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County seat: Woodstock
Hunting in McHenry County
McHenry County rules in one place: open firearm deer, CWD confirmed, north turkey zone and a 1,139 deer harvest to measure against.
Photo: CheepShot (CC BY 2.0)
Start here for McHenry County
McHenry County belongs to the Northeast region on IDNR public land fact sheets, a stretch of Illinois made up of the Chicago region, the Kankakee River country and the Fox and Des Plaines valleys. County business runs from Woodstock; the 2024 population estimate is 315,959, 1.8% up from the 2020 base of 310,289. Its 603 square miles of land, roughly 386,174 acres, rank 34th among Illinois counties by area.
Border counties are Boone County, Cook County, DeKalb County, Kane County and Lake County; the state boundary brings in Kenosha County (WI) and Walworth County (WI). Questions about habitat or local deer numbers go to Stefanie Fitzsimons, the district biologist for the Fitzsimons area.
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 McHenry County
McHenry County deer permits and firearm rules
IDNR lists McHenry County among the firearm counties, which means the November weekend and the December four-day season both apply. Expect archery windows of October 1 to November 19, November 23 to December 2 and December 7 to January 17 in McHenry County. 3,134 firearm permits remained here after the final lottery round, made up of 2,029 either-sex and 1,105 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 2,029 | 1,105 | 3,134 |
| Muzzleloader | 371 | 136 | 507 |
Counted against the other 98 firearm counties, the leftover total puts McHenry at number 8. Muzzleloader permits left: 371 either-sex and 136 antlerless, 507 together. We call these leftovers rather than quotas, since the first-round county allocations are not in the sources we could read. Illinois caps antlered deer at two a year per hunter, adding up youth, bow, muzzleloader and gun harvests, and lets Special CWD deer fall outside that count.
McHenry County deer checklist
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Required |
| Leftover permits | 3,134 |
| 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.
McHenry County CWD status and turkey zone
CWD is confirmed in McHenry County, a status shared by 27 other counties. Through June 2026 the count of positives for the county stood at 387; sampling that year covered 444 adult deer, of which 68 were positive. A firearm check station is required for deer taken in McHenry County, open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is located at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 Brandenburg Rd, Ingleside, IL 60041. IDNR runs two Special CWD weekends in McHenry County, the second a short one that ends January 17.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | Yes |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
The county is in the North Zone for spring turkey, where the five segments run from April 12 to May 13, 2027. Young hunters get two weekends ahead of everyone else, and every spring bird has to be reported by 10 p.m.
| Segment | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring turkey 1 | Apr 12, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 2 | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 22, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 3 | Apr 23, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 4 | Apr 29, 2027 | May 5, 2027 |
| Spring turkey 5 | May 6, 2027 | May 13, 2027 |
| Youth weekends | Mar 27, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 |
Closest CWD sampling sites
Marengo Ride Conservation District…
Moraine Hills State Park
Bring the head, a completed card and your permit number if the site asks.
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.
Deer and turkey totals for McHenry County
The county deer harvest report for 2025-26 lists 1,139 deer for McHenry: 743 male and 396 female. Only 66 counties reported more deer, and the density works out near 1.9 per square mile. The county supplied 0.7% of the 174,006 deer taken statewide that year.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 774 | 68% |
| Firearm | 263 | 23% |
| Muzzleloader | 13 | 1% |
| Youth | 4 | 0% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 85 | 7% |
Long-run average 965; this year the harvest ran above that mark. The largest slice of the harvest came in the archery category: 774 deer.
County permits produced 161 spring turkeys in 2026 at a 32.5% success rate. Early season matters: 36 birds in segment one, 12 in the youth hunt. Special CWD days added 85 deer to the 2025-26 county total.
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.
The McHenry hunting year row by row
McHenry County has its own deer permit counts, so the Deer rows below assume you hold a county permit or an archery permit, while the other species follow statewide dates.
| Species | Hunt | Paperwork | Area | Opening day | Final day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Special CWD | CWD permit | CWD 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 | North Zone | Apr 12, 2027 | Apr 16, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 2 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 17, 2027 | Apr 22, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 3 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 23, 2027 | Apr 28, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 4 | Turkey permit | North Zone | Apr 29, 2027 | May 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring turkey 5 | Turkey permit | North Zone | May 6, 2027 | May 13, 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.
McHenry IDNR and federal hunting areas
Public hunting in McHenry County means 5 listed sites, a combined 6,205 acres by the fact sheet figures. The largest is Chain O’Lakes State Park, a state park of 2,500 acres.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (Illinois part) | Wildlife refuge | 569 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, furbearers |
| Chain O’Lakes | State park | 2,500 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Moraine Hills | State park | 2,000 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, furbearers |
| Volo Bog | Natural area | 1,000 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, furbearers |
| Black Crown Marsh | Natural area | 136 | Yes | 110 | ducks |
Access rules differ by site, and the quota hunt column below flags where permits are drawn.
Public areas a short drive from McHenry
Closed rows in the data for McHenry County include Spring Grove Fish Hatchery, Lake in the Hills Fen and Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve John C. Wilson Woods.
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.
Businesses and agency contacts for McHenry County
The largest places in McHenry County by the 2024 Census estimate are Crystal Lake, Algonquin and McHenry, and 40 incorporated or census-designated places lie inside the county.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Lake | City | 41,513 |
| Algonquin | Village | 30,539 |
| McHenry | City | 28,825 |
| Lake in the Hills | Village | 28,706 |
| Huntley | Village | 28,495 |
| Woodstock | City | 25,892 |
| Cary | Village | 18,031 |
| Harvard | City | 9,408 |
| Island Lake | Village | 8,066 |
| Marengo | City | 7,699 |
| Lakemoor | Village | 6,451 |
| Johnsburg | Village | 6,428 |
We list 16 businesses in McHenry County and the closest from adjoining counties after them.
IDNR staff covering McHenry 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.
Zeroing a slug gun in McHenry County
McHenry County has 11 ranges on file.
| Where to shoot | Town | Guns or bows | Gate rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5 Ranges Marengo outdoor range | Marengo | – | Access not stated |
| Guns-N-Such indoor range | McHenry | – | Access not stated |
| McHenry Shooting Sports gun club | Crystal Lake | – | Access not stated |
| NorthShore Sports Crystal Lake indoor range | Crystal Lake | – | Access not stated |
| Second Amendment Sports indoor range | McHenry | – | Access not stated |
Dates in this county
| Day and event | Discipline | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 | Turkey shoot | Match page |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Match | Squad up |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
McHenry County dawn and dusk on season dates
Teal run from sunrise to sunset in September; every other waterfowl day starts a half hour before sunrise.
| When | Event | First sun | Last sun | Deer legal | Duck legal | Turkey legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:49 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 6:22 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:22 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:34 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:50 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:12 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:22 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:19 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:24 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:23 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:19 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 5:49 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.
Load the truck for McHenry County
Picked for cornfields, creek bottoms and river backwaters; nothing loads until you tap.
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Chest waders
Illinois River backwaters and flooded corn run knee to waist deep in Illinois.
Cormorants roosting in a tree on the Fox River near the McHenry damPhoto: Chauncey (CC BY 2.0)
Lost Kame marsh among rolling kames at Glacial Park in McHenry CountyPhoto: Tina Shaw (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Sunset over the Mississippi River with the St. Louis skyline, the Gateway Arch and the Eads BridgePhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Common McHenry hunting questions
When does goose season start near McHenry County?
Canada goose and other goose seasons follow zone calendars and run into January and, for light geese, a Conservation Order to April 30.
What time can I start deer hunting in McHenry County?
One-half hour before sunrise. On November 20, 2026 sunrise near McHenry is 6:50 a.m., so legal shooting light starts 6:20 a.m. and ends 4:59 p.m..
Is McHenry County hard to draw a deer permit for?
The county ranks 8th of 99 for leftover permits (3,134 firearm permits), so it is easier than the typical county to find a permit after the lotteries.
Who do I call with a wildlife question in McHenry County?
Stefanie Fitzsimons, the IDNR district biologist, at (815) 675-2386 ext. 215.
Can I hunt antlerless deer after the gun seasons in McHenry County?
Yes, through the late-winter or Special CWD hunts in late December and January.
Is McHenry on the CWD confirmed county list?
It is. IDNR counts 28 confirmed counties and McHenry is among them.
What is the biggest public hunting area in McHenry County?
Chain O’Lakes State Park, about 2,500 acres of state park.
When does turkey season end in McHenry County?
The fifth segment closes May 13, 2027.
When is the deadline to report a deer or turkey in McHenry County?
Deer must be reported by 10 p.m. the day of harvest, and spring turkeys also by 10 p.m.
How does the McHenry County deer harvest compare with the rest of Illinois?
It is 0.7% of the 174,006 deer taken statewide, 67th among counties.
Do I need a habitat stamp to hunt in McHenry County?
Yes, the State Habitat Stamp costs $5.00 and is required with a hunting license, with a free version for super seniors.
What counts as bait for deer in McHenry County?
Any feed, mineral or store-bought attractant placed to draw deer, and the area stays baited for 10 days afterward.
What days of the week can I hunt in McHenry County?
Season dates are published as calendar ranges; the Digest states no weekday restriction that we could find, so confirm with IDNR for Sundays.
How long is a hunter safety card good for?
Illinois hunter safety certificates are valid for life.
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.