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2026-27 county guide
Grundy County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Grundy County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Teemu008 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Grundy County overview
IDNR files Grundy County under its Northeast region, a part of the state that takes in the Chicago region, the Kankakee River country and the Fox and Des Plaines valleys. Census estimates put the county at 53,835 people in 2024 (2.4% up from the 2020 base of 52,554), with the courthouse in Morris. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 418 square miles, which puts it 69th statewide.
Adjoining counties: Kankakee County, Kendall County, LaSalle County, Livingston County and Will County; none lies across a state line. Joe Rogus covers Grundy 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 Grundy County
Gun season in Grundy 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 Grundy County found 1,597 left over: 879 either-sex, 718 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 879 | 718 | 1,597 |
| Muzzleloader | 256 | 166 | 422 |
A rank of 25th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 256 either-sex and 166 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.
Rule checklist for Grundy County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Required |
| Leftover permits | 1,597 |
| 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 Grundy County
IDNR counts Grundy County among the 28 counties where CWD is confirmed, so the disease rules apply here. IDNR logged 312 CWD-positive deer in Grundy over the life of the program, with 201 adults sampled in fiscal 2026 and 49 positive. Mandatory checking applies in Grundy County; first and second firearm season deer must reach a station between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. the day of harvest. Station: Gebhard Woods State Park, 401 Ottawa St, Morris, IL 60450. 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 Grundy County hunters can leave a head
Gebhard Woods State Park
I & M Canal…
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.
Grundy County harvest records
IDNR reports 796 deer harvested in Grundy County in the 2025-26 seasons, 450 bucks and 346 does. That is the 80th highest of 102 counties, and about 1.9 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 0.5%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 379 | 48% |
| Firearm | 310 | 39% |
| Muzzleloader | 4 | 1% |
| Youth | 8 | 1% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 95 | 12% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 703, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, archery led with 379 deer, 48% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 65 birds from the county, with 24.6% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 17; youth hunters took 4. In the CWD annual report the county shows 95 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.
Grundy County season calendar, 2026-27
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.
Open public land in and near Grundy County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 5 public hunting areas in Grundy County, with 18,185 acres between them. At 6,070 acres, Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heidecke Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 6,070 | Yes | 1,134 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Mazonia | Fish and wildlife area | 3,945 | Yes | 2,395 | white-tailed deer, ducks, geese |
| Braidwood Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 1,100 | No | — | ducks, geese |
| Goose Lake Prairie | Natural area | 6,070 | Yes | 1,134 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail | State trail | 1,000 | No | 38 | furbearer trapping |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Sites just outside Grundy County
Do not count on Gebhard Woods, William G. Stratton and Illinois Waterways; 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.
Grundy County local services
The 2024 estimates rank Morris, Channahon and Minooka first among the county's 13 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Morris | City | 14,587 |
| Channahon | Village | 14,392 |
| Minooka | Village | 12,907 |
| Coal City | Village | 5,810 |
| Diamond | Village | 2,702 |
| Gardner | Village | 1,366 |
| Mazon | Village | 982 |
| Braceville | Village | 722 |
| South Wilmington | Village | 715 |
| Carbon Hill | Village | 383 |
| Verona | Village | 207 |
| Kinsman | Village | 87 |
Listings for Grundy County: 5, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Phone numbers for Grundy 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.
Grundy County shooters: ranges and shoot dates
5 ranges in Grundy County; Heidecke Lake (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 | Turkey shoot | Entry page |
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 Grundy County
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Grundy County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:49 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:58 a.m. | 6:23 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:23 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:31 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:47 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:09 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 4:27 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:27 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:19 a.m. | 4:33 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:20 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 5:50 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.
Grundy County hunting kit
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The 1877 Robinson and William R. Allan building in downtown MorrisPhoto: Teemu008 (CC BY-SA 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)
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)
Grundy hunters ask
How much is a hunting license for Grundy County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Is there an apprentice license for Grundy 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 Grundy 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 Grundy County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:17 a.m. to 5:02 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Grundy County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Can I hire a hunting guide in Grundy County?
1 IDNR licensed outfitter or guide listing for the county.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Grundy County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 1,597 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Grundy County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris, about 5 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Grundy County?
Late-winter and Special CWD hunting run December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17; archery continues to January 17.
Which spring turkey zone is Grundy County in?
The North Zone, with five segments from April 12 to May 13, 2027.
Which public hunting sites does Grundy County have?
5 sites inside the county: Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area and Braidwood Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Grundy County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 450 male and 346 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in Grundy 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.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in Grundy County?
Planted agricultural crops and normal food plots are not bait under the Digest wording we read, but dumping feed or minerals is.
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.