When fall rolls in, it brings a rush of excitement for devoted hunters. Illinois is a treasure trove of outdoor adventures with different backdrops. It has everything! Whether you’re after white-tailed deer in abundant forests, or waterfowl in lively wetlands, Illinois caters to all hunting tastes. There’s lots of chances for outdoor exploration, skill testing, and nature connecting.

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This concise guide outlines the 2025 hunting timeline in Illinois, assisting you in planning your forthcoming exploration. Keeping up to date with accurate timeframes, rules, and licensing perquisites for your chosen game ensures that you have a secure, law-abiding, and pleasurable experience.

We’ll go over licenses and permit requirements by Illinois Department of Natural Resources including species bag limits in the following sections.

Important Dates and Limits

Illinois Hunting Seasons Overview

🦌 Big Game

White-tailed Deer

Archery:
Most counties: Oct 1 – Nov 20, Nov 24 – Dec 3, Dec 8, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
Cook, DuPage, Lake, & eastern Kane: Oct 1, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
Limit: 1 per permit
Firearm:
First season: Nov 21-23, 2025
Second season: Dec 4-7, 2025
Limit: 1 per permit
Muzzleloader: Dec 12-14, 2025
Limit: 1 per permit
Youth Season: Oct 11-13, 2025
For hunters under 18
CWD Season: Jan 1-4 & Jan 16-18, 2026
In designated counties

Black Bear & Elk

No open seasons

🦃 Turkey

Spring Season

North Zone:
1st: Apr 14-18, 2025
2nd: Apr 19-24, 2025
3rd: Apr 25-30, 2025
4th: May 1-7, 2025
5th: May 8-15, 2025
South Zone:
1st: Apr 7-11, 2025
2nd: Apr 12-17, 2025
3rd: Apr 18-23, 2025
4th: Apr 24-30, 2025
5th: May 1-8, 2025
Youth Season: Mar 29-30 & Apr 5-6, 2025

Fall Season

Gun: Oct 19-27, 2024
Archery: Oct 1, 2024 – Jan 19, 2025
Limit: 1 per permit (max 2 permits)

🦫 Furbearers

Trapping

Raccoon, fox, coyote, etc.: Nov 10, 2024 – Feb 15, 2025
Bobcat: Nov 10, 2024 – Feb 15, 2025 (permit needed)
Beaver & otter: Nov 10, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025

Pursuit

Same as trapping dates
Coyote & skunk: Open year-round (except firearm deer season)

🐦 Upland Birds

Pheasant

North: Nov 2, 2025 – Jan 8, 2026
South: Nov 2, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026
Limit: 2 roosters daily

Quail & Partridge

Same dates as pheasant
Quail limit: 8 daily
Partridge limit: 2 daily

Woodcock

Oct 19 – Dec 2, 2024
Limit: 3 daily

🐿️ Small Game

Rabbit

Nov 2, 2024 – Feb 15, 2025
Limit: 4 daily

Squirrel

Aug 1, 2024 – Feb 15, 2025
Closed during firearm deer season
Limit: 5 daily

Dove

Sep 1 – Nov 14 & Dec 26 – Jan 9
Limit: 15 daily

🦆 Waterfowl

Ducks

North: Oct 19 – Dec 17, 2024
Central: Oct 26 – Dec 24, 2024
South Central: Nov 16, 2024 – Jan 14, 2025
South: Nov 30, 2024 – Jan 28, 2025
Limit: 6 daily

Geese

Early season (Sep 1-15, 2024): 5 daily
Regular season (varies by zone): 2-3 daily
Light geese: 20 daily (no limit in conservation order)

Youth Days

North: Oct 12-13, 2024
Central: Oct 19-20, 2024
South: Nov 9-10, 2024

Waterfowl Bag Limits

Species	Daily Bag	Possession
Early Teal	6	18
Rails (Sora & Virginia)	25	75
Wilson’s Snipe	8	24
Ducks	6	18
Mergansers	5	15
Coots	15	45
Scaup (2/day first 45 days)	2	6
Scaup (1/day last 15 days)	1	3
Canada Geese (early)	5	15
Canada Geese (regular)	3	9
Light Geese	20	Unlimited
Brant	1	3
White-fronted Geese	2	6
Conservation Order Light Geese	Unlimited	Unlimited
Youth Waterfowl	Same as regular	Same as regular

IL Permits and Licenses

License/Permit	Resident Cost	Nonresident Cost
Apprentice	$7.50	$7.50
Youth Combo	$7.50	$7.50
Basic	$12.50	$57.75
Basic (5 day)	–	$35.75
Preserve License	–	$12.50
Lifetime	$360.00	–
Lifetime Sportsmen’s Combination	$765.00	–
Senior	$6.50	–
Senior Sportsmen’s Combination	$13.50	–
Sportsmen’s Combination	$26.25	–
Super Senior	$1.50	–
Super Senior Sportsman Combo	$2.75	–
Veteran (Prior Certification Required)	$6.50	–
Veteran Sportsmen’s Combination (Prior Certification Required)	$13.50	–

Illinois Game Hunting Rules and Policies

Deer

Permits: Residents and non-residents don’t pay the same. Non-residents have unique online purchase times.
Seasons: Depending on whether it’s archery, firearm, or muzzleloader season, the gear and clothes you need will change.
Harvest Reporting: Must be done on the day the animal is taken.
Landowner Permits: There are rules on how many acres you need.
Deer Management: It’s important to understand the biology, behavior, and sicknesses of deer.
Disease Monitoring: In areas affected by CWD, hunters might have to check their deer. If you see a deer that looks sick or not normal, tell IDNR.
CWD Testing: Testing all over the state is recommended. There are places you can go to get it done.

Waterfowl

Species: Ducks, rails, snipe, mergansers, coots, geese, and brant have Specific rules.
Shotguns: Limits on shotgun size and capacity, except during light goose seasons.
Ammunition:: Certain types only, non-toxic shot required for some species, with size conditions.
Blinds: Rules for sizes, necessities, when to build, and area-specific laws.
Waterfowl Gift Tags: Needed if you give away the birds you’ve caught.

Top Illinois Hunting Locations

To streamline your search, here’s a comprehensive guide to some of the top Illinois hunting locations categorized by place name and target species:

Central Illinois

Whitetail Deer:
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area: Near Havana, you’ll find this vast 8,500-acre piece of land. It’s perfect for deer hunting with bows and guns. The place is a mix of old forests, grasslands, and farmlands, ideal for whitetail.
- Sangchris Lake State Park: It’s located southwest of Springfield. The park is a beautiful place for deers. You’ll see rolling hills, forestlands down low, and open prairies.
Pheasant:
- McDonough County: McDonough County in the heart of Illinois is a paradise for bird hunters. Plentiful corn and soybean fields mixed with forests become a perfect hideout for pheasants.
- Champaign County: Much like McDonough County, Champaign County is attractive to pheasants with its extensive farms. Locations like the Iroquois County Wildlife Management Area offer numerous pursuing chances.

Northern Illinois

Waterfowl:
- Winnebago County: Winnebago County: Known for its place along the Illinois River, Winnebago County is a go-to for bird lovers. It’s brimming with wetlands, including the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. This place draws in ducks, geese, and other migrating birds.
- McHenry County: The Chain O’ Lakes locality in McHenry County is excellent for bird hunting. Its chain of lakes and marshes cater well to ducks, geese, and swans.
Upland Game:
- Driftless Area: Parts of northwest Illinois make up the Driftless Zone. Known for its uneven hills, valleys, and forests, this land is a haven for land game birds like bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse.
- Mississippi River Pools: North of Rock Island, along the Mississippi River, you’ll find ideal spots for land game hunting. These areas offer shelter and food for pheasants, rabbits, and squirrels.

Southern Illinois

Deer:
- Shawnee National Forest: Check out Shawnee National Forest. It covers above 260,000 acres and is an ideal place for deers. Its thick woods, tough terrains, and plenty of food make it a perfect home for whitetail.
- Cache River State Wildlife Area: Here, hunting deer in a swamp and a forest at the bottomland is a unique experience. And guess what? The area is famous for its top-quality whitetail bucks.
Turkey:
- Alexander County: It’s home to numerous turkeys in Illinois. Its hills and wooded regions are excellent for nesting and roosting for these majestic birds.
- Johnson County: Its mix of grown-up forests, farmlands, and rolling hills makes an excellent turkey habitat.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

Illinois Hunting Guide: 2025-2026 Essential Dates and Regulations