The Illinois youth wild turkey season harvest has set a record.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday that young hunters harvested 1,300 birds. That's compared with the previous record harvest of about 750 birds last year.

IDNR wild turkey project manager Paul Brewer credits excellent hunting weather for the large harvest. Brewer says last spring there was below-average turkey reproduction in many areas because of wet weather. This spring's mild weather contributed to good turkey numbers.

This year 4,100 youth turkey permits were issued. Last year about 3,700 were issued. The season was March 31 and April 1 in the southern zone and April 7-8 in the northern zone.

Jefferson County was the top county in Illinois with 47 turkeys harvested during the youth hunt.