More than 6,500 were taken in the four-county area. In Morgan County, 1,585 were harvested compared to 1,707 a year ago; In Cass County, 1,534 were taken compared to 1,373 in 2011-2012; In Greene County, 2,508 deer were harvested compared to 2,507 a year ago; And in Scott County, 921 were taken compared to 885 the year before.

As usual, neighboring Pike County had the highest harvest total at 7,239.

In all, Illinois Department of Natural Resources spokesman Tim Schweizer says Illinois hunters harvested more than 180,600 deer in 2012-2013.

“It’s a little less than the same period of a year ago, but in terms of deer management purposes, wildlife staff was pretty happy with the effort hunters put in through the fall and early winter on,” says Schweizer. “In recent years, we’ve been in the range of between 180,000 and 190,000 deer each year for all seasons, and so we’re right in that range this year.”

Schweizer says it's all about balance.

“Permits for the regular firearm season, seven-day season in November and December are issued based on quotas by counties. Archery permits are issued statewide, and there’s no real limit to those,” he says. “So, we try to balance the needs of hunters to get out and have a good time and put some venison in the freezer and the need to control the size of the deer herd.”

Illinois deer seasons closed last weekend as hunters concluded the Archery Deer Season.