Home › Illinois › Counties › Calhoun County
West Central region
Calhoun County for Hunters
Plan a Calhoun County season around its own permit count, its CWD status, the north turkey zone, 9 IDNR sites and the shops near Hardin.
Photo: David Ackerman (CC BY 2.0)
Quick facts about Calhoun County
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. Hardin is the county seat, and the Census Bureau counted 4,224 residents here in 2024, 4.7% down from the 2020 base of 4,434. Size-wise the county places 94th of 102, with 254 square miles of land and 30 of water.
Check each neighbour before driving over a line: Greene County, Jersey County and Pike County, and in other states Lincoln County (MO), Pike County (MO) and St. Charles County (MO). The IDNR wildlife biologist for this county is Ben Funk of the Funk district, reachable at (618) 786-3323.
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 Calhoun County
Calhoun 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, Calhoun County held 287 either-sex firearm permits and 0 antlerless ones, 287 in all.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 287 | 0 | 287 |
| Muzzleloader | 50 | 7 | 57 |
Among the 99 counties with firearm permits, Calhoun places 71st for permits left unsold. The muzzleloader side of the leftover list shows 50 either-sex and 7 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.
Rule checklist for Calhoun 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.
What the CWD and turkey lists say about Calhoun County
As of the 2026 report, Calhoun County sits off the confirmed list, and no Special CWD season is held in it. Calhoun County has no late-winter or Special CWD hunting days in 2026-27. For gobblers, Calhoun 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.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
| 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
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Jubilee College State Park
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.
Calhoun County harvest records
In the 2025-26 deer seasons the county gave up 1,696 animals, 869 male and 827 female. Per square mile of land the harvest is close to 6.7, and by total it ranks 44th of 102. Illinois hunters took 174,006 deer in all, and 1.0% of them came out of this county.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 798 | 47% |
| Firearm | 798 | 47% |
| Muzzleloader | 54 | 3% |
| Youth | 46 | 3% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
The latest total tracks the 1,663 mean for 2016 to 2024. Archery accounted for the biggest share, 798 deer or 47% of the county total.
Spring 2026 turkey hunters in Calhoun County took 227 birds on county permits, a success rate of 25.8%. The opening segment gave 86 and youth hunts 40.
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 Calhoun hunting year row by row
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 | |
| 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.
Calhoun County sites open to licensed hunters
9 IDNR or federal sites lie wholly or partly inside Calhoun County, adding up to about 32,029 acres of listed huntable ground. Acreage leader: Mississippi River Pool 24, 10,211 acres.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Pool 24 | Fish and wildlife area | 10,211 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Batchtown | Fish and wildlife area | 2,436 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Rip Rap Landing | Wildlife area | 2,949 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Diamond Hurricane | Wildlife area | 2,617 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Fuller Lake | Wildlife area | 1,817 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Red’s Landing | Wildlife area | 737 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (Illinois units) | Wildlife refuge | 8,858 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge (McCoy Island Unit, Illinois) | Wildlife refuge | 189 | No | — | mourning dove, wild turkey, white-tailed deer |
| Calhoun Point Federal Lands | Federal site | 2,215 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
Always read the site fact sheet before you go, because Illinois public areas restrict centerfire rifles and may close to hunting during other uses.
Neighbouring ground for Calhoun County hunters
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.
Calhoun County local services
Base yourself in Hardin and Kampsville or one of 3 smaller places for gas, food and a bed.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Hardin | Village | 765 |
| Kampsville | Village | 292 |
| Batchtown | Village | 158 |
| Brussels | Village | 115 |
| Hamburg | Village | 94 |
Local listings number 9; closer-by neighbours add to them below.
Wildlife staff for Calhoun 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 Calhoun County
Otter Creek Hunting Club is the closest listed range to Calhoun County, 13 miles from its centre.
Jersey County has the rifle-capable range closest to Calhoun County: Otter Creek Hunting Club, 13 miles off.
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 Calhoun County
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 Calhoun County rows.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer window | Regular waterfowl | Gobbler hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:57 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:06 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:36 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:51 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:12 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:18 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:32 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:02 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.
Calhoun 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.
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)
Sunset over the Mississippi River with the St. Louis skyline, the Gateway Arch and the Eads BridgePhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Common Calhoun hunting questions
Does Calhoun 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 Calhoun County?
Yes. Clocks fall back on November 1, 2026, so November sunrise comes earlier on the clock: 6:51 a.m. here on November 20.
Can I buy a Calhoun firearm permit over the counter?
Leftover permits go on sale from October 20, 2026. For Calhoun County the leftovers were 287 either-sex and 0 antlerless for firearm hunting.
Can I hire a hunting guide in Calhoun County?
9 IDNR licensed outfitter or guide listings for the county.
Does Calhoun County have a Special CWD season?
No. Special CWD seasons are held in 25 counties, and Calhoun is not one of them.
Can I take deer carcass parts out of Calhoun County?
Illinois does not publish a carcass-transport ban for Calhoun County in the Digest sections we read; check the current CWD rules and the state where you are heading before moving a carcass.
Which public hunting sites does Calhoun County have?
9 sites inside the county: Mississippi River Pool 24, Batchtown State Fish and Wildlife Area and Rip Rap Landing State Wildlife Management Area.
Which spring turkey zone is Calhoun County in?
The North Zone, with five segments from April 12 to May 13, 2027.
Where do I check in a deer taken in Calhoun 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 Calhoun County each year?
IDNR reports 1,696 deer in the 2025-26 seasons, ranking 44th of 102 counties.
How much is a hunting license for Calhoun County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in Calhoun County?
Planted agricultural crops and normal food plots are not bait under the Digest wording we read, but dumping feed or minerals is.
Is there a Sunday ban on hunting in Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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.
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.