Deer hunters may find it hard to envision an experience like the one Mike Conlin had as a boy growing up near Arcola.

Today, Illinois has a reputation as one of the nation's premiere whitetail hunting destinations. But back then, deer were scarce. Everyone was excited when a friend of Conlin's claimed he saw one in a nearby pasture.

"We got in the car and drove over to see it," said Conlin, Illinois Department of Natural Resources' director of resource conservation.

Whitetails in Illinois took years to come back after they reached near extinction from over-harvesting in the 19th century. Lawmakers banned hunting to protect the animals in the early 1900s. Hunting wasn't allowed again until the late 1950s, and deer were still relatively hard to find when Conlin harvested his first doe during a bitter winter in 1971.

"If you got an opportunity (to shoot one), it was great," he said.

The deer population climbed steadily at first, then soared during the 1990s. Paul Shelton, IDNR's forest wildlife manager, guesstimates the current herd numbers 800,000. The number stays relatively stable even though hunters harvest more deer than ever, about 200,000 annually for the past three years.

Great numbers and the fact male deer grow big antlers in the food-rich agricultural Midwest explain why Illinois ranks as one of America's top states for whitetail hunting.

Racks are scored by several specific measurements and whether the antlers are symmetric "typical," or non-symmetric "non-typical." According to Tim Walmsley, author of "Whitetails in Illinois," the largest bucks taken in the 2007 season included: a non-typical 21-pointer scoring 238 7/8ths that Marty Sharp took in Knox County during firearm season; a 28-pointer that scored 238 2/8ths from Clark County that Kevin Radke took with a bow; a 14-pointer typical scoring 188 7/8 that Mark Wakefield shot with a gun in Clark County; and an 11-point typical that scored 190 6/8ths that bow hunter Joel Eggers took in Randolph County.

But the big-buck reputation comes with a cost.

Emphasis on killing trophy male deer creates headaches for IDNR wildlife managers, whose goal is to maintain quality hunting experiences while curbing browsing damage and deer/vehicle accidents that number about 24,000 a year. Their problems are compounded by an increase in leased hunting ground for trophy hunters. The land historically was open to hunters who killed both bucks and does for free.

Conlin and Shelton served on a deer task force the General Assembly established this year to hash over ideas to control whitetails. The goal is to increase pressure on female deer. The task force wants to:

• Lengthen the antlerless-only winter season held in mid-January from three days to nine;

• Extend the mid-winter opportunity to include bow hunters, the fastest growing segment of the state's hunting population. Originally, the January season was only for people with handguns. The IDNR expanded the options to include all firearms legal during Illinois' other seasons, namely shotguns and muzzleloaders. Hunters with unfilled permits from any regular seasons also can use them to harvest antlerless deer during the winter hunt if their permits apply to open counties. Archers currently harvest 65,000 to 70,000 of the total take.

• Extend the firearm season from seven days to eight. Walmsley questions the idea since firearm hunters are allowed to take either sex. Another day in the field would only give hunters more time to pick and choose their target. Given more time, more hunters might be able to take males rather than females, he said. The action, proposed by a lawmaker from western Illinois that has a high number of outfitters, would favor the professional guides and their clients most, he said.

"It's not needed," Walmsley said.

• Sell leftover firearm season permits over the counter for use during the winter season. The agency is researching to see if the idea is doable.

The task force report is scheduled to be delivered to the General Assembly by Jan. 1. Conlin said most of the task force recommendations, if accepted, don't require changes in state law. The modifications to season lengths and other suggestions could be in place for next year.

"We'll see what works and if these changes help us do more harvesting," Conlin said. "If not, we may have to look at that option (over-the-counter winter permit sales) or others down the road."

Conlin said the task force also wants IDNR to reach out more to landowners so they know how to better use the programs in place to reduce problems with deer. The agency recently launched a Web site to offer ideas to lessen nuisance animal complaints. A special Web site may eventually be devoted to whitetails.

In addition to deer numbers, IDNR continues to cope with Chronic Wasting Disease, a neurological ailment that kills deer and elk. The infection, which has been present in Rocky Mountain states for at least 30 years, first appeared along Illinois' northern border in 2002 shortly after cases were found in Wisconsin.

Last year, 38 new cases of CWD were confirmed in deer harvested by recreational hunters and sharpshooters hired by the state to thin the herd in affected areas. The good news is no spread of the disease was detected. In fact, the area where CWD was found had shrunk with no cases found in McHenry, Ogle or LaSalle counties or southern DeKalb County, where CWD was previously confirmed.

Most new cases were discovered in Boone and Winnebago counties where CWD first appeared. Though reporting is done by telephone, CWD testing will be conducted at live check stations during firearm season in Boone, Winnebago, Stevenson, Ogle, McHenry, DeKalb, Kane, LaSalle and Grundy counties. CWD monitoring elsewhere in the state consists of taking samples voluntarily from animals at designated meat processors.

2008-09 Season Dates:

Firearm

• Nov. 21, 22, 23 (first season)

• Dec. 4, 5, 6 & 7 (second season)

Muzzleloader

• Dec. 4-7 (second firearm season)

• Dec. 12-14

Archery

• Oct. 1-Jan. 15. Bow hunting is closed during firearm seasons with the exception of Cook, DuPage, Lake and portions of Kane counties. Bow hunters must wear blaze orange during the Dec. 12-14 muzzleloader season.

Late winter antlerless-only

• Jan. 16-18. Handgun, shotgun, muzzleloader

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Deer donors help to feed thousands

By Scott Richardson | srichardson@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON - Central Illinois deer hunters can help the region's hungry by donating surplus venison to three programs that will process the meat and deliver it to food banks and pantries.

The McLean County Sportsmen Association will pay to process 50 donated deer at Bloomington Meats on South Bunn Street in Bloomington. Just mention the organization when you drop the animal off.

Jeremiah Sportsmen Ministries' Feeding the Hungry Program will process deer during the first firearm deer season. Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington is participating in the effort.

In 2006, the first year of the program, more than 11,800 pounds of venison were distributed. Organizers said the donations equaled more than 70,800 meals. A year later, more than 13,000 pounds of venison were delivered. With help from the Gridley Meat Company, the total donated meat deliveries included beef and pork, so more than 50,000 pounds of meat of all kinds reached food pantries and soup kitchens.

This year, the Jeremiah Sportsmen hope to raise $54,600. Midwest Food Bank allows all donations to go for the processing and delivery. No administrative fees or charges are taken from any donations.

Hunters can donate deer. Farmers with nuisance deer can contact Jeremiah Sportsmen. Livestock producers can donate hogs or steers. Donations made through Midwest Food Bank Ground Meat Program are tax deductible. Make the check out to Midwest Food Bank, with "Ground Meat Program" on the memo line.

For information, call Quinton Koch at (309) 823-3446 or (309) 662-7449 or e-mail quinton.koch@nationalcity.com.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is again hosting Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger.

Since 1989, the program has coordinated the donation of more than 467,000 pounds of venison for more than 1.8 million meals.

"Every year, thousands of deer hunters in Illinois help provide venison to food banks, food pantries, and the needy families those facilities serve by donating deer to the program," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. "Everyone wins with the Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger program. Hunters help us manage the state's deer population, while providing food for people who can use it."

Hunters can make a tax-deductible $50 contribution through the Illinois Conservation Foundation to cover the cost processing. Hunters may donate deer to the program without making an additional monetary contribution.

"The $50 donation that we receive from many hunters helps cover some of the costs of processing the venison," said Greg Legan, executive director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Monetary donations to Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger can be made to the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, 62702-1271.

The funds help cover the costs of processing venison by nearly 50 participating meat processors throughout the state. For a list of participating meat processors or for more information, visit http://dnr.state.il.us/legislation/isah/.