Home › Illinois › Counties › Jefferson County
Illinois county hunting, 2026-27
Jefferson County Hunt Planner
From the first bow day on October 1 to the last January antlerless weekend, this Jefferson County page lays out dates, permits, zones, land and local services.
Photo: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Jefferson County overview
Among the five IDNR public land regions, Jefferson County falls in the south one, which covers the Shawnee Hills, the Ohio and Wabash river counties and the Cache and Kaskaskia bottoms. The 2024 estimate of 36,107 residents (2.7% down from the 2020 base of 37,113) tells you how busy the roads around Mount Vernon get on opening weekend. At 571 square miles it is the 41st biggest county in the state, so scouting by road takes planning.
All of its neighbours, Franklin County, Hamilton County, Marion County, Perry County, Washington County and Wayne County, follow the same IDNR rulebook. On the IDNR wildlife districts map the county belongs to Cody Langan's Langan 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}
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Jefferson County
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County follows the statewide split, three segments between October 1 and January 17. The permit inquiry system shows 91 either-sex and 19 antlerless firearm permits left in Jefferson County when the third lottery closed.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 91 | 19 | 110 |
| Muzzleloader | 83 | 56 | 139 |
The leftover ranking has Jefferson 88th of 99; low numbers mean the permits sold out faster elsewhere. Black-powder hunters can pick from 83 either-sex and 56 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.
Jefferson County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 110 |
| 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 Jefferson County
Of 102 counties, 28 have confirmed CWD, and Jefferson 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 Jefferson County in the South Zone, so segment one begins April 5 and segment five ends May 6, 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 | 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 |
Sampling sites around Jefferson County
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
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.
Jefferson County deer and turkey harvest figures
5,120 deer made the 2025-26 county harvest total here, a split of 2,522 male and 2,598 female deer. Among 102 counties it places 1st by total deer, or 9.0 per square mile. Compared with the state total of 174,006, the county share is 2.9%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 2,075 | 41% |
| Firearm | 2,183 | 43% |
| Muzzleloader | 66 | 1% |
| Youth | 154 | 3% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 642 | 13% |
Looking back to 2016, the average of 3,899 puts the newest season above normal. 2,183 deer, 43% of the total, came in the firearm category, more than any other.
Turkey harvest for spring 2026 stands at 477 in Jefferson with a 39.6% success rate. Segment one produced 118 turkeys and the youth weekends added 74.
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.
The Jefferson hunting year row by row
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 Jefferson 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 | 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.
Open public land in and near Jefferson County
IDNR and federal fact sheets name 5 places to hunt here, together close to 22,575 acres. Biggest by acres is Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters (7,740 acres, fish and wildlife area).
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rend Lake Project Lands and Waters | Fish and wildlife area | 7,740 | No | 8,000 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Rend Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 7,690 | Yes | 8,000 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Ten Mile Creek | Fish and wildlife area | 4,995 | Yes | 1,934 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Wayne Fitzgerrell | Recreation area | 1,500 | Yes | 3,200 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, pheasant |
| Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center | Game propagation center | 650 | Yes | 538 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
Many Illinois sites run permit hunts through the quota lottery, and each site rules on hunter orange, hours and weapons.
Sites just outside Jefferson County
The land data marks Devil's Prop 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.
Supplies, meat processing and contacts for Jefferson County
Towns to stage from: Mount Vernon, Ina and Woodlawn, the biggest of the county's 10 places.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon | City | 14,162 |
| Ina | Village | 1,648 |
| Woodlawn | Village | 607 |
| Bluford | Village | 604 |
| Dix | Village | 456 |
| Waltonville | Village | 402 |
| Bonnie | Village | 364 |
| Belle Rive | Village | 300 |
| Nason | City | 196 |
| Opdyke | Cdp | — |
Our service data has 12 listings for the county itself; nearby counties fill in the rest.
Biologist and Springfield office for Jefferson 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.
What the calendar shows for Jefferson County
Count for the county on November 13, 2026: 1 date ahead. Kinds: NWTF banquet. Tickets for the 1 banquet night come from each chapter.
| On | Listing | Venue and county | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2027 | Jefferson County Limbhangers NWTF Banquet filed as NWTF banquet | 124 N 5th Street Nason | Tickets | Source |
Where Jefferson County hunters confirm a rifle or slug zero
Jefferson County has 1 range on file.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Jefferson County hunting hours by date
Hunters in Jefferson 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 | 6:50 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:58 a.m. | 6:27 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 6:27 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:28 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:42 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:02 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:09 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:12 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:36 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:21 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.
Jefferson County hunting kit
Chosen to match the game on this page.
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 in Illinois.
Orange sunset over Horseshoe Lake with the St. Louis skyline beyondPhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 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)
Plain answers about Jefferson County
Are there closed public sites in Jefferson County?
Yes, 1 listed places such as Devil’s Prop do not allow hunting.
Is Jefferson County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the South Zone (34 counties), so the spring dates start April 5.
How do I report a deer harvested in Jefferson 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 Jefferson?
2.9% of the 174,006 deer reported statewide for 2025-26.
What license do I need to hunt in Jefferson 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.
How long after removing bait can I hunt in Jefferson County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
What do the sources say about Sunday hunting in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County on opening day?
6:12 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 Jefferson County?
Yes, as of November 13, 2026 IDNR showed 110 firearm permits left after Lottery 3 (91 either-sex, 19 antlerless), sold over the counter from October 20 until gone.
Are there taxidermists in Jefferson County?
1 taxidermist listed inside the county.
What permit covers winter deer hunting in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
Testing is voluntary at IDNR head drop-off stations; Jefferson does not require a check station visit.
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.