Illinois Hunting Dates 2025-2026 – Permits, Zones & Wildlife Targets
Welcome to your comprehensive guide to the Prairie State’s hunting opportunities! Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting out, Illinois offers incredible game diversity across its varied landscapes. This guide covers everything you need to plan your next expedition – from season dates and wildlife zones to licensing requirements and hunting methods.
What You’ll Find in This Guide
Illinois boasts some of the nation’s finest whitetail deer hunting, along with exceptional opportunities for turkey, waterfowl, and various small game species. We’ve compiled official information from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to give you the most accurate details on seasons, zones, permits, and regulations for the 2025 hunting season.
Illinois Hunting Season Summary Table
| Species | Season Opens | Season Closes | Methods | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer (Archery) | October 1 | January 18 | Bow/Crossbow | 1 per permit |
| White-tailed Deer (Firearm) | November 21 | December 7 | Shotgun/Rifle | 1 per permit |
| Wild Turkey (Spring) | April 7 | May 15 | Shotgun/Archery | 1 per permit |
| Mourning Dove | September 1 | January 9* | Shotgun | 15 |
| Waterfowl | October 18** | January 31** | Shotgun | Varies by species |
| Pheasant | November 2 | January 15 | Shotgun | 2 roosters |
| Squirrel | August 1 | February 15 | Shotgun/Archery | 5 |
*Split season with closure mid-November to late December
**Varies by zone
Big Game: Archery & Rifle Seasons 🦌
White-tailed Deer
Illinois provides excellent whitetail opportunities across multiple seasons:
Archery Season:
- Counties with firearm season + west of Route 47 in Kane: October 1-November 20, November 24-December 3, December 8, 2025-January 18, 2026
- Cook, DuPage, Lake, and eastern Kane counties: October 1, 2025-January 18, 2026
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One deer per archery permit
- 📍 Zones: Statewide with county-specific variations
Firearm Season:
- First Season: November 21-23, 2025
- Second Season: December 4-7, 2025
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One deer per firearm permit
- Equipment: Shotgun slugs, centerfire rifles, or muzzleloaders
Muzzleloader-Only Season:
- December 12-14, 2025
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One deer per muzzleloader permit
Youth Firearm:
- October 11-13, 2025
- Open to hunters under 18 with adult supervision
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One either-sex deer
Special CWD Season:
- January 1-4 & January 16-18, 2026
- Open in designated CWD surveillance counties
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One deer per permit (antlered deer limit doesn’t apply)
🔗 Important Note: No hunter may harvest more than two antlered deer during the license year, regardless of permit type.
Black Bear
Currently, Illinois does not have an open black bear season, though occasional sightings occur in southern regions.
Elk
No established elk population exists for regular seasons in Illinois.
Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, Youth 🦃
Spring Turkey Season
The Prairie State’s gobbler action heats up in spring with zone-specific opportunities:
North Zone:
- 1st Season: April 14-18, 2025
- 2nd Season: April 19-24, 2025
- 3rd Season: April 25-30, 2025
- 4th Season: May 1-7, 2025
- 5th Season: May 8-15, 2025
South Zone:
- 1st Season: April 7-11, 2025
- 2nd Season: April 12-17, 2025
- 3rd Season: April 18-23, 2025
- 4th Season: April 24-30, 2025
- 5th Season: May 1-8, 2025
Youth Spring Season:
- March 29-30 & April 5-6, 2025
- Open statewide for hunters under 18
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One bearded turkey
Fall Turkey Season
Fall Gun Season:
- October 19-27, 2024
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One either-sex turkey per permit (max 2 permits)
Fall Archery Season:
- October 1, 2024-January 19, 2025
- 🎟️ Bag Limit: One either-sex turkey per permit (max 2 permits)
Furbearers 🦫
The Land of Lincoln offers excellent trapping and pursuit opportunities for various fur-bearing species:
Trapping Season
Primary Furbearers:
- Raccoon, opossum, red fox, gray fox, striped skunk, weasel, mink, muskrat, coyote, badger: November 10, 2024-February 15, 2025
- Bobcat: November 10, 2024-February 15, 2025 (permit required, zone-specific limits)
- Beaver, river otter: November 10, 2024-March 31, 2025
Special Regulations:
- 🎟️ Bobcat: Zone-dependent limits (North: 2 per season, South: 1 per season)
- River otter: Maximum 5 per season with mandatory registration
- Woodchuck: June 1-September 30 (trapping), June 1-March 31 (pursuit)
Furbearer Pursuit Season
Most furbearers can be pursued with hounds during the same dates as trapping season, with coyote and striped skunk open year-round except during firearm deer season closures.
Upland Birds 🐦
Ring-necked Pheasant
- North Zone: November 2, 2025-January 8, 2026
- South Zone: November 2, 2025-January 15, 2026
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 2 roosters
- 📦 Possession Limit: 6 roosters
Bobwhite Quail
- Same dates as pheasant by zone
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 8 birds
- 📦 Possession Limit: 20 birds
Hungarian Partridge
- Same dates as pheasant by zone
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 2 birds
- 📦 Possession Limit: 6 birds
American Woodcock
- October 19-December 2, 2024
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 3 birds
- 📦 Possession Limit: 9 birds
Upland Animals 🐿️
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
- November 2, 2024-February 15, 2025
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 4 rabbits
- 📦 Possession Limit: 10 rabbits
Fox & Gray Squirrel
- August 1, 2024-February 15, 2025
- Closed November 22-24 & December 5-8 in counties with firearm deer season
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 5 squirrels
- 📦 Possession Limit: 10 squirrels
Other Small Games 🐾
| Species | Season Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | Sep 1-Nov 14 & Dec 26-Jan 9 | 15 | 45 |
| White-winged Dove | Same as mourning dove | 15 (combined) | 45 (combined) |
| American Crow | October 28-February 28 | No limit | No limit |
| Woodchuck | June 1-March 31 | No limit | No limit |
Migratory Birds 🦆
Early Teal Season
- September 7-22, 2024 (all zones)
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 6 teal (blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon)
- 📦 Possession Limit: 18 teal
Rails & Snipe
Rails (Sora & Virginia):
- September 7-November 15, 2024
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 25 combined
- 📦 Possession Limit: 75 combined
Wilson’s Snipe:
- September 7-December 22, 2024
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 8 birds
- 📦 Possession Limit: 24 birds
Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese 🦢
Regular Duck Season (by zone)
North Zone: October 19-December 17, 2024 Central Zone: October 26-December 24, 2024 South Central Zone: November 16, 2024-January 14, 2025 South Zone: November 30, 2024-January 28, 2025
🎟️ Daily Limit: 6 ducks with species-specific restrictions 📦 Possession Limit: 18 ducks
Scaup (Lesser & Greater)
- First 45 days of regular duck season: 2 per day
- Final 15 days: 1 per day within regular duck limits
Mergansers
- Same dates as regular duck season by zone
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 5 (maximum 2 hooded mergansers)
- 📦 Possession Limit: 15
Other Waterfowls 🪿
Canada Geese
Early Season:
- September 1-15, 2024 (North & Central zones)
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 5 geese
- 📦 Possession Limit: 15 geese
Regular Season:
- North Zone: October 19, 2024-January 16, 2025
- Other zones vary by location
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 2-3 geese (zone dependent)
Light Geese (Snow, Ross’s, Blue)
Regular Season: Follows duck season dates by zone
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 20 geese
- 📦 Possession Limit: No limit
Conservation Order:
- North Zone: January 17-April 30, 2025
- Central/South Zones: February 1-April 30, 2025
- No daily or possession limits during Conservation Order
White-fronted Geese
- North Zone: October 21, 2024-January 16, 2025
- Central Zone: November 5, 2024-January 31, 2025
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 2 geese
- 📦 Possession Limit: 6 geese
Brant
- Follows regular goose season dates
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 1 brant
- 📦 Possession Limit: 3 brant
American Coot
- Follows duck season dates by zone
- 🎟️ Daily Limit: 15 coots
- 📦 Possession Limit: 45 coots
More Games (Additional Species) 🎯
Youth Waterfowl Days
Special youth-only days provide excellent opportunities for introducing young sportsmen:
- North Zone: October 12-13, 2024
- Central Zone: October 19-20, 2024
- South Central/South Zones: November 9-10, 2024
- Same bag limits as regular waterfowl seasons apply
Hunting License & Permit Information 🎟️
To participate in any Illinois hunting activity, you’ll need the appropriate licenses and permits:
Resident License Fees:
- Annual Hunting License: $13.50 (includes habitat stamp)
- Youth Hunting License: $7.00
- Senior Hunting License: $7.00
- Super Senior Hunting License: Free (65+ years, income-qualified)
Non-Resident License Fees:
- Annual Hunting License: $57.75 (includes habitat stamp)
- 5-Day Hunting License: $35.75
- Youth Non-Resident License: $7.00
Additional Permits:
- State Waterfowl Stamp: $15.00
- Federal Duck Stamp: $25.00
- Deer Permits: Varies by type
- Turkey Permits: Varies by season
License Requirements:
- All hunters born on or after January 1, 1980, must complete a hunter education course
- Licenses can be purchased online through the IDNR website or at authorized vendors
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Q: Do I need permission to hunt on private land in Illinois?
A: Yes, you must obtain written permission from landowners before hunting on private property. It’s illegal to hunt within 300 yards of an inhabited dwelling without permission.
Q: What public lands are available for hunting in Illinois?
A: Illinois offers numerous state parks, conservation areas, and wildlife management areas open to hunting. The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) also provides access to private lands for public hunting.
Q: Is night hunting allowed in Illinois?
A: Night hunting is prohibited for most species. Limited exceptions exist for certain furbearers like raccoons, opossums, and coyotes, subject to specific regulations.
Q: Can I use rifles for deer hunting in Illinois?
A: As of January 1, 2023, single-shot centerfire rifles of .30 caliber or larger with case length not exceeding 1.4 inches are legal for deer hunting during firearm seasons.
Q: What zones does Illinois use for hunting regulations?
A: Illinois is divided into several zone systems depending on the species. There are separate zone structures for deer, turkey, waterfowl, and upland game.
Related Resources 🔗
- Deer Hunting Guide
- Turkey Hunting Tips
- Waterfowl Migration Patterns
- Neighboring States: Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky
Final Thoughts for Illinois Hunters
The Prairie State offers remarkable hunting opportunities across its varied terrain – from the northern woodlands to the southern bottomlands. Whether you’re pursuing trophy whitetails, calling spring gobblers, or targeting migrating waterfowl along the great flyways, Illinois has something for every outdoors enthusiast.
Remember to always check the latest regulations before heading out, as season dates and requirements may change. Respect property boundaries, practice ethical hunting, and prioritize safety in the field. Successful hunting isn’t just about the harvest – it’s about experiencing Illinois’ natural beauty while participating in a cherished outdoor tradition.
Be sure to verify your hunting zone, secure the necessary permits well in advance, and enjoy everything that makes hunting in Illinois such a rewarding experience.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Hunt Illinois Information
