MARION (WSIL) 鈥斅燞unters from across the state have October 1聽marked on their calendars. It鈥檚 the start of deer bow hunting season.聽Darrell Oliver from northern Illinois聽spends about two weeks in the southern part of the state.聽Oliver says it鈥檚 because southern Illinois offers him a wide range of activities. He says聽he loves the outdoors, especially using his skills in the woods.
Oliver says, "I鈥檝e been hunting for almost over 50 years."聽
But with temperatures in the 90s, Oliver explains, he chose to put his bow and arrow away and not hunt.聽
He says, "It鈥檚 just too hot. The meat can spoil on you by the time you get it home."聽
Federal wildlife officer, Dustin Schelling, says there are many factors in Tuesday鈥檚 low turn out, but he admits the heat is probably the main reason.
Schelling explains, "You鈥檙e carrying gear in, you鈥檙e giving out more scent.聽So with more scent, deer can smell you and detect you easier."
And Schelling says hunters aren鈥檛 the only ones who don鈥檛 like the warmer temperatures,聽"Deer are just like us. If it鈥檚 hot out they don鈥檛 want to be moving around."聽
Although Oliver didn鈥檛 get to hunt on opening day,聽he wants to provide a tip to his fellow hunters who are thinking about heading into the woods.聽
"If you shoot something, good luck, it鈥檚 all I can tell you. If you don鈥檛 find it right away.聽In this kind of weather, it鈥檚 a good chance of spoiling," he adds.聽
Archery Deer Season in Illinois is expected to run from聽October 1聽鈥� January 19 except for November 22, 23 & 24 and聽December 5, 6, 7 & 8 due to firearm hunting season.
