Fall archery season in Illinois yields record harvest of 1,045 wild turkeys
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary record statewide total of 1,045 wild turkeys during the 2024-25 fall archery turkey season, according to information from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The total compares last year’s harvest of 803 and the five-year average of 763 birds harvested. The previous record total for fall archery season was in 2015 when 851 turkeys were taken.
This season 27,422 permits were sold (excluding landowner permits) compared to 25,741 for the 2023-2024 season. The season dates were Oct. 1, 2024 through Jan. 19, 2025. All 102 counties were open for hunting.
Harvest reports were 51% male and 49% female compared to 54% males and 46% hens last year. A total of 62% of hunters reported using crossbows versus 37% using compound bows and 1% using traditional bows.
The top five counties for fall archery wild turkey harvest this season were Fayette, 37; Jefferson, 28; Pike, 25; Marion, 24; and Jo Daviess, 23.
The table below includes the preliminary 2024-2025 local counties fall archery turkey harvest results with comparable totals for 2023-2024.
| County | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| Adams | 15 | 15 |
| Brown | 8 | 9 |
| Hancock | 9 | 17 |
| McDonough | 3 | 2 |
| Pike | 15 | 25 |
Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?
Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.
