Illinois youth deer hunters set a new harvest record during the 2026 season, taking a preliminary total of 4,852 deer from October 10th through 12th.
The total topped the previous record of 4,714 deer harvested during the 2025 youth season.
Several area counties posted higher harvest totals this year. In Wayne County, youth hunters took 114 deer, up from 92 last year. Clay County increased from 92 to 105, while Fayette County rose from 122 to 145. Richland County also saw an increase, with 47 deer harvested compared with 38 in 2025.
Other counties in the region reported lower totals. Effingham County dropped from 118 deer last year to 89 this year. Jasper County reported 82 deer, down from 97, while Marion County fell from 135 to 125.
The top counties statewide were Randolph with 278 deer, Jefferson with 166, Pike with 150, Fayette with 145 and Marion with 125.
Youth hunters who still have unfilled valid permits will be able to use them during the upcoming firearm deer seasons, scheduled for November 20th through 22nd and December 3rd through 6th.
This year also marked the first time youth deer hunting permits were sold as a combination package, which includes one either-sex permit and one antlerless-only permit.