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West Central region
Adams County for Hunters
Plan a Adams County season around its own permit count, its CWD status, the north turkey zone, 4 IDNR sites and the shops near Quincy.
Photo: Ron Cogswell (CC BY 2.0)
Adams County at a glance
On IDNR maps of public hunting areas the county sits in the west central region, alongside the Illinois and Mississippi river bottoms, the Pike County hills and the Metro East. Quincy is the county seat, and the Census Bureau counted 64,109 residents here in 2024, 2.5% down from the 2020 base of 65,736. Size-wise the county places 12th of 102, with 855 square miles of land and 16 of water.
Check each neighbour before driving over a line: Brown County, Hancock County, Pike County and Schuyler County, and in other states Lewis County (MO) and Marion County (MO). The IDNR wildlife biologist for this county is Jake Lux of the Lux district, reachable at (217) 285-2221.
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 Adams County
Adams County deer hunting rules
The county is one of 98 where IDNR opens firearm deer seasons; the gun days are November 20 to November 22, 2026 and December 3 to December 6, 2026. Bowhunters stop for the firearm weekends, with seasons from October 1 to November 19, from November 23 to December 2 and from December 7 to January 17. Once Lottery 3 was done, Adams County held 2,272 either-sex firearm permits and 901 antlerless ones, 3,173 in all.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 2,272 | 901 | 3,173 |
| Muzzleloader | 72 | 65 | 137 |
Among the 99 counties with firearm permits, Adams places 7th for permits left unsold. The muzzleloader side of the leftover list shows 72 either-sex and 65 antlerless permits. IDNR has not published the original county permit quotas, so only these leftover counts exist; they shrink every time someone buys one. Two antlered deer is the yearly ceiling for any hunter, counting all seasons except Special CWD, with one deer per permit.
Adams County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 3,173 |
| 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.
What the CWD and turkey lists say about Adams County
Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Adams County, one of 28 Illinois counties with a positive deer on record. Cumulative positives for Adams County reached 1 by June 2026; the fiscal 2026 adult sample was 185 deer with 0 positive. The mandatory check-station rule skips Adams County; phone or online reporting covers the harvest. Adams County is one of 25 counties with a Special CWD season, on the dates December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | Yes |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
For gobblers, Adams County belongs to the North Zone; the season stretches from April 12 through May 13, 2027. Youth turkey weekends, March 27 to 28 and April 3 to 4, come before the regular segments, and spring hunters must report birds by 10 p.m. the day of harvest.
| 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 |
Nearest places to drop a deer head
Jubilee College State Park
Marshall SFWA
Sampling stations are separate from the mandatory firearm check stations.
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.
Adams County deer and turkey harvest figures
In the 2025-26 deer seasons the county gave up 4,249 animals, 2,065 male and 2,184 female. Per square mile of land the harvest is close to 5.0, and by total it ranks 4th of 102. Illinois hunters took 174,006 deer in all, and 2.4% of them came out of this county.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 1,372 | 32% |
| Firearm | 2,093 | 49% |
| Muzzleloader | 71 | 2% |
| Youth | 157 | 4% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 556 | 13% |
Measured against 3,802, the mean of the years 2016 to 2024, the latest total is above trend. Firearm accounted for the biggest share, 2,093 deer or 49% of the county total.
Spring 2026 turkey hunters in Adams County took 288 birds on county permits, a success rate of 22.1%. The opening segment gave 93 and youth hunts 63. The CWD report counts 556 deer taken in the Special CWD season here in 2025-26.
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.
Hunts that open in Adams County
Rows marked Deer permit need a lottery win or a leftover permit; the rest need only the license, habitat stamp and any stamps for migratory birds.
| Species | Season | License | Reach | First | Last | 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 | 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.
Sites, acres and quota hunts in Adams County
4 IDNR or federal sites lie wholly or partly inside Adams County, adding up to about 20,126 acres of listed huntable ground. Acreage leader: Mississippi River Pool 21, 8,536 acres.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Pool 21 | Fish and wildlife area | 8,536 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Great River National Wildlife Refuge (Illinois divisions) | Wildlife refuge | 8,305 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, furbearers |
| Siloam Springs | State park | 3,095 | Yes | 1,114 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Siloam Springs State Park- Fall Creek Unit | State park | 190 | No | — | white-tailed deer, furbearer trapping |
Always read the site fact sheet before you go, because Illinois public areas restrict centerfire rifles and may close to hunting during other uses.
Closest sites outside Adams limits
These listed places are closed to hunting: Meyers Landing and Burton Cave.
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.
Supplies, meat processing and contacts for Adams County
Base yourself in Quincy and Camp Point or one of 23 smaller places for gas, food and a bed.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Quincy | City | 38,786 |
| Camp Point | Village | 1,117 |
| Payson | Village | 998 |
| Mendon | Village | 844 |
| Golden | Village | 627 |
| Clayton | Village | 616 |
| Ursa | Village | 588 |
| Liberty | Village | 523 |
| Loraine | Village | 294 |
| Plainville | Village | 260 |
| Coatsburg | Village | 149 |
| Lima | Village | 143 |
Local listings number 16; closer-by neighbours add to them below.
Biologist and Springfield office for Adams 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.
Dated events inside Adams County
Within the county line the listings show 1 date ahead: NWTF banquet. Read November 13, 2026. Fundraiser nights among them: 1, sold by the chapter.
| On | Listing | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2027 | Western Illinois Triple Toes NWTF Banquet sorted under NWTF banquet | 3737 North Fifth | Tickets | Source |
Where Adams County hunters confirm a rifle or slug zero
Adams County has 2 ranges on file, Siloam Springs (IDNR site) among them on IDNR ground.
Hancock County has the rifle-capable range closest to Adams County: Hancock County Gun Club, 31 miles off.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Adams County hunting hours by date
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 Adams County rows.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer window | Regular waterfowl | Gobbler hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 7:00 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:09 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:40 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:55 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:16 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:23 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:26 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:33 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 6:03 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.
Adams County gear picks
Built around prairie, farm and river country.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Quincy City Hall on Maine Street in QuincyPhoto: Tony Webster (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A red barn on a summer farmstead near Lima in Adams CountyPhoto: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Siloam Lake and tall shoreline trees at Siloam Springs State ParkPhoto: Gerry Dincher (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Plain answers about Adams County
Where do I check in a deer taken in Adams County?
Reporting is by phone (1-866-452-4325) or online; no station visit is required in the county.
How many deer are taken in Adams County each year?
IDNR reports 4,249 deer in the 2025-26 seasons, ranking 4th of 102 counties.
What license do I need to hunt in Adams County?
A hunting license (resident $12.00 base price), the State Habitat Stamp ($5.00), the right permits, and waterfowl stamps if you hunt ducks or geese.
How long after removing bait can I hunt in Adams County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
Is there a Sunday ban on hunting in Adams County?
None is stated in the Digest or IDNR pages we read, and we cannot confirm one way or the other.
Can kids hunt in Adams County?
Yes. Youth have their own deer weekend (October 10 to 12) and turkey weekends, and an apprentice license skips the course if a licensed hunter 21 or older supervises.
Does Adams County sit in a single waterfowl zone?
We cannot say: the zones are described by roads, and a county can be split by a road line.
Do hunting hours change when daylight time ends in Adams County?
Yes. Clocks fall back on November 1, 2026, so November sunrise comes earlier on the clock: 6:55 a.m. here on November 20.
Can I buy a Adams firearm permit over the counter?
Leftover permits go on sale from October 20, 2026. For Adams County the leftovers were 2,272 either-sex and 901 antlerless for firearm hunting.
Are there taxidermists in Adams County?
1 taxidermist listed inside the county.
Does Adams County have a Special CWD season?
Yes, antlerless only, December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17.
Can I take deer carcass parts out of Adams County?
Illinois does not publish a carcass-transport ban for Adams County in the Digest sections we read; check the current CWD rules and the state where you are heading before moving a carcass.
Are there closed public sites in Adams County?
Yes, 2 listed places such as Meyers Landing do not allow hunting.
Is Adams County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the North Zone (66 counties), so the spring dates start April 12.
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.