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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
Trip checker

Can I hunt here?

1. When are you hunting?
2. Where are you hunting?

County lookup loads from the active map layer.

or
Use the map Select a county or zone on the map below.
Season map

Illinois deer map

Click a county or zone to see what seasons match that place.

Background
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Select a mapped area for details. Map layers simplify official geography for web use.

3. How are you hunting?

Find your season

Start with all methods, or narrow the answer by method.

Your answer

Choose a date, place, and method.

We will show matching season windows here before you dig into maps or source records.

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.
Technical detail Open source-record archive 12 detailed records with notes and agency links.
Underlying records

Source-record archive

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

Showing records by method. Large states show a preview first; search to narrow the source table.

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
Oct 1, 2026 - Nov 19, 2026
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
Nov 23, 2026 - Dec 2, 2026
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
Dec 7, 2026 - Jan 17, 2027
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
Oct 1, 2026 - Jan 17, 2027
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
Nov 20, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026
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
Dec 3, 2026 - Dec 6, 2026
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
Dec 11, 2026 - Dec 13, 2026
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
Oct 10, 2026 - Oct 12, 2026
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
Dec 31, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
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
Jan 15, 2027 - Jan 17, 2027
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
Dec 31, 2026 - Jan 3, 2027
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
Jan 15, 2027 - Jan 17, 2027
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
Plan the rest of the trip

Outfitters and gear stops in Illinois

Find local help and a practical place to gear up before your Illinois hunt.

View all outfitters
Hunting in Illinois

How to plan a Illinois deer hunt

Start by matching your exact hunt date and legal method to the county, unit, zone, hunt code, or special area that controls the trip. The map is for orientation; the linked agency rules remain the legal source.

Field Honest currently organizes 12 Illinois deer-season records across counties and local areas, permit and hunt-code areas. Use the trip checker above to narrow the list before comparing local outfitters and physical gear stops.

Methods represented Archery, Firearm, Muzzleloader, Youth, Special opportunities

A method label is only a starting point. Weapon rules and hunt-code restrictions may be narrower.

How the state is organized counties and local areas, permit and hunt-code areas

Always match the place named on your license or tag to the current legal description.

Primary official source Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Field Honest source review: August 9, 2026.

Before you leave home

  • Confirm the exact season window, legal method, and harvest restriction.
  • Verify license, tag, draw, hunt-code, and hunter-eligibility requirements.
  • Check the legal boundary, land access, closures, and landowner permission.
  • Review current reporting, transport, and CWD rules where they apply.