Illinois Hunting Seasons, 2023-2024
During Illinois hunting seasons, you’ll find a variety of standard game animals, including deer, turkey, rabbit and other small game.
Illinois offers online hunting permit registration and purchase, and permits are available for state residents and nonresidents. Permits are free of charge for some small game hunts.
Illinois Deer Seasons
Archery | Oct. 1-Jan. 14** |
Muzzleloader | Nov. 17-19 Nov. 30-Dec. 3 Dec. 8-10 |
Firearms | Nov. 17-19 Nov. 30-Dec. 3 |
Youth Firearms Hunt | Oct. 7-9 |
Special CWD | Dec. 28-31 Jan. 12-14 |
Late-Winter Anterless (Firearms) | Dec. 28-31 Jan. 12-14 |
**Illinois hunting seasons may vary by region; dates may differ in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane counties. For more information, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
Illinois Wild Turkey Seasons
Fall Firearms | Oct. 21-29 |
Fall Archery | Oct. 1-Jan. 14 |
Spring General Season | Apr. 8-May 16** |
Spring Youth Hunt | March 30-31 April 6-7 |
Fall archery season is closed during deer firearms season for hunter safety.
**Spring turkey hunting seasons are assigned by region; Illinois hunters may live in the state’s “North” or “South” zones. To find out where your hunting zone may be, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.
Illinois Small Game Seasons
Bobwhite Quail | Nov. 4-Jan. 15** |
Hungarian Partridge | Nov. 4-Jan. 15** |
Rabbit | Nov. 4-Feb. 15 |
Gray and Fox Squirrel | Aug. 1-Feb. 15 (closed during deer firearms seasons) |
Crow | Oct. 28-Feb. 28 |
**Season dates vary by zone. Many small game hunting seasons are temporarily suspended during deer firearms season for hunter safety.
The state of Illinois has strict firearms laws that may affect transportation of hunting guns and ammunition within the state. For additional information about gun transportation and storage laws during hunting season, read through the Illinois State Police “Commonly Asked Questions” brochure.
Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for Illinois hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. For more information on obtaining licenses, permits and regulations, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website.