Out of curiosity does anyone know what percent of deer taken in Illinois are actually mounted?
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There were 105,000 deer taken during last years rifle season. Couldnt find the numbers for archery so I'll guess 50,000. I guess there's approximately 150 taxidermist in Illinois. If each one mounted 50 deer that would be 7500 mounts. With these numbers the percentage would be 5%. This is just a guess, I dont think there's a way to get an accurate number unless we were required to report the numbers. Even then the under-the-table deals still wouldnt be reported. Hopefully my math is correct.
that was a good guess Andy, but, we don't have a rifle season it's shotgun, and there are 650 licensed taxidermists in Illinois and I know they don't all do 50 deer, some do 10 some do 300+. I'd guess that even making a guess would be tough.
...nowhere near 50K. Probably less than half that, but I'm just guessing.
And also keep in mind that a LOT of Illinois deer hunters visit the adjacent states to deer hunt as well. 5% is probably a pretty good guestimate though. Maybe a little less? I DO think that the industry seems to be changing and a lot of people probably hold more value on mounting a deer vs. most any other animal/fish they harvest. Maybe this has been going on forever? All I know is I seem to be getting a lot of calls for deer this year...
last year according to the DNR illinois bowhunters killed 65000 deer
Boy Rich, how things have changed! I haven't bow-hunted here in Illinois for about 10 years now. Back then, the annual bow harvest was around 25K. The numbers of licensed bow hunters in Illinois has quadrupled since then! They've actually doubled in the last 3 years!It's obviously become much more popular than I realized. I stand corrected...
i agree,when i started bowhunting in 1990 you could bowhunt almost anywhere...nowdays you get lucky to hunt an open field..i just hate the fact we did away with all check stations...to much oppurtunity to poach..
I stand corrected-- no rifle season in Illinois. Still adjusting to the lingo from living out west. I still get the looks when I refer to a 10 point buck as a "five point".
I didnt know there are 650 licensed taxi's in llinois though. I guess you still need to figure not all do gameheads.