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Illinois Spring Turkey Zones, North 66 and South 34 Counties
County lists for the North and South spring zones from 17 Ill. Adm. Code 710.10 (unofficial LII mirror), five segments by zone, closed counties and permit sales.
Photo: CheepShot (CC BY 2.0)
Spring turkey zones in Illinois
Spring turkey hunting is zoned by county: 66 counties form the North Zone, 34 counties form the South Zone, and Cook and DuPage are closed. The South Zone starts April 5, 2027 and the North Zone April 12, and each runs five segments, so a hunter buys a county permit for one segment and can hold up to three. The county lists below come from 17 Ill. Adm. Code 710.10 as printed on the Cornell LII mirror; that mirror is unofficial and may lag IDNR rule changes, so compare the lists with the Digest. Fall gun turkey counties are shown only on a Digest map and no list is printed here.
From 17 Ill. Adm. Code 710 (LII mirror, unofficial) and Digest turkey pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Spring turkey segments and dates by zone
| Segment | South Zone dates | North Zone dates |
|---|---|---|
| Spring segment 1 |
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| Spring segment 2 |
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| Spring segment 3 |
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| Spring segment 4 |
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| Spring segment 5 |
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| Youth weekends |
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Tom, jake or bearded hen only. County-specific permit valid for one segment; maximum 3 spring permits per hunter. Shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 pm Calling restricted from March 22 until the day before the season. No shooting turkeys in trees before 7 am
Calling in the field is banned from March 15 in the South Zone and March 22 in the North Zone until the day before each season, except during the youth hunts; owl and crow locator calls are allowed.
From Digest turkey pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
County lists for the North and South zones
From 17 Ill. Adm. Code 710 (LII mirror, unofficial) (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Turkey permit sales and the fall seasons
| Sale | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Spring first (residents only) | October 6, 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
| Spring second | December 11, 2026 | January 11, 2027 |
| Spring third | January 22, 2027 | February 9, 2027 |
| Spring over-the-counter (vendors) | March 9, 2027 | as available |
| Spring special hunt area (internet only) | January 19, 2027 | February 15, 2027 |
| Fall gun first (residents only) | May 5, 2026 | July 6, 2026 |
| Fall gun second | July 17, 2026 | August 24, 2026 |
| Fall gun over-the-counter | September 21, 2026 | as available |
Fall gun turkey runs October 24 to November 1 in the counties on a Digest map; fall archery runs October 1, 2026 to January 17, 2027 over the counter and closes during firearm deer seasons in open counties. Both fall seasons are either-sex with a limit of 2 permits.
From Digest turkey permit dates and Digest fall turkey map note (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Eastern wild turkey gobblerPhoto: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0)
Wild turkeys feeding in a grassy fieldPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
Wild turkey gobbler strutting with tail fannedPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
Answers about the spring turkey zones
Which turkey zone is my county in?
Find it in the county table above, which follows 17 Ill. Adm. Code 710.10 on an unofficial mirror; every county page also shows its zone (66 North, 34 South).
Why is the source called unofficial?
The Illinois Administrative Code on ilga.gov was not reachable, so the lists come from the Cornell LII copy, which may not reflect the latest IDNR rule.
When does spring turkey season start?
April 5, 2027 in the South Zone and April 12, 2027 in the North Zone, with youth weekends March 27 to 28 and April 3 to 4.
How many segments are there?
Five in each zone, about a week apart; a county permit is valid for one segment and a hunter may hold up to 3 spring permits.
Are Cook and DuPage open to turkey?
No, both counties are closed to spring turkey in the code list.
Where is fall gun turkey open?
In the counties on a map in the Digest; no county list is printed, so none is shown here.
How many turkeys were taken in spring 2026?
18,502 on regular permits and 20,821 counting youth.
When must I register a turkey?
By 10 pm the same day, by phone or online.
Can I call turkeys before the season?
Not in the field from March 15 in the South Zone or March 22 in the North Zone until the day before the season, except in the youth hunts.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).