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Strahl district
DuPage County, Illinois Hunting
What a DuPage County hunter needs before opening day: permit status, zone flags, check station rules, sites to hunt and a county harvest record back to 2016.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting oriented in DuPage County
For the Hunt Illinois site list, this county counts as Northeast region country: the Chicago region, the Kankakee River country and the Fox and Des Plaines valleys. Regional membership here is derived from neighbours; IDNR itself does not print it. Wheaton anchors a county of 937,142 people by the 2024 Census estimate, 0.4% up from the 2020 base of 933,031.
The Census gazetteer measures 328 square miles of land and 9 of water, the 87th largest land area of the 102. The county shares its lines only with Cook County, Kane County, Kendall County and Will County. IDNR assigns DuPage County to the Strahl district, where Nicky Strahl is the biologist of record.
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 DuPage County
Deer in DuPage County: permits and gun rules
The Digest keeps DuPage County out of the firearm deer counties; bows and crossbows are the legal deer tools in the county. Archery deer is one unbroken season from October 1 to January 17 here, because no firearm periods interrupt it. There is no leftover permit number to report for DuPage County, since firearm seasons are not held.
Each permit tags one deer, and a hunter may not exceed two antlered deer in a year, Special CWD excepted.
Rule checklist for DuPage County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Closed |
| Archery deer | One run |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | None |
| Hunter orange | Not needed for gun |
| 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.
Disease rules and turkey dates for DuPage County
DuPage County sits on the confirmed CWD county list (28 counties in 2026), which brings extra seasons and sampling. Since 2003 the surveillance program has found 12 infected deer here; of 13 adults tested in fiscal 2026, 0 were positive. Reporting by phone or online is enough in DuPage County; no station stop is needed. IDNR did not put DuPage County on either the late-winter or the Special CWD county list.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | Closed |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
Spring turkey hunting is closed in DuPage County; IDNR lists Cook and DuPage as the only counties without a spring season.
Head drop-off near DuPage County
IDNR Region 2 Office / James Pate Phillips State Park
Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve, North Operations Shop
Drop-off stations take adult deer heads for CWD testing: fill out a sample submission card and leave the head.
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.
DuPage County harvest records
Hunters took 29 deer in DuPage County during 2025-26 by IDNR county figures, 23 of them male. A rank of 102nd statewide goes with a density of roughly 0.1 deer harvested per square mile. Statewide the harvest was 174,006, so this county accounts for 0.0% of it.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 29 | 100% |
| Firearm | 0 | 0% |
| Muzzleloader | 0 | 0% |
| Youth | 0 | 0% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Against an earlier average of 38 deer a season, the most recent total is below the pattern. Season by season the leader is archery, which produced 100% of the deer.
The county does not appear with its own spring turkey harvest row. 0 deer came from the Special CWD season of 2025-26, according to the CWD report.
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.
DuPage seasons by species
45 season lines for 25 species reach DuPage County this year, and the last column checks each against today's date.
| Animal | Window | Buy | Covers | Begins | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Deer permit | Cook, DuPage, Lake, east Kane | Oct 1, 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 | |
| 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.
DuPage County state and federal hunting areas
Without a public site of its own, DuPage County sends hunters to the nearby areas listed here.
DuPage hunters also look here
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.
DuPage County local services
DuPage County holds 31 Census places; Naperville, Wheaton and Downers Grove lead in population.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Naperville | City | 153,124 |
| Wheaton | City | 53,741 |
| Downers Grove | Village | 50,552 |
| Elmhurst | City | 46,108 |
| Lombard | Village | 44,490 |
| Bartlett | Village | 40,718 |
| Carol Stream | Village | 39,556 |
| Hanover Park | Village | 36,685 |
| Addison | Village | 35,728 |
| Woodridge | Village | 34,103 |
| Glendale Heights | Village | 32,866 |
| Glen Ellyn | Village | 28,872 |
16 listed hunting businesss sit inside DuPage County, and the cards below add the closest ones from nearby counties.
Phone numbers for DuPage 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.
DuPage County shooters: ranges and shoot dates
DuPage County has 10 ranges on file.
| Facility | Location | Built for | Open to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range USA (Naperville) indoor range | Naperville | rifle, handgun, rimfire | Access not stated |
| Wheaton Rifle Club gun club | West Chicago | rifle, handgun, archery | Access not stated |
Post 1084 Shooting Sports Club gun club | Elmhurst | – | Members only |
| Range USA Villa Park indoor range | Villa Park | – | Access not stated |
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Turkey shoot | Squad up |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Sporting clays | Posted at |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Match | Enter |
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 DuPage County
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, so the window around DuPage County below comes from the NOAA solar formula for this spot.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Antlered or not | Blind hours | Spring hunt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:48 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:31 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 4:24 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:24 p.m. | Not in season |
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.
DuPage County gear picks
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Hang-on stand
Cornfield edges give little cover, so most hunters climb into a hardwood draw.
A coyote trotting across short grass in DuPage CountyPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A young white-tailed buck standing among bare trees in DuPage County woodsPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A white-tailed doe bedded in the snow in DuPage CountyPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hunting DuPage County, answered
Can I hunt waterfowl in DuPage County?
Yes, with the hunting license, habitat stamp, state and federal waterfowl stamps, and attention to site rules; public waterfowl sites are drawn by lottery.
Can I hire a hunting guide in DuPage County?
No licensed outfitter is listed inside DuPage County; guides licensed in neighbouring counties may serve it.
Can I use a muzzleloader in DuPage County?
Not for deer: the muzzleloader season is limited to firearm counties and DuPage County is closed to firearm deer hunting.
Should DuPage County hunters worry about chronic wasting disease?
CWD is confirmed here, so follow the Special CWD and sampling rules and consider dropping a head at a sampling site.
Do Special CWD deer count against my limit in DuPage County?
The question does not arise in DuPage County, which has no Special CWD season; elsewhere those deer do not count toward the antlered limit.
Is any turkey hunting offered in DuPage County?
Only fall archery turkey hunting; the spring seasons are closed here.
Does DuPage County have a state fish and wildlife area?
None is listed inside the county.
How many archery deer are taken in DuPage County?
29 in 2025-26, 100% of the county total.
Can I report a deer online in DuPage County?
Yes, through the IDNR harvest reporting site, or by phone at 1-866-452-4325.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in DuPage 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 DuPage County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Who needs hunter orange in DuPage County?
Blaze orange is required in firearm deer seasons in open counties; the gun seasons are closed in this county but other hunts have their own rules.
Are Sundays open for deer in DuPage County?
Season dates are listed as date ranges; the Digest does not say anything we could read about Sunday restrictions.
When does legal deer shooting light end in DuPage County?
One-half hour after sunset: 7:06 p.m. on October 1, 2026.
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.