About the Illinois Hunting Season
White tailed deer along with all other wildlife belong to the people of Illinois. There are so many people who come out to make a living based on these animals. With as many available options as there are for hunting and using the beautiful public and private lands there’s a chance the conservationist system will last well into our futures.
Come out and enjoy all that there is to offer including watching nature up close and personal and getting in touch with it in a way that so many before have been able to do as well. With its snowy winters and warm summers there are options on how you would like to spend your time visiting or living up north! Be sure to check out the links below as well.
Illinois Hunting Seasons Offered
Big Game: Deer, Wild Turkey
Birds: Waterfowl, Upland game, Dove
Deer Firearm and Muzzleloader Hunting 2021
- First Firearm Deer Season: November 19, 20 & 21, 2021
- Second Firearm Deer Season: December 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2021
- Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season: December 10, 11 & 12, 2021 – Hunters may also use a muzzleloader permit with a muzzleloading rifle during Second Firearm Season December 2 – 5, 2021
Click here for more detailed information.
Deer Archery Hunting 2021 -2022
- In Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, and that portion of Kane County east of State Rte 47: Oct 1 – Jan 16, 2022
- In all other counties and that portion of Kane County west of State Rte 47: Oct 1, 2021 -Jan 16, 2022. EXCEPTION: Archery deer hunting is CLOSED during Firearm Seasons Nov. 19–21 & Dec. 2–5
Click here for more detailed information.
Turkey Hunting 2021 – 2022
- Shotgun: Oct. 23 – Oct. 31, 2021. Only the county, counties, or special hunt area designated on your permit.
- Archery: Oct 1, 2021 through Jan 16, 2022 EXCEPT closed during the 1st and 2nd Firearm Deer Hunting Seasons. All counties are open to the Fall Archery Turkey Season.
- Please see table below for Spring 2022 dates and limits as they vary by season and zone.
Illinois Deer Hunting 2021-2022 Season Dates and Limits
| Season | Dates | Limits | Details |
| Archery (Counties with a firearm season and west of Route 47 in Kane County) | Oct 1 – Nov 18 Nov 22 – Dec 1 Dec 6 – Jan 16 2022 | One deer per archery permit | **See footnote below |
| Archery (Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane [east of route 47] Counties) | Oct 1 – Jan 16 2022 | One deer per archery permit | **See footnote below |
| Firearm (Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Handgun) | Nov 19 – 21 Dec 2-5 | One deer per firearm permit | **See footnote below |
| Muzzleloader | Dec 10 – 12 | One deer per muzzleloader permit | **See footnote below |
| Special CWD 30 Dec 2021 – 2 Jan 2022 | Dec 30 – Jan 2 2022 Jan 14 – 16 2022 | One deer per valid permit | Antlered deer limit in footnote below does not apply to this season. See Special CWD Deer Hunting section for open counties. |
| Late Winter Antlerless (Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Handgun) | Dec 30 – Jan 2 2022 Jan 14 – 16 2022 | One antlerless deer per permit | Counties open during this season will be posted online in October. |
| Youth Firearm | Oct 9 – 11 | One deer | **See footnote below |
opening dates are within the same 12-month period that begins July 1.
Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset
Public land sites open to late- winter deer seasons require a site- specific permit
Be sure to check with the the wildlife commission to confirm.
Illinois Turkey Season Dates and Limits 2021 – 2022
| Season | Dates | Limit | Details |
| Fall (shotgun) | Oct 23 – 31 | One either-sex turkey per permit, maximum of 2 Fall Turkey Shotgun permits | See map of fall firearm turkey hunting below. |
| Fall (archery) | Oct 1 – Jan 16 2022 | One either-sex turkey per permit, maximum of 2 Fall Turkey Archery permits | Season open in all counties, statewide. Closed during firearm deer season in counties open to firearm deer hunting. |
| Spring (shotgun and archery) | Segment | North Dates | South Dates |
| 1 | Apr 11 – 15 2022 | Apr 4 – 8 2022 | |
| 2 | Apr 16 – 21 2022 | Apr 9 – 14 2022 | |
| 3 | Apr 22 – 27 2022 | Apr 15 – 20 2022 | |
| 4 | Apr 24 – May 4 2022 | Apr 21 – 27 2022 | |
| 5 | May 5 – 12 2022 | Apr 28 – May 5 2022 |
Spring Turkey Limit: One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit, maximum of 3 Spring permits
Spring Turkey Additional Regulations: See map of turkey hunting zones for specific season segments in each zone.
Illinois Hunting License Info
Purchase an Illinois specific license here:
https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/license.php?action=custlkup
| Resident/ Nonresident | License | Cost |
| Resident | Hunting | $12.50 |
| Resident | Lifetime Hunting | $360.00 |
| Resident | Lifetime Sportsman’s Combo Hunting/Fishing License | $765.00 |
| Resident | Sportsmen’s Combo Hunting/ Fishing License | $26.25 |
Permits
| Resident/ Nonresident | Permit | Fee |
| Resident | Landowner application | 0.00 |
| Nonresident | Landowner Deer Firearm Permit Application | $175.00 |
| Resident | Deer Firearm lottery Permit Application (Either Sex) | $25.00 |
| Resident | Deer Firearm Lottery Permit Application (Antlerless Only) | $17.50 |
| Resident | Deer Muzzleloader Lottery Permit Application (Either Sex & Antlerless Only) | $42.50 |
| Resident | Deer Archery OTC Permit (Antlerless Only) | $15.50 |
IL Hunting Lottery Application Dates
| Permit | Application Date |
| 1st Lottery (firearm deer drawing) | March 10- April 30, 2020 |
| 2nd Lottery | May 1- June 30, 2020 |
| 3rd Lottery | July 1- August 21, 2020 |
Illinois Hunting news
Hunting is an important wildlife management tool that maintains the health and abundance of game species and the balance of natural resources. There are many designated public hunting areas and a site specific permit might be required to hunt as well.
Find a Hunting Guide
Official Site and Links
Illinois State Regulatory Site:
https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/hunting/Pages/GettingStarted.aspx
Illinois State Regulatory
PDF: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/conservation/wildlife/Pages/default.aspx
License Purchasing: https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/license.php?action=custlkup