Deer Oct 1–Jan 18. Turkey Oct 1–May 8.
Illinois hunting seasons cover 665 season dates statewide for White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Waterfowl and more. Most seasons are open to any licensed hunter within the posted dates. Use the tables below for exact opening and closing dates by species and zone.
Season data sourced from the Illinois wildlife agency. Always verify dates and regulations on the official site before hunting—regulations can change during the season.
| Zone | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County 1 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 1 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 1 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 10 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 10 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 10 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 100 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 100 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 100 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 101 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 101 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 101 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 102 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 102 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 102 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 11 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 11 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 11 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 12 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 12 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 12 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
| County 13 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 13 | Rifle | Nov 21 — Dec 7 | — | — |
| County 13 | Muzzleloader | Dec 12 — Dec 14 | — | — |
+ 315 more Deer seasons
| Zone | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County 1 | Shotgun | Apr 7 — May 8 | — | — |
| County 1 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 1 | Shotgun | Oct 18 — Oct 26 | — | — |
| County 10 | Shotgun | Apr 7 — May 8 | — | — |
| County 10 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
| County 10 | Shotgun | Oct 18 — Oct 26 | — | — |
| County 100 | Shotgun | Apr 7 — May 8 | — | — |
| County 100 | Archery | Oct 1 — Jan 18 | — | — |
+ 301 more Turkey seasons
| Zone | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Zone | Rifle | Nov 10 — Feb 15 | — | — |
| Zone | Weapon | Season | Harvest | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Furbearer Zone | Rifle | Nov 10 — Feb 15 | — | — |
| South Furbearer Zone | Rifle | Nov 10 — Feb 15 | — | — |
Illinois hunting season currently spans Oct 1 to Jan 18 for Deer, with other species opening at different times. Dates vary by zone and weapon. This page lists 665 Illinois season dates.
Illinois offers hunting for 10 species, including White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Waterfowl and more. Each species has its own season dates, weapon rules and bag limits.
State Resource
Always verify season dates and regulations with the official state wildlife agency:
See Zone boundaries, public land, and walk-in access areas for Illinois on our interactive hunting map.
Also see Illinois public land, license, and regulations.