As the second firearm deer hunting season rolls in this weekend, DNR officials indicate local harvest numbers are close to last year's.

Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Rachel Torbert indicates deer harvest numbers in Illinois and locally are very similar to those of 2019 with plenty more time still in this hunting season.

DNR Conservation Police Captain John Williamson notes the first firearm weekend in southern Illinois was down and he points out a lot of times, the deer harvest totals are very much dependent on the weather situation.

According to Captain Williamson, they continue to deal with hunting without permission for hunters on private property. He implores hunters to get the permission of the landowners before they head out.

Torbert and Capt. Williamson reminds hunters they cannot use their archery tags during the shotgun weekends, however, you can still archery hunt but those archery tags cannot be used.

Get all the latest in regulations at illinois.dnr.gov. Torbert and Capt. Williamson is also reminding hunters to be safe, check tree stands before you go up in them, and let someone know where you'll be hunting and when you plan to return.