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2026-27 county guide
DeKalb County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for DeKalb County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Quick facts about DeKalb County
IDNR files DeKalb County under its Northwest region, a part of the state that takes in the Rock River valley, the Driftless hills around Galena, the Quad Cities and the Illinois River corridor. Census estimates put the county at 101,335 people in 2024 (0.8% up from the 2020 base of 100,514), with the courthouse in Sycamore. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 631 square miles, which puts it 30th statewide.
Adjoining counties: Boone County, Kane County, Kendall County, LaSalle County, Lee County, McHenry County, Ogle County and Winnebago County; none lies across a state line. Joe Rogus covers DeKalb County as the Rogus 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 DeKalb County
Gun season in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County found 1,397 left over: 828 either-sex, 569 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 828 | 569 | 1,397 |
| Muzzleloader | 165 | 98 | 263 |
A rank of 28th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 165 either-sex and 98 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.
What governs deer in DeKalb County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Required |
| Leftover permits | 1,397 |
| 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 DeKalb County
IDNR counts DeKalb County among the 28 counties where CWD is confirmed, so the disease rules apply here. IDNR logged 128 CWD-positive deer in DeKalb over the life of the program, with 125 adults sampled in fiscal 2026 and 11 positive. Mandatory checking applies in DeKalb County; first and second firearm season deer must reach a station between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. the day of harvest. Station: Shabbona Lake State Park, 4201 Shabbona Grove Rd, Shabbona, IL 60550. Special CWD antlerless hunting runs December 31 through January 3 and again January 15 through 17 in the county; deer taken then do not count toward the antlered limit.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | Yes |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
The North Zone sets the spring turkey dates here: April 12 to May 13, 2027 in five segments. Before the first segment comes the youth season, split into two weekends in late March and early April.
| 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 |
Where DeKalb County hunters can leave a head
Shabbona Lake State Park
Big Rock Campground, Kane…
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.
County harvest numbers, DeKalb County
IDNR reports 413 deer harvested in DeKalb County in the 2025-26 seasons, 260 bucks and 153 does. That is the 96th highest of 102 counties, and about 0.7 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 0.2%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 223 | 54% |
| Firearm | 137 | 33% |
| Muzzleloader | 3 | 1% |
| Youth | 4 | 1% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 46 | 11% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 350, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, archery led with 223 deer, 54% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 16 birds from the county, with 16.2% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 3; youth hunters took 0. In the CWD annual report the county shows 46 Special CWD season deer for 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.
When each DeKalb County hunt starts and stops
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 | |
| 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.
Your public options in DeKalb County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 2 public hunting areas in DeKalb County, with 1,260 acres between them. At 776 acres, Shabbona Lake State Park outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kishwaukee River | Fish and wildlife area | 484 | Yes | 625 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Shabbona Lake | State park | 776 | Yes | 1,980 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Neighbouring-county hunting areas near DeKalb
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.
DeKalb County towns and services
The 2024 estimates rank DeKalb, Sycamore and Sandwich first among the county's 13 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb | City | 40,491 |
| Sycamore | City | 18,968 |
| Sandwich | City | 7,299 |
| Genoa | City | 5,514 |
| Cortland | Town | 4,592 |
| Hinckley | Village | 1,976 |
| Somonauk | Village | 1,761 |
| Kirkland | Village | 1,621 |
| Waterman | Village | 1,543 |
| Maple Park | Village | 1,482 |
| Malta | Village | 1,137 |
| Kingston | Village | 1,095 |
Listings for DeKalb County: 6, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
DeKalb wildlife staff and headquarters
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.
DeKalb County: club benches and clay fields
DeKalb County has 4 ranges on file.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2027 | Skeet | Listing |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
DeKalb County sunrise and legal hours
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for DeKalb County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:50 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:00 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:34 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:50 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:12 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:24 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:19 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:22 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:21 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. | 5:51 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.
DeKalb County hunting kit
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A lone bur oak and snowy farmland at Prairie Oaks Forest Preserve in DeKalb CountyPhoto: Tracy (CC BY 2.0)
A red barn with cattle in the snow on a farm near MaltaPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The spillway channel below Shabbona Lake in early springPhoto: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)
DeKalb County: common questions
Do Sunday hunting rules differ by county in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:20 a.m. to 5:02 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near DeKalb County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Is there a gun shop in DeKalb County?
5 sporting goods or gun listings appear for DeKalb County.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in DeKalb County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 1,397 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near DeKalb County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Shabbona Lake State Park in Shabbona, about 12 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in DeKalb County?
Late-winter and Special CWD hunting run December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17; archery continues to January 17.
What time does turkey hunting stop in DeKalb County?
At 1 p.m. each day in spring; shooting starts one-half hour before sunrise.
Do I need a permit to hunt public land in DeKalb County?
Some sites use the quota lottery or require site permits; 2 of the 2 listed sites carry a quota hunt flag.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in DeKalb County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 260 male and 153 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in DeKalb 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.
Can I use a mineral lick for deer in DeKalb County?
Store-bought deer baits and attractants are illegal at any time in Illinois except for licensed captive cervid owners.
Are there discounts on a DeKalb hunting license?
Seniors 65 to 74 pay $6.00 and those 75 or older $1.00; veterans $6.00.
Is there an apprentice license for DeKalb County?
Yes, the Hunting Apprentice license ($7.00) needs no course but requires supervision by a licensed hunter 21 or older.
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.