Illinois Hunters Set a Record with Fall Archery Turkey Harvest

Hunters in the Land of Lincoln set a new record during the 2024-2025 fall archery turkey season, with a statewide total harvest of 1,045 wild turkeys.

Wild Turkey Harvest Hits All-Time High in Illinois Fall Archery Season

The number of wild turkeys harvested last year was 803, and before the record-breaking 1,045 total, the previous high mark was set in 2015 when 851 birds were harvested.

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According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), an increase in permit sales was a big reason for the record-setting harvest last season. 27,422 permits were sold for last season, compared to 25,741 permits sold in the 2023-2024 season.

Shift in Hunting Trends

Hunters have been favoring the use of crossbows more frequently, with 62 percent of harvested turkeys being taken using this weapon.

Compound bows accounted for 37 percent of the harvested turkeys, while traditional bows were used in only 1 percent of the kills.

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This shift to crossbows follows a broader trend in Illinois hunting regulations that expanded access to crossbow hunting in recent years.

Leading Counties for Turkey Harvests

There were 17 turkeys harvested in Winnebago County, compared to 14 during last hunting season.

The top 5 counties in Illinois for wild turkey harvests were Fayette with 37, Jefferson Co. with 28, PIke Co. harvested 25, Marion County 24, and Jo Daviess has 23.

While some regions of the state have consistently performed well with wild turkey harvests, increased participation in hunting wild turkey also contributed to the record-breaking total.

CLICK HERE to see the complete list of wild turkey harvest totals.