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2026-27 county guide
Alexander County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Alexander County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Agathman (CC BY-SA 3.0)
About hunting in Alexander County
IDNR files Alexander County under its South region, a part of the state that takes in the Shawnee Hills, the Ohio and Wabash river counties and the Cache and Kaskaskia bottoms. Census estimates put the county at 4,594 people in 2024 (12.3% down from the 2020 base of 5,241), with the courthouse in Cairo. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 235 square miles, which puts it 97th statewide.
On the map it shares borders with Pulaski County and Union County and Ballard County (KY), Cape Girardeau County (MO), Mississippi County (MO) and Scott County (MO). Kenneth Delahunt covers Alexander County as the Delahunt district wildlife biologist.
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}
What deer hunters need in Alexander County
Gun season in Alexander County comes in two pieces, November 20 to November 22, 2026 followed by December 3 to December 6, 2026. The archery calendar has three pieces here, ending November 19, December 2 and January 17 respectively. Hunters hoping for a gun permit in Alexander County found 287 left over: 287 either-sex, 0 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 287 | 0 | 287 |
| Muzzleloader | 133 | 0 | 133 |
A rank of 70th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 133 either-sex and 0 antlerless. Check the IDNR permit inquiry page before you travel, because the over-the-counter leftovers sell down daily after October 20. The antlered limit is two per year across every season but Special CWD; one deer goes with each permit.
Rule checklist for Alexander County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 287 |
| 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, winter hunts and turkey zone in Alexander County
No CWD positive is on record for Alexander County in the IDNR confirmed county list of 28 counties, so the extra disease rules do not apply here. Winter antlerless hunting after the gun seasons is not offered in Alexander County under the current IDNR lists. The South Zone sets the spring turkey dates here: April 5 to May 6, 2027 in five segments. Before the first segment comes the youth season, split into two weekends in late March and early April.
| 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 |
Where Alexander County hunters can leave a head
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
Heads from adult deer go in, a card goes with each, and IDNR posts results later.
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.
Alexander County harvest records
IDNR reports 602 deer harvested in Alexander County in the 2025-26 seasons, 375 bucks and 227 does. That is the 90th highest of 102 counties, and about 2.6 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 0.3%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 221 | 37% |
| Firearm | 352 | 58% |
| Muzzleloader | 12 | 2% |
| Youth | 17 | 3% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 654, the latest season came in below it. By weapon, firearm led with 352 deer, 58% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 142 birds from the county, with 25.5% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 51; youth hunters took 29.
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.
Alexander County first and last days
Spring turkey rows carry the 2027 dates IDNR already printed, with the South Zone opening a week before the North.
| Game | Season | Permit | Where | Opens | Closes | 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 | |
| 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.
Your public options in Alexander County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 6 public hunting areas in Alexander County, with 436,343 acres between them. At 286,498 acres, Shawnee National Forest outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) | Fish and wildlife area | 11,690 | Yes | 1,023 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Cape Bend | Fish and wildlife area | 1,380 | No | 98 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Devil’s Island Wildlife Management Area | Wildlife area | 2,741 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Cypress Creek | Wildlife refuge | 16,758 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel |
| Shawnee National Forest | National forest | 286,498 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District | Ranger district | 117,276 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Neighbouring-county hunting areas near Alexander
Do not count on Fort Defiance; IDNR and federal sources show them closed to hunting.
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.
Alexander County local services
The 2024 estimates rank Cairo, Tamms and East Cape Girardeau first among the county's 7 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | City | 1,523 |
| Tamms | Village | 373 |
| East Cape Girardeau | Village | 253 |
| McClure | Village | 224 |
| Thebes | Village | 182 |
| Olive Branch | Cdp | — |
| Unity | Cdp | — |
Nothing is listed inside the county itself, only in adjoining ones.
Phone numbers for Alexander County wildlife questions
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.
Alexander County on the hunting events calendar
2 dates ahead here, of these kinds: DU waterfowler party and NWTF banquet. 2 of the listings are banquet nights; tickets are bought through the organizer.
| Day | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2027 | Horseshoe Lake – Snow Goose Frenzy DU waterfowler party (as listed) | Alexander Pulaski Sportsmen Club, 10974 Sportsmen Club Rd Miller City | Tickets | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Two Rivers Longbeards NWTF Banquet NWTF banquet (as listed) | 19074 Sportsmans Club Road Miller City | Tickets | Source |
Alexander County shooters: ranges and shoot dates
Trail of Tears Lodge and Sports Resort heads this short list for Alexander County, about 15 miles from the county centre.
Trail of Tears Lodge and Sports Resort is the rifle range nearest Alexander County, 15 miles away; check its access line first.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Legal hours near Alexander County
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Alexander County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:51 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:27 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:41 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:01 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:07 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:39 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:09 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.
Alexander County hunting kit
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Old brick commercial buildings on a quiet street in CairoPhoto: Mobilus In Mobili (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Sunset over the Mississippi River at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
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)
Alexander County hunting questions
What tag goes on a deer in Alexander County?
Attach the temporary harvest tag at once; for antlered deer attach both tags if the head or antlers will be separated from the body.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in Alexander County?
Planted agricultural crops and normal food plots are not bait under the Digest wording we read, but dumping feed or minerals is.
How much is a hunting license for Alexander County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Is there an apprentice license for Alexander County?
Yes, the Hunting Apprentice license ($7.00) needs no course but requires supervision by a licensed hunter 21 or older.
Do Sunday hunting rules differ by county in Alexander County?
The Digest mentions Sundays only in season-date wording, and it contains no county Sunday rule.
How long is the legal day for deer hunting in Alexander County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Alexander County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Can I hire a hunting guide in Alexander County?
No licensed outfitter is listed inside Alexander County; guides licensed in neighbouring counties may serve it.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Alexander County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 287 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Alexander County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area in , about 64 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Alexander County?
Archery deer runs to January 17; no late-winter or Special CWD days apply.
Which spring turkey zone is Alexander County in?
The South Zone, with five segments from April 5 to May 6, 2027.
Is there a state fish and wildlife area in Alexander County?
Yes: Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) and Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Alexander County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 375 male and 227 female deer.
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.