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Illinois county hunting, 2026-27
Hardin County Hunt Planner
From the first bow day on October 1 to the last January antlerless weekend, this Hardin County page lays out dates, permits, zones, land and local services.
Photo: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
Hardin County in brief
Among the five IDNR public land regions, Hardin County falls in the south one, which covers the Shawnee Hills, the Ohio and Wabash river counties and the Cache and Kaskaskia bottoms. The 2024 estimate of 3,550 residents (2.8% down from the 2020 base of 3,651) tells you how busy the roads around Elizabethtown get on opening weekend. At 177 square miles it is the 101st biggest county in the state, so scouting by road takes planning.
The county touches Gallatin County, Pope County and Saline County and, over the state line, Crittenden County (KY), Livingston County (KY) and Union County (KY); licenses bought elsewhere do not carry over. On the IDNR wildlife districts map the county belongs to Adam Phillips's Phillips district.
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 Hardin County
Hardin County firearm status and leftover permits
Shotgun hunters get two statewide weekends here, November 20 to November 22, 2026 and December 3 to December 6, 2026, plus a muzzleloader weekend on December 11 to December 13, 2026. Archery in Hardin County follows the statewide split, three segments between October 1 and January 17. The permit inquiry system shows 731 either-sex and 359 antlerless firearm permits left in Hardin County when the third lottery closed.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 731 | 359 | 1,090 |
| Muzzleloader | 121 | 40 | 161 |
The leftover ranking has Hardin 39th of 99; low numbers mean the permits sold out faster elsewhere. Black-powder hunters can pick from 121 either-sex and 40 antlerless leftovers. Leftover county permits go on sale over the counter starting October 20, 2026, until they run out, and counts change as they sell. Special CWD deer do not count against the two-antlered-deer yearly limit that applies to all other seasons.
What governs deer in Hardin County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 1,090 |
| 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, late winter and gobblers in Hardin County
Of 102 counties, 28 have confirmed CWD, and Hardin is not among them as of June 2026. Once the muzzleloader weekend ends, the regular deer calendar is over here except for archery. IDNR puts Hardin County in the South Zone, so segment one begins April 5 and segment five ends May 6, 2027. Spring turkey hours end at 1 p.m., and mandatory harvest reporting is due by 10 p.m. that evening.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| 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 |
Sampling sites around Hardin County
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
Each site is self-serve; hunters fill out a submission card and leave adult deer heads.
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.
County harvest numbers, Hardin County
902 deer made the 2025-26 county harvest total here, a split of 485 male and 417 female deer. Among 102 counties it places 75th by total deer, or 5.1 per square mile. Compared with the state total of 174,006, the county share is 0.5%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 388 | 43% |
| Firearm | 479 | 53% |
| Muzzleloader | 15 | 2% |
| Youth | 20 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Looking back to 2016, the average of 1,243 puts the newest season below normal. 479 deer, 53% of the total, came in the firearm category, more than any other.
We found no county-level spring turkey number for Hardin County.
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.
Hardin County permits and windows by species
Duck, goose and upland rows name the zone because IDNR draws those lines along roads rather than county borders, so find out which side of the road Hardin County sits on.
| Quarry | Weapon | Needs | Applies to | Start | Stop | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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.
Hunting areas listed inside Hardin County
IDNR and federal fact sheets name 3 places to hunt here, together close to 455,895 acres. Biggest by acres is Shawnee National Forest (286,498 acres, national forest).
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee National Forest | National forest | 286,498 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Hidden Springs Ranger District | Ranger district | 169,222 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Cave in Rock State Park Kaegi Tract | State park | 175 | Yes | 16 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
The county also appears in Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP).
Many Illinois sites run permit hunts through the quota lottery, and each site rules on hunter orange, hours and weapons.
Hunting sites over the Hardin line
The land data marks Collier Limestone Glade and Rose Hotel as closed to hunters.
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.
Hardin County towns and services
Towns to stage from: Rosiclare, Elizabethtown and Cave-In-Rock, the biggest of the county's 3 places.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Rosiclare | City | 955 |
| Elizabethtown | Village | 223 |
| Cave-In-Rock | Village | 221 |
The service data holds nothing inside Hardin County, so these listings are drive-in options from next door.
Agency contacts
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.
Hardin County: club benches and clay fields
Mermet Lake (IDNR site) heads this short list for Hardin County, about 36 miles from the county centre.
Among ranges that list rifles, Massac Gun & Bow Club is the short trip, about 37 miles from the middle of Hardin County.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Hardin County sunrise and legal hours
Hunters in Hardin County must be done by 1 p.m. in the spring turkey season, even though deer hunters keep shooting light until after dark.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Deer day | Goose day | Turkey day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:47 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:55 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:24 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:38 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 6:57 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:04 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:34 a.m. | 7:18 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 6:04 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.
Hardin County hunting kit
Chosen to match the game on this page.
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Hang-on stand
Cornfield edges give little cover, so most hunters climb into a hardwood draw in Illinois.
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)
Sunset over the Mississippi River with the St. Louis skyline, the Gateway Arch and the Eads BridgePhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Hardin County FAQ
What stamps do I need for ducks in Hardin County?
The State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp ($15.00) and the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp ($25.00), plus the license and habitat stamp.
What are deer hunting hours in Hardin County on opening day?
6:08 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. on November 20, worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time.
Are firearm deer permits still available in Hardin County?
Yes, as of November 13, 2026 IDNR showed 1,090 firearm permits left after Lottery 3 (731 either-sex, 359 antlerless), sold over the counter from October 20 until gone.
Is there a gun shop in Hardin County?
None is listed in Hardin County; nearby counties have shops in our directory.
What permit covers winter deer hunting in Hardin County?
None applies, because the county has no winter antlerless season.
Do I have to get my deer tested for CWD in Hardin County?
Testing is voluntary at IDNR head drop-off stations; Hardin does not require a check station visit.
What is the biggest public hunting area in Hardin County?
Shawnee National Forest, about 286,498 acres of national forest.
What time does turkey hunting stop in Hardin County?
At 1 p.m. each day in spring; shooting starts one-half hour before sunrise.
How do I report a deer harvested in Hardin County?
By phone at 1-866-452-4325 or online at exploremoreil.com by 10 p.m. the day of harvest, or the next day if the deer is not recovered by then.
What share of the Illinois deer harvest comes from Hardin?
0.5% of the 174,006 deer reported statewide for 2025-26.
Are there discounts on a Hardin hunting license?
Seniors 65 to 74 pay $6.00 and those 75 or older $1.00; veterans $6.00.
Can I use a mineral lick for deer in Hardin County?
Store-bought deer baits and attractants are illegal at any time in Illinois except for licensed captive cervid owners.
What do the sources say about Sunday hunting in Hardin County?
The 2026-27 Digest and the IDNR pages we read contain no statement on Sunday hunting, so we cannot say it is allowed or banned.
Is hunter orange required in Hardin County?
In firearm deer seasons in counties open to firearm hunting: cap and upper garment of solid blaze orange or pink, 400 square inches minimum.
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.