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2026-27 county guide
Clinton County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Clinton County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Clinton County overview
IDNR files Clinton County under its West Central region, a part of the state that takes in the Illinois and Mississippi river bottoms, the Pike County hills and the Metro East. Census estimates put the county at 37,087 people in 2024 (0.5% up from the 2020 base of 36,903), with the courthouse in Carlyle. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 474 square miles, which puts it 58th statewide.
Adjoining counties: Bond County, Fayette County, Madison County, Marion County, St. Clair County and Washington County; none lies across a state line. Ben Funk covers Clinton County as the Funk district wildlife biologist.
County facts from the Census Bureau (2024 estimates and Gazetteer), IDNR wildlife districts and the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); key dates for this county, checked November 13, 2026.
; biologist contacts https://wildlifeillinois.org/idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/){kind=link}
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Clinton County
What deer hunters need in Clinton County
Gun season in Clinton County comes in two pieces, November 20 to November 22, 2026 followed by December 3 to December 6, 2026. The archery calendar has three pieces here, ending November 19, December 2 and January 17 respectively. Hunters hoping for a gun permit in Clinton County found 679 left over: 330 either-sex, 349 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 330 | 349 | 679 |
| Muzzleloader | 21 | 73 | 94 |
A rank of 55th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 21 either-sex and 73 antlerless. Check the IDNR permit inquiry page before you travel, because the over-the-counter leftovers sell down daily after October 20. The antlered limit is two per year across every season but Special CWD; one deer goes with each permit.
Quick deer rules for Clinton County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 679 |
| Hunter orange | Gun seasons |
| Bait or feed deer | Illegal |
| Antlered limit | Two per year |
| Harvest report | By 10 p.m. |
Firearm and archery rules from the 2026-27 Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); Restricted Archery Zone from IDNR; leftover permits from the IDNR deer permit inquiry system (counts after Lottery 3, checked November 13, 2026); hunter orange from the Digest; baiting from the Digest.
CWD, winter hunts and turkey zone in Clinton County
No CWD positive is on record for Clinton County in the IDNR confirmed county list of 28 counties, so the extra disease rules do not apply here. Late-winter permits apply in Clinton County on private ground; public land follows site rules. The South Zone sets the spring turkey dates here: April 5 to May 6, 2027 in five segments. Before the first segment comes the youth season, split into two weekends in late March and early April.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | Yes |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | South |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
| Segment | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring turkey 1 | Apr 5, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 2 | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 15, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 3 | Apr 16, 2027 | Apr 21, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 4 | Apr 22, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 5 | Apr 29, 2027 | May 6, 2027 |
| Youth weekends | Mar 27, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 |
Where Clinton County hunters can leave a head
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
Heads from adult deer go in, a card goes with each, and IDNR posts results later.
From the 2026-27 Digest CWD section, confirmed county list, Special CWD information, late-winter information, check station counties, the CWD annual report and 17 IAC 710.10 (LII mirror, unofficial) (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); checked November 13, 2026.
Clinton County harvest history
IDNR reports 1,748 deer harvested in Clinton County in the 2025-26 seasons, 970 bucks and 778 does. That is the 40th highest of 102 counties, and about 3.7 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 1.0%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 782 | 45% |
| Firearm | 875 | 50% |
| Muzzleloader | 16 | 1% |
| Youth | 75 | 4% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 1,351, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, firearm led with 875 deer, 50% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 103 birds from the county, with 25.9% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 28; youth hunters took 37.
IDNR county deer harvest report (harvest by county), spring turkey county tables (turkey harvest by county) and the CWD annual report (Illinois Department of Natural Resources). Figures are county totals as reported, not public-land results; checked November 13, 2026.
Clinton seasons by species
Spring turkey rows carry the 2027 dates IDNR already printed, with the South Zone opening a week before the North.
| Game | Season | Permit | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Firearm | Deer permit | Youth counties | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 12, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – first season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Nov 20, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – second season | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 3, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Deer permit | Firearm counties | Dec 11, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late-Winter Antlerless | Late-winter permit | Late-winter counties | Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Archery turkey permit | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall shotgun | Turkey permit | Map counties | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth | Turkey permit | Statewide | Mar 27, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 1 | Turkey permit | South Zone | Apr 5, 2027 | Apr 9, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 2 | Turkey permit | South Zone | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 3 | Turkey permit | South Zone | Apr 16, 2027 | Apr 21, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 4 | Turkey permit | South Zone | Apr 22, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 5 | Turkey permit | South Zone | Apr 29, 2027 | May 6, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 8, 2027 | |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | License | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | License | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Gray and fox squirrel | Squirrel | License | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Waterfowl stamps | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Scaup | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Youth waterfowl | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | North and Central Zones | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | HIP and license | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | HIP and license | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | HIP and license | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | HIP and license | North Zone | Jan 27, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | HIP and license | Central and South Zones | Feb 1, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | North Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Waterfowl stamps | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | HIP and license | All zones | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Rails | Rails | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wilson's snipe | Snipe | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | HIP and license | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 9, 2027 | |
| American woodcock | Woodcock | HIP and license | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| American crow | Crow | License | Statewide | Oct 28, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | License | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | License | Statewide (except closed zone) | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodchuck | Hunting | License | Statewide | Jun 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Open public land in and near Clinton County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 3 public hunting areas in Clinton County, with 11,567 acres between them. At 9,868 acres, Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlyle Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 9,868 | Yes | 4,999 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Eldon Hazlet | State park | 1,699 | Yes | 417 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, geese |
| Carlyle Lake (Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | No | — | — |
Private-land access programs listed for the county: IDNR Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program (CPHA sites), Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP).
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Sites just outside Clinton County
Do not count on Carlyle Dam West Resort Area and South Shore; IDNR and federal sources show them closed to hunting.
From Hunt Illinois site fact sheets, the 2025-26 Public Hunting Areas Report and IDNR and FWS pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); acres are fact-sheet huntable acres, not polygon areas; checked November 13, 2026.
Towns, shops and contacts around Clinton County
The 2024 estimates rank Breese, Carlyle and Trenton first among the county's 12 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Breese | City | 4,629 |
| Carlyle | City | 3,208 |
| Trenton | City | 2,656 |
| Aviston | Village | 2,434 |
| Germantown | Village | 1,387 |
| Albers | Village | 1,123 |
| Beckemeyer | Village | 923 |
| Bartelso | Village | 639 |
| Damiansville | Village | 558 |
| St. Rose | Village | 466 |
| Hoffman | Village | 431 |
| Huey | Village | 162 |
Listings for Clinton County: 12, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Reach IDNR from Clinton County
Towns and population from the Census Bureau (2024); services from IDNR outfitter and CWD station lists, Hunters Feeding Illinois and Yellow Pages listings (not individually verified); biologist from the IDNR district biologist page; checked November 13, 2026.
Where Clinton County hunters confirm a rifle or slug zero
Clinton County has 1 range on file.
KVS Club in Bond County is the nearest range listing a rifle line, roughly 14 miles away.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Clock times for Clinton County hunters
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Clinton County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:52 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:01 a.m. | 6:28 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:30 a.m. | 4:53 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:45 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:05 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:12 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:15 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:38 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 13, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Clinton County hunting kit
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Orange sunset over Horseshoe Lake with the St. Louis skyline beyondPhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Snow on the bank of the Ohio River at Locks and Dam 53 near Grand ChainPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Hunting Clinton County, answered
What is the biggest public hunting area in Clinton County?
Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, about 9,868 acres of fish and wildlife area.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Clinton County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 970 male and 778 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in Clinton County?
Attach the temporary harvest tag at once; for antlered deer attach both tags if the head or antlers will be separated from the body.
Is feeding deer legal in Clinton County?
Not at any time: Illinois bans feeding deer and hunting over bait, including store-bought attractants.
Can nonresidents hunt in Clinton County?
Yes, with a nonresident license ($57.00 base price) and the permits for what they hunt; Lottery 1 is for residents only.
Is there an apprentice license for Clinton County?
Yes, the Hunting Apprentice license ($7.00) needs no course but requires supervision by a licensed hunter 21 or older.
Do Sunday hunting rules differ by county in Clinton County?
The Digest mentions Sundays only in season-date wording, and it contains no county Sunday rule.
How long is the legal day for deer hunting in Clinton County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:15 a.m. to 5:13 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Clinton County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
How many hunting businesses are in Clinton County?
Our directory lists 12 within the county and more nearby.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Clinton County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 679 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Clinton County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area in , about 52 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Clinton County?
Late-winter and Special CWD hunting run December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17; archery continues to January 17.
How many turkey segments does Clinton County get?
Five regular segments in the South Zone, beginning April 5, plus youth weekends.
From the 2026-27 Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), hunter orange, baiting, Sunday statement, harvest reporting, CWD rules, license fees and the county data above. Checked November 13, 2026.