The Illinois Department of Natural Resources last week reported that hunters harvested a preliminary total of 72,111 deer during the opening weekend of the 2012 Illinois Firearm Deer Season, Nov. 16-18.

The second portion of the firearm season is this weekend, Nov. 29-Dec. 2.

The preliminary harvest total is higher than the first weekend harvest of 66,501 deer in 2011.

With 1,665 deer, Randolph County ranked fifth highest overall in the state. Last year’s first weekend harvest total was 1,406.

In Monroe County, there were 794 deer harvested in the first season this year compared to 661 in 2011.

Approximately 60 percent of deer taken during the first weekend of firearm hunting were bucks.

For more information on Illinois deer hunting regulations, check the IDNR web site online at www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/deer.

To view photos from first season, click here. And remember to send us you second season photos. Just email us at news@republictimes.net!