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Illinois county hunting, 2026-27
Fulton County Hunt Planner
From the first bow day on October 1 to the last January antlerless weekend, this Fulton County page lays out dates, permits, zones, land and local services.
Photo: carlfbagge (CC BY 2.0)
Fulton County in brief
Among the five IDNR public land regions, Fulton County falls in the northwest one, which covers the Rock River valley, the Driftless hills around Galena, the Quad Cities and the Illinois River corridor. The 2024 estimate of 32,510 residents (3.5% down from the 2020 base of 33,673) tells you how busy the roads around Lewistown get on opening weekend. At 866 square miles it is the 10th biggest county in the state, so scouting by road takes planning.
All of its neighbours, Knox County, Mason County, McDonough County, Peoria County, Schuyler County, Tazewell County and Warren County, follow the same IDNR rulebook. On the IDNR wildlife districts map the county belongs to Jake Lux's Lux district.
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}
Fulton County firearm status and leftover permits
Shotgun hunters get two statewide weekends here, November 20 to November 22, 2026 and December 3 to December 6, 2026, plus a muzzleloader weekend on December 11 to December 13, 2026. Archery in Fulton County follows the statewide split, three segments between October 1 and January 17. The permit inquiry system shows 2,034 either-sex and 1,569 antlerless firearm permits left in Fulton County when the third lottery closed.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 2,034 | 1,569 | 3,603 |
| Muzzleloader | 269 | 247 | 516 |
The leftover ranking has Fulton 2nd of 99; low numbers mean the permits sold out faster elsewhere. Black-powder hunters can pick from 269 either-sex and 247 antlerless leftovers. Leftover county permits go on sale over the counter starting October 20, 2026, until they run out, and counts change as they sell. Special CWD deer do not count against the two-antlered-deer yearly limit that applies to all other seasons.
Quick deer rules for Fulton County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 3,603 |
| 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, late winter and gobblers in Fulton County
Of 102 counties, 28 have confirmed CWD, and Fulton is not among them as of June 2026. Late-winter antlerless deer hunting applies to private land here, a status that IDNR reviews every year. IDNR puts Fulton County in the North Zone, so segment one begins April 12 and segment five ends May 13, 2027. Spring turkey hours end at 1 p.m., and mandatory harvest reporting is due by 10 p.m. that evening.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | Yes |
| 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 |
Sampling sites around Fulton County
Jubilee College State Park
Marshall SFWA
Each site is self-serve; hunters fill out a submission card and leave adult deer heads.
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.
Fulton County harvest history
4,267 deer made the 2025-26 county harvest total here, a split of 2,229 male and 2,038 female deer. Among 102 counties it places 3rd by total deer, or 4.9 per square mile. Compared with the state total of 174,006, the county share is 2.5%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 1,739 | 41% |
| Firearm | 1,932 | 45% |
| Muzzleloader | 41 | 1% |
| Youth | 70 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 485 | 11% |
Looking back to 2016, the average of 3,998 puts the newest season above normal. 1,932 deer, 45% of the total, came in the firearm category, more than any other.
Turkey harvest for spring 2026 stands at 248 in Fulton with a 18.0% success rate. Segment one produced 66 turkeys and the youth weekends added 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.
Dated hunts for Fulton from September to May
Duck, goose and upland rows name the zone because IDNR draws those lines along roads rather than county borders, so find out which side of the road Fulton County sits on.
| Quarry | Weapon | Needs | Applies to | Start | Stop | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 Fulton County
IDNR and federal fact sheets name 5 places to hunt here, together close to 8,753 acres. Biggest by acres is Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (3,000 acres, fish and wildlife area).
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Marsh | Fish and wildlife area | 3,000 | Yes | 1,539 | ducks, geese, mourning dove |
| Rice Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 2,500 | Yes | 3,072 | white-tailed deer, ducks, geese |
| Anderson Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 1,900 | Yes | 1,460 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Double T | Fish and wildlife area | 460 | Yes | 216 | ducks, geese, mourning dove |
| Emiquon | Wildlife refuge | 893 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
The county also appears in Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP).
Many Illinois sites run permit hunts through the quota lottery, and each site rules on hunter orange, hours and weapons.
Neighbouring-county hunting areas near Fulton
The land data marks Dickson Mounds and Harper-Rector Woods as closed to 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.
Towns, shops and contacts around Fulton County
Towns to stage from: Canton, Farmington and Lewistown, the biggest of the county's 20 places.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Canton | City | 12,896 |
| Farmington | City | 2,295 |
| Lewistown | City | 1,960 |
| Cuba | City | 1,137 |
| Astoria | Town | 887 |
| Avon | Village | 671 |
| Vermont | Village | 559 |
| St. David | Village | 505 |
| Ipava | Village | 426 |
| Fairview | Village | 410 |
| London Mills | Village | 342 |
| Table Grove | Village | 333 |
Our service data has 16 listings for the county itself; nearby counties fill in the rest.
IDNR people to call about Fulton 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.
Fulton County: club benches and clay fields
Fulton County has 1 range on file.
Nice Shot in Peoria County is the nearest range listing a rifle line, roughly 36 miles away.
Fulton County shoot dates
| Date and shoot | Category | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2027 | NASP tournament | Details |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Clock times for Fulton County hunters
Hunters in Fulton County must be done by 1 p.m. in the spring turkey season, even though deer hunters keep shooting light until after dark.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Deer day | Goose day | Turkey day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:56 a.m. | 6:45 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:05 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:37 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:52 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:14 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:20 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:24 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:28 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 5:58 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.
Fulton County hunting kit
Chosen to match the game on this page.
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Hang-on stand
Cornfield edges give little cover, so most hunters climb into a hardwood draw in Illinois.
American coots and blue-winged teal on open water at EmiquonPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Snow geese swirling over the water at EmiquonPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Asters and marsh grass along open water at Emiquon National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
Asked about Fulton County
How do I report a deer harvested in Fulton County?
By phone at 1-866-452-4325 or online at exploremoreil.com by 10 p.m. the day of harvest, or the next day if the deer is not recovered by then.
What share of the Illinois deer harvest comes from Fulton?
2.5% of the 174,006 deer reported statewide for 2025-26.
Can nonresidents hunt in Fulton County?
Yes, with a nonresident license ($57.00 base price) and the permits for what they hunt; Lottery 1 is for residents only.
Is feeding deer legal in Fulton County?
Not at any time: Illinois bans feeding deer and hunting over bait, including store-bought attractants.
What do the sources say about Sunday hunting in Fulton County?
The 2026-27 Digest and the IDNR pages we read contain no statement on Sunday hunting, so we cannot say it is allowed or banned.
Is hunter orange required in Fulton County?
In firearm deer seasons in counties open to firearm hunting: cap and upper garment of solid blaze orange or pink, 400 square inches minimum.
What stamps do I need for ducks in Fulton County?
The State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp ($15.00) and the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp ($25.00), plus the license and habitat stamp.
What are deer hunting hours in Fulton County on opening day?
6:22 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. on November 20, worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time.
Are firearm deer permits still available in Fulton County?
Yes, as of November 13, 2026 IDNR showed 3,603 firearm permits left after Lottery 3 (2,034 either-sex, 1,569 antlerless), sold over the counter from October 20 until gone.
How many hunting businesses are in Fulton County?
Our directory lists 16 within the county and more nearby.
What permit covers winter deer hunting in Fulton County?
A county-specific antlerless-only permit, sold over the counter from December 8, 2026 through January 17, 2027.
Do I have to get my deer tested for CWD in Fulton County?
Testing is voluntary at IDNR head drop-off stations; Fulton does not require a check station visit.
What is the biggest public hunting area in Fulton County?
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, about 3,000 acres of fish and wildlife area.
How many turkey segments does Fulton County get?
Five regular segments in the North Zone, beginning April 12, plus youth weekends.
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.