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Tallgrass prairie · 2026-27
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Hunting Rules and Seasons
National tallgrass prairie in Will County: 17,000 acres, 4 seasons open.
Hunting gear
Photo: Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Parking, trailheads and gates near Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
- Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie @ South Chicago RoadParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Iron Bridge TrailheadTrailhead · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie Iron Bridge trailheadParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Explosives Road TrailheadTrailhead · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: owner, acreage and counties
Hunters find Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a national tallgrass prairie managed by the Forest Service, in our public land list. A state license and IDNR permit cover the hunting; federal rules cover how you move and where you stand. 17,000 acres is the size printed by the Midewin hunting page. The land lies in Will County, in the IDNR Northeast region. On the IDNR district map, Will County belongs to the Rogus district, staffed by Joe Rogus.
2026-27 deer: archery October 1 – November 20, November 23 – December 2, December 7 – January 17; firearm (no archery) November 20-22 and December 3-6; muzzleloader December 3-6 and December 11-13. Spring 2027 turkey (archery and shotgun): April 12-16, April 17-22, April 23-28, April 29 – May 5, May 6-13.
Forest ServiceManager
17,000Acres
WillCounty
NortheastIDNR region
4 of 4Seasons open here
None listedSite permit
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Open and closed seasons on Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
The fact sheet marks 4 of 4 season lines open at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. By group, the open lines break down as 3 deer and 1 turkey.
| Category | Hunt | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Deer | Deer – Archery | Open here |
| Deer | Deer – Firearm | Open here |
| Deer | Deer – Muzzleloader | Open here |
| Turkey | Turkey – Spring | Open here |
Conditions IDNR lists beside the open seasons:
- Deer – Archery: October 1 – November 20, November 23 – December 2, December 7 – January 17
- Deer – Firearm: November 20-22 and December 3-6 (no archery)
- Deer – Muzzleloader: December 3-6 and December 11-13
- Turkey – Spring: Archery and shotgun, 5 segments April 12 – May 13, 2027
Availability and exceptions from the IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheet (record source); statewide dates in the Digest; checked November 13, 2026.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: access terms and rules
Access terms as published: Hunters no longer register for a zone with each visit (from the fall 2026 deer season); maps of the open areas are available at the Welcome Center. Hunters must follow Forest Service and IDNR laws and regulations. Supervisor's office: 30239 South State Route 53, Wilmington, IL 60481, 815-423-6370.
Keep these statewide basics in mind at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer clothing | 400 square inches orange |
| Ground blinds, firearm season | 400 square inches orange |
| Hunter safety card | Born on or after 1980 |
| Habitat stamp | Required to hunt |
| Baiting or feeding deer | Illegal |
| Sunday hunting | Not stated in sources |
Digest rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); orange rule at IDNR hunter orange page; baiting at IDNR baiting page; Sunday rule: IDNR Sunday page. Site rules from the record source. Checked November 13, 2026.
Will County dates behind Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Rows marked Deer permit need a county lottery win or a leftover permit bought over the counter after October 20.
| Animal | Hunt type | What to buy | Covers | Begins | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Eastern cottontail and swamp 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 (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | North Zone | Oct 24, 2026 | Jan 26, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | Central Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | HIP and license | South Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Conservation Order | HIP and license | North Zone | Jan 27, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | 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 (sora and Virginia) | 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 (groundhog) | 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.
County-level deer and turkey rules near Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Illinois has no hunting units, so Will County is the unit that sets deer permits, CWD rules and turkey zones for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Will County carries a confirmed CWD record and its extra rules.
| County | Firearm season | Leftovers | CWD | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will | Open | 793 | Confirmed | North |
County guide with permit counts and harvest tables: Will County.
County rules from the Digest, IDNR CWD counties and the leftover permit list (IDNR permit page); checked November 13, 2026.
Closed IDNR sites around Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Several IDNR sites close to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie carry no public hunting; do not mistake them for huntable ground.
| Closed place | Kind | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitts Siding Prairie | Natural area | 7 miles | Will |
| Illinois Waterways | IDNR site | 8 miles | Will |
| Briscoe Mounds | IDNR site | 8 miles | Will |
| Channahon | State park | 9 miles | Will |
| Brandon Road Interbasin Project | IDNR site | 9 miles | Will |
| Prairie Bluff | Natural area | 15 miles | Will |
Closed rows are IDNR sites with no Hunt Illinois fact sheet and no hunting flag on the land-use layer; see the full closed list. Checked November 13, 2026.
Nearest towns and an IDNR site for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Elwood, 4 miles off, is the closest town on this site. Joliet is the largest of the five, with 151,837 residents in 2024. Elwood, Lorenzo and Wilmington (Will) list Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie within ten miles. Nearest IDNR listing: Des Plaines Game Propagation Center in Wilmington, 6 miles.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elwood | Will | 2,248 | 4 miles | northwest |
| Wilmington (Will) | Will | 5,629 | 6 miles | southwest |
| Lorenzo | Will | – | 8 miles | west |
| Joliet | Will | 151,837 | 11 miles | north |
| New Lenox | Will | 28,480 | 11 miles | northeast |
Des Plaines Game Propagation Center IDNR site
P K Arms sporting goods
Gibbs Custom Gunsmithing sporting goods
Taxidermy By Jeff Bohdan taxidermy
Don's Taxidermy & Freeze Dryng taxidermy
Fish Specialties Taxidermy taxidermy
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); IDNR sites from the CWD sampling list and the IDNR contact page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 13, 2026.
Mapping the land beside Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Des Plaines Game Propagation Center is the closest neighbour, 6 miles southwest of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie point. The nearest six break down as 2 fish and wildlife areas, 2 natural areas and 1 propagation center.
| Nearby | Type | Acres | County | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Plaines Game Propagation Center | Propagation center | 134 | Will | 6 miles | southwest |
| Des Plaines SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 3,500 | Will | 7 miles | west |
| Vesely/Wilmington Shrub Prairie SNA | Natural area | 305 | Will | 8 miles | southwest |
| Kankakee River State Park | State park | 4,000 | Kankakee | 12 miles | southeast |
| Goose Lake Prairie SNA | Natural area | 6,070 | Grundy | 13 miles | west |
| Heidecke Lake SFWA | Fish and wildlife area | 6,070 | Grundy | 13 miles | west |
Point: USFS EDW Basic Ownership (USDA Forest Service land of Midewin; polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the clock runs at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: legal hours
All of Illinois keeps Central Time, which falls back on November 1, 2026 and returns on March 14, 2027; watch the clock jump in the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie rows.
| Date | Marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks, geese | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:47 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:57 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:30 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:46 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:08 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:15 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:18 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:19 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:28 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.
What to carry onto Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
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Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: ranges within a drive
At 7 miles, Des Plaines (IDNR site) is the closest range to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie; read its access line before going.
From the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
A flock of birds over open grassland at Midewin National Tallgrass PrairiePhoto: Forest Service, USDA (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Yellow prairie wildflowers in bloom at MidewinPhoto: Forest Service, USDA (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: questions and answers
What permits does hunting Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie take?
The records show no site-specific permit at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Statewide licenses, stamps and county permits still apply.
What kinds of hunting happen at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
Game on the list: deer and turkey. Seasons and limits come from the Digest.
Does Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie follow the statewide seasons?
IDNR marks 4 of 4 season lines open. Deer: deer – archery, deer – firearm and deer – muzzleloader. Turkey: turkey – spring. See the table.
How big is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and where is it?
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie: 17,000 acres, Will County. IDNR region: Northeast.
Who manages Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and who do I call?
The Forest Service handles it. The record lists no phone or address. Official page.
How much game came off Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie last season?
No area-level counts exist in the report for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. County totals: Will County.
What town should I use as a base for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
Elwood is nearest, about 4 miles in a straight line. Next: Wilmington (Will) (6 miles) and Lorenzo (8 miles). Elwood hunting page.
Is hunter orange required at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
During firearm deer seasons in open counties, a solid blaze orange or pink cap and an upper outer garment with at least 400 square inches of orange or pink are required. The rule covers counties open to firearm deer. Source.
What do county rules mean for hunting Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
Will County is open to firearm deer. On CWD, chronic wasting disease is confirmed there. Leftover either-sex firearm permits after round 3: 793. Will County page.
What does the Digest say about Sunday hunting at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
Neither the Digest nor the IDNR pages we checked say anything about Sunday hunting. IDNR page.
Which nearby sites are closed to hunting?
6 closed sites lie within 25 miles; Hitts Siding Prairie is the nearest. The page lists each one.
Until what time can I hunt at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie?
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour either side of sunrise and sunset, spring turkey to 1 pm, and ducks and geese to sunset. Site rules can be tighter. Hours for every county.
Confirm these before heading to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Posted signs outrank any map, so confirm boundaries on the ground at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest. Checked November 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Forest Service, Eastern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).