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2026-2027

Illinois Deer Hunting Seasons 2026-2027

Illinois combines split archery windows, two firearm seasons and county-based Late Winter and CWD programs.

Last checked: 2026-08-10 Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources 12 season records
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Method Dates Where Action
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, first segment Archery
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 Varies by permit
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, second segment Archery
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 Varies by permit
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, third segment Archery
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 Varies by permit
Archery — Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of SR 47 Archery
Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane County east of State Route 47 Varies by permit
Youth deer hunt Youth
Statewide-issued permit on eligible private land and participating public sites Varies by permit
First firearm deer season Firearm
Open counties and permit areas Varies by permit
Second firearm deer season Firearm
Open counties and permit areas Varies by permit
Muzzleloader-only deer season Muzzleloader
Open counties and permit areas Varies by permit
Late Winter antlerless deer — first segment Special
Selected Late Winter counties Antlerless Only
Late Winter antlerless deer — second segment Special
Selected Late Winter counties Antlerless Only
CWD deer season — first segment Special
Selected CWD counties Varies under CWD Program Rules
CWD deer season — second segment Special
Selected CWD counties Varies under CWD Program Rules

Season data compiled and verified against official state sources. Regulations can change. Confirm current rules before hunting.

? Field Honest summarizes official hunting regulations for convenience. Official agency regulations remain controlling.
Season map

Illinois deer map

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Source detail Open official-source records Detailed notes, harvest classes, eligibility flags, and agency links.
Underlying records

Official-source season details

The quick finder above is the main view. These records keep the supporting geography, harvest notes, and source links together.

Archery

Bow, crossbow, or archery-only windows where listed. 4 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, first segment Varies by permit General hunters
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 county_group

Archery closes during the two firearm deer seasons in this geography.

Official source
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, second segment Varies by permit General hunters
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 county_group

Split season retained around the first firearm season.

Official source
Archery — firearm counties and Kane west of SR 47, third segment Varies by permit General hunters
Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of State Route 47 county_group

Archery remains open during youth, muzzleloader-only, Late Winter and CWD seasons under the official rules.

Official source
Archery — Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of SR 47 Varies by permit General hunters
Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane County east of State Route 47 county_group

Continuous date window for the listed northeastern counties.

Official source

Firearm

General rifle, gun, and firearm framework seasons. 2 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
First firearm deer season Varies by permit General hunters
Open counties and permit areas county_group

County, permit and public-site restrictions apply.

Official source
Second firearm deer season Varies by permit General hunters
Open counties and permit areas county_group

County, permit and public-site restrictions apply.

Official source

Muzzleloader

Muzzleloader-only or late muzzleloader opportunities. 1 season
Season Dates Geography Notes
Muzzleloader-only deer season Varies by permit General hunters
Open counties and permit areas county_group

A muzzleloader permit may also be used with a muzzleloading rifle during the second firearm season under official rules.

Official source

Youth

Youth-only, apprentice, or early youth windows. 1 season
Season Dates Geography Notes
Youth deer hunt Varies by permit Eligible Youth
Statewide-issued permit on eligible private land and participating public sites permit_area

An unfilled youth permit may carry into the regular firearm seasons under the official restrictions; those carryover dates are not separate youth seasons here.

Official source

Special

Antlerless, CWD, urban, holiday, or other special rules. 4 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Late Winter antlerless deer — first segment Antlerless Only General hunters Special rules
Selected Late Winter counties county_group

The 2026-2027 participating-county list was not yet posted on the IDNR program page at the verification date; verify the open-county list before use.

Official source
Late Winter antlerless deer — second segment Antlerless Only General hunters Special rules
Selected Late Winter counties county_group

The 2026-2027 participating-county list was not yet posted on the IDNR program page at the verification date; verify the open-county list before use.

Official source
CWD deer season — first segment Varies under CWD Program Rules General hunters Special rules
Selected CWD counties county_group

The 2026-2027 participating-county list was not yet posted on the IDNR program page at the verification date; verify the open-county list before use.

Official source
CWD deer season — second segment Varies under CWD Program Rules General hunters Special rules
Selected CWD counties county_group

The 2026-2027 participating-county list was not yet posted on the IDNR program page at the verification date; verify the open-county list before use.

Official source