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2026-27 county guide
Fayette County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Fayette County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fayette County overview
IDNR files Fayette County under its West Central region, a part of the state that takes in the Illinois and Mississippi river bottoms, the Pike County hills and the Metro East. Census estimates put the county at 21,157 people in 2024 (1.5% down from the 2020 base of 21,490), with the courthouse in Vandalia. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 716 square miles, which puts it 20th statewide.
Adjoining counties: Bond County, Clay County, Clinton County, Effingham County, Marion County, Montgomery County and Shelby County; none lies across a state line. John Bunnell covers Fayette County as the Bunnell 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}
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fayette County
What deer hunters need in Fayette County
Gun season in Fayette 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 Fayette County found 255 left over: 138 either-sex, 117 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 138 | 117 | 255 |
| Muzzleloader | 26 | 57 | 83 |
A rank of 72nd out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 26 either-sex and 57 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.
Fayette County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 255 |
| 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 Fayette County
No CWD positive is on record for Fayette County in the IDNR confirmed county list of 28 counties, so the extra disease rules do not apply here. Late-winter permits apply in Fayette County on private ground; public land follows site rules. 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 | Yes |
| 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 Fayette 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.
Fayette County deer and turkey harvest figures
IDNR reports 4,025 deer harvested in Fayette County in the 2025-26 seasons, 2,031 bucks and 1,994 does. That is the 6th highest of 102 counties, and about 5.6 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 2.3%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 1,401 | 35% |
| Firearm | 2,043 | 51% |
| Muzzleloader | 76 | 2% |
| Youth | 122 | 3% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 383 | 10% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 2,832, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, firearm led with 2,043 deer, 51% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 260 birds from the county, with 30.2% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 76; youth hunters took 75.
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.
Fayette 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Late-Winter Antlerless | Late-winter permit | Late-winter 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 | 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.
Hunting areas listed inside Fayette County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 3 public hunting areas in Fayette County, with 11,478 acres between them. At 9,868 acres, Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlyle Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 9,868 | Yes | 4,999 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Ramsey Lake | State park | 1,610 | Yes | 895 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Carlyle Lake (Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | — | No | — | — |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Hunting sites over the Fayette line
Do not count on Dean Hills; 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.
Supplies, meat processing and contacts for Fayette County
The 2024 estimates rank Vandalia, St. Elmo and Ramsey first among the county's 8 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Vandalia | City | 7,358 |
| St. Elmo | City | 1,243 |
| Ramsey | Village | 895 |
| Brownstown | Village | 679 |
| Farina | Village | 531 |
| St. Peter | Village | 312 |
| Bingham | Village | 61 |
| La Clede | Cdp | — |
Listings for Fayette County: 7, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Biologist 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.
Fayette County on the hunting events calendar
1 date ahead here, of these kinds: NWTF banquet. 1 of the listings is banquet night; tickets are bought through the organizer.
| Day | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2027 | Okaw Valley Longbeards NWTF Banquet NWTF banquet (as listed) | 328 South 3rd St | Tickets | Source |
Fayette County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
Effingham County Sportsman's Club heads this short list for Fayette County, about 15 miles from the county centre.
Effingham County Sportsman's Club in Effingham County is the nearest range listing a rifle line, roughly 15 miles away.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Fayette County hunting hours by date
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Fayette County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:51 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 6:27 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:29 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:44 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:05 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:11 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:15 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:36 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. | 6:06 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.
Fayette County hunting kit
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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 at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Orange sunset over Horseshoe Lake with the St. Louis skyline beyondPhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Fayette County hunting questions
What are the January deer hunting dates in Fayette County?
Late-winter and Special CWD hunting run December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17; archery continues to January 17.
Is Fayette County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the South Zone (34 counties), so the spring dates start April 5.
Are there closed public sites in Fayette County?
Yes, 1 listed places such as Dean Hills do not allow hunting.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Fayette County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 2,031 male and 1,994 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in Fayette 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.
How long after removing bait can I hunt in Fayette County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
What license do I need to hunt in Fayette 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.
Is there an apprentice license for Fayette 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:14 a.m. to 5:10 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Fayette County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Are there taxidermists in Fayette County?
2 taxidermists listed inside the county.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Fayette County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 255 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Fayette County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area in , about 87 miles from the middle of the county.
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.