I'll do the deer preview separately. But the rapid crop harvest will be noted in both.

What a difference from last year. As of Sunday night, corn harvest was 57 percent complete. Compare that to only 2 percent last year and the five-year average of 21 percent. Even soybeans are 22 percent harvested, compared to 1 percent last year.

The photo with the lead is Mike Resetich coming back with a black duck on a 2007 hunt along the Illinois River. I like the image.

During the hunting seasons, the extended online version of the IHR, which comes at the end of the Midwest Fishing Report on the Sun-Times outdoors page on Wednesdays, is usually posted here on Tuesdays.

If you have suggestions, email me at outdoordb@sbcglobal.net or post in the comments.

CONTROLLED PHEASANT HUNTING

The online permit reservation system for the 15 sites for controlled pheasant hunting operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is going. Click here.

SQUIRREL

These northeast Illinois close to squirrel hunting on Thursday: Iroquois County SWA, Matthiessen SP, Silver Springs SFWA, Momence Wetlands and Kankakee River SP.

Marseilles SWA (Monday-Thursday) is open through the run of squirrel season.

Ed Smith provided a pictorial on how to clean a squirrel for PrairieStateOutdoors.com.

The general season runs through Feb. 15, except it is closed during firearm deer seasons in applicable counties. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The daily limit is five squirrels with a possession limit of 10.

TURKEY

Random daily draws for fall shotgun permits started Monday. Bowhunting starts Friday.

DOVE

Birds are dispersed with the rapid harvest, however, some fields are holding them. The first season continues through Oct. 31.

WOODCHUCK

Trapping season ends Thursday.

RAIL

Sora and Virginia only are legal. Season runs through Nov. 12. Daily limit is 25.

COMMON SNIPE

Season runs through Dec. 19. Daily bag is eight.

WATERFOWL AERIAL SURVEYS

Click here for the latest posting of Illinois' aerial waterfowl surveys.

PROPOSED WATERFOWL SEASONS

NORTH ZONE

Youth Hunt Oct. 9-10
Ducks Oct. 16-Dec. 14
Canada geese Oct. 16-Jan. 8
Snow geese Oct.16-Jan. 8
White-fronted geese Oct. 29-Jan. 8

CENTRAL ZONE

Youth Hunt Oct. 23-24
Ducks Oct. 30-Dec. 28
Canada geese Oct. 30-Nov. 14 and Nov. 24-Jan. 31
Snow geese Oct. 30-Jan. 31
White-fronted geese Nov. 21-Jan. 31

SOUTH ZONE

Youth Hunt Nov. 13-14
Ducks Nov. 25-Jan. 23
Canada geese: Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 1-Jan. 31
Snow geese Nov. 25-Jan. 31
White-fronted geese Nov. 25-Jan. 31

COYOTES AT SILVER SPRINGS

Here's another new opportunity later this hunting season to keep in mind. After the close of bowhunting in January, coyote hunting will open at Silver Springs SFWA.

ILLINOIS HUNTING ONLINE

For IDNR hunting info, click here.

For the Illinois 2010-11 Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations, click here.

For the 2009-10 Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report, click here.

For Illinois crop reports (generally posted Monday afternoons, holiday weekends are the exceptions), click here.