest counties were Randolph with 278 deer; Jefferson, 166; Pike, 150; Fayette, 145; and Marion, 125.

Only 30 deer were taken in Lawrence County. However, that is five more than 2025 and 13 more than in 2024.

Youth hunters with unfilled, valid youth deer permits may use those permits during the upcoming firearm deer seasons Nov. 20-22 and Dec. 3-6. This is the first year youth deer hunting permits were sold as a combination that includes one either-sex permit and one antlerless-only permit.

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