Chicago hunter Jose Guzman used his crossbow to legally harvest the first deer within city limits since the Civil War after the animal’s population has not only recovered but become problematic.
Guzman was one of an exclusive set of 8 men selected from less than 40 applicants allowed to hunt in the first deer hunting season at William Powers State Recreation Area in Chicago’s Southeast Side in more than 150 years, The Chicago Sun Times reports.
The hunter shot his deer at 7 a.m., and told the newspaper he “was sitting on the edge of the woods and it came up behind me.” He added, “She came out with other does and within a minute I had taken my shot.”
Prior to Guzman, the outlet explained, quoting Joel Greenberg’s “Natural History of the Chicago Region,” the last deer was legally killed in Chicago in 1865 by an alderman, William Cox, as recounted by his son.
Never thought I see this piece of #Chicagooutdoors history. #deerhunting #whitetaileddeer #Chicagohunting First deer legally harvested by a hunter in Chicago during modern time https://t.co/DT7psoWZSz
— Dale Bowman (@BowmanOutside) October 5, 2022
Remarking on the historical significance of taking down the first deer in 157 years, Guzman told the outlet, “It is a great honor, but also a great responsibility,” and added, “I have to take that animal ethically with minimal amount of impact to the community.”
Gear Junkie and the Sun-Times explain that the limited hunting season was approved by officials after more than a century was spent intentionally recovering the area’s deer population, which was eradicated by urban and industrial expansion in the 19th century.
Thanks to ethically responsible hunters like Jose Guzman, featured in this @Suntimes story, IDNR has been able to expand hunting opportunities to every part of Illinois, even in Cook County, where Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected. https://t.co/5iXMZd87GZ
— Illinois DNR (@IllinoisDNR) October 5, 2022
Efforts to restore the deer population began in the 1930s, and now the robust population is suffering from chronic wasting disease and poaching from locals.
Deer hunting in Illinois will be aided in the future by a new hunting law passed by Republicans in May of this year, which allows hunters to “take deer with a single shot centerfire rifle during the open season set by the Director of Natural Resources.”
It becomes effective in 2023, though it also places restrictions on the types of guns and ammunition that can be used while hunting.
While deer population may be stabilizing in Chicago, it could be aided in the future by a declining population of humans. The 2020 census revealed the state of Illinois lost about 18,000 people since 2010, and moved from the fifth largest population to sixth largest, behind Pennsylvania.
Local media reported last year that many residents are leaving for Florida.
