(Springfield)--The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced deer hunters havested more than seventy two thousand deer during last weekend's opening of the firearm hunting season, an increase of five thousand deer a year earlier.

The Department says the highest totals during the first three days were in Pike, Fulton, Adams, Jo Daviess, and Randolph counties. The Department also says 60 percent of the deer taken so far were bucks.

The first weekend of the season started last Friday and ended on Sunday. It will resume November 29th and end on December 2nd. More than 334 thousand firearm deer permits have been issued for this years season.