ILLINOIS — Youth hunters harvested more turkeys in the most recent season than the previous harvest record set in 2020.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced a preliminary total of 2,006 birds harvested by youth turkey hunters from the two hunting periods last month and earlier this month. The previous record was 1,733 turkeys in 2020.

Locally, Marion County youth hunters harvested 62 turkeys, which placed it fourth in the ranks state-wide. Jefferson County was third with 63 turkeys taken, and Fayette County came in second with 66 birds.

Randolph County was the top county with 79 turkeys harvested