Illinois hunters are taking to the woods as the first statewide firearm deer hunt begins.

The season started Friday and lasts through Sunday. Department of Natural Resources forest wildlife program manager Paul Shelton says he expects hunters to shoot 75,000 deer.

The state's second deer hunting season is Dec. 4-7. Shelton says 120,000 deer could be killed in all.

That would be an increase over last year, when hunters killed 117,000 deer.

Shelton says hunters in northern Illinois counties that have seen cases of chronic wasting disease among deer must have their kill checked by officials.

Hunters can also use bows and arrows to shoot deer until Jan. 15 in portions of Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane counties.