SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says deer hunting will begin Oct. 1 this year for archers and Nov. 16 for regular firearms.

The agency says hunting for people who use muzzle-loading firearms will start Dec. 7 and the annual late-winter season for antlerless deer will run in two sessions that start Dec. 27 and Jan. 18.

The DNR on Thursday also announced that 10 counties that in the past have been open for the late-winter deer season this year will be closed. They are Cass, Christian, Henry, Johnson, Lawrence, Mason, Morgan, Tazewell, Union and Wabash counties.