SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — Illinois deer archery season is underway and the Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters of key dates, regulations and safety practices for the season.

Illinois’ statewide deer archery season began October 1. In counties with a firearm deer hunting season and west of Illinois 47 in Kane County, archery hunting will be open for three periods:

• From October 1 to November 21
• From November 25 to December 4
• From December 9 to January 19

Archery deer season runs from October 1 to January 19 in counties without a firearm deer season, including Cook, DuPage, Lake and east of Illinois 47 in Kane County.

Restricted archery area

Only antlered deer may be harvested during the October 1-31 period of the archery season in Champaign, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt counties in order to improve the deer population in those counties. An antlered deer is defined as having at least one antler measuring 3 inches or longer.

Harvest Limits

Hunters should also note regulations regarding harvest limits. Illinois statewide regulations allow one deer per archery permit.

No hunter, regardless of the number or type of license in his or her possession, may harvest more than two antlered deer in any year, including the youth, archery, and shooting seasons. archery and firearms, except as permitted during chronic wasting disease (CWD). season. For this harvest limit, deer hunting seasons are in the same year if their opening dates are in the same 12-month period that begins July 1.

For hunters planning to harvest on public lands, please review site-specific information on Hunt Illinois, as site and species regulations may be more restrictive than state or county regulations.

Tree Stand Safety

Hunters are reminded to use tree stands safely when hunting this season. Tree stands are the no. 1 cause of hunting-related injuries and deaths in Illinois. Go online for a refresher on tree stand safety.