Home › Illinois › Counties › Jo Daviess County
Northwest region
Jo Daviess County for Hunters
Plan a Jo Daviess County season around its own permit count, its CWD status, the north turkey zone, 9 IDNR sites and the shops near Galena.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Quick facts about Jo Daviess County
On IDNR maps of public hunting areas the county sits in the northwest region, alongside the Rock River valley, the Driftless hills around Galena, the Quad Cities and the Illinois River corridor. Galena is the county seat, and the Census Bureau counted 21,528 residents here in 2024, 2.5% down from the 2020 base of 22,082. Size-wise the county places 35th of 102, with 601 square miles of land and 18 of water.
Check each neighbour before driving over a line: Carroll County and Stephenson County, and in other states Dubuque County (IA), Grant County (WI), Jackson County (IA) and Lafayette County (WI). The IDNR wildlife biologist for this county is Brodie Eddington of the Eddington district, reachable at (815) 369-2030.
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 Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County deer hunting rules
The county is one of 98 where IDNR opens firearm deer seasons; the gun days are November 20 to November 22, 2026 and December 3 to December 6, 2026. Bowhunters stop for the firearm weekends, with seasons from October 1 to November 19, from November 23 to December 2 and from December 7 to January 17. Once Lottery 3 was done, Jo Daviess County held 3,000 either-sex firearm permits and 2,804 antlerless ones, 5,804 in all.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 3,000 | 2,804 | 5,804 |
| Muzzleloader | 658 | 436 | 1,094 |
Among the 99 counties with firearm permits, Jo Daviess places 1st for permits left unsold. The muzzleloader side of the leftover list shows 658 either-sex and 436 antlerless permits. IDNR has not published the original county permit quotas, so only these leftover counts exist; they shrink every time someone buys one. Two antlered deer is the yearly ceiling for any hunter, counting all seasons except Special CWD, with one deer per permit.
Jo Daviess County deer checklist
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Required |
| Leftover permits | 5,804 |
| 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.
What the CWD and turkey lists say about Jo Daviess County
Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in Jo Daviess County, one of 28 Illinois counties with a positive deer on record. Cumulative positives for Jo Daviess County reached 470 by June 2026; the fiscal 2026 adult sample was 917 deer with 107 positive. Jo Daviess County is one of 18 counties with mandatory firearm check stations: successful first and second season hunters take the deer whole or field-dressed to a station the same day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The listed site is Elizabeth Community Building, 402 West St, Elizabeth, IL 61028. Jo Daviess County is one of 25 counties with a Special CWD season, on the dates December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17.
| 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 |
For gobblers, Jo Daviess County belongs to the North Zone; the season stretches from April 12 through May 13, 2027. Youth turkey weekends, March 27 to 28 and April 3 to 4, come before the regular segments, and spring hunters must report birds by 10 p.m. the day of harvest.
| 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 |
Nearest places to drop a deer head
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Lake Le Aqua Na…
Sampling stations are separate from the mandatory firearm check stations.
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.
Deer and turkey totals for Jo Daviess County
In the 2025-26 deer seasons the county gave up 2,696 animals, 1,445 male and 1,251 female. Per square mile of land the harvest is close to 4.5, and by total it ranks 17th of 102. Illinois hunters took 174,006 deer in all, and 1.5% of them came out of this county.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 877 | 33% |
| Firearm | 1,343 | 50% |
| Muzzleloader | 41 | 2% |
| Youth | 51 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 384 | 14% |
Measured against 2,998, the mean of the years 2016 to 2024, the latest total is below trend. Firearm accounted for the biggest share, 1,343 deer or 50% of the county total.
Spring 2026 turkey hunters in Jo Daviess County took 558 birds on county permits, a success rate of 29.5%. The opening segment gave 142 and youth hunts 34. The CWD report counts 384 deer taken in the Special CWD season here in 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.
Jo Daviess County permits and windows by species
Rows marked Deer permit need a lottery win or a leftover permit; the rest need only the license, habitat stamp and any stamps for migratory birds.
| Species | Season | License | Reach | First | Last | 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.
Jo Daviess County sites open to licensed hunters
9 IDNR or federal sites lie wholly or partly inside Jo Daviess County, adding up to about 43,260 acres of listed huntable ground. Acreage leader: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Illinois pools), 32,868 acres.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris & Jack Witkowsky | State wildlife area | 1,086 | Yes | 662 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Illinois pools) | Wildlife refuge | 32,868 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Lost Mound Unit (Upper Mississippi River NWR, Savanna District) | Wildlife refuge | 6,668 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer |
| Apple River Canyon State Park (Salem and Thompson Units) | State park | 1,052 | Yes | 702 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Ward’s Grove | Nature preserve | 337 | Yes | 60 | white-tailed deer |
| Hanover Bluff | Natural area | 500 | Yes | 235 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
| Rall Woods | Natural area | 283 | Yes | 130 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
| Tapley Woods | Natural area | 259 | Yes | 105 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
| Winston Tunnel | Natural area | 207 | Yes | 77 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
Always read the site fact sheet before you go, because Illinois public areas restrict centerfire rifles and may close to hunting during other uses.
Neighbouring ground for Jo Daviess County hunters
These listed places are closed to hunting: Eagles Landing and Apple River Fort.
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.
Businesses and agency contacts for Jo Daviess County
Base yourself in Galena and Stockton or one of 10 smaller places for gas, food and a bed.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Galena | City | 3,207 |
| Stockton | Village | 1,668 |
| East Dubuque | City | 1,457 |
| Warren | Village | 1,276 |
| Hanover | Village | 828 |
| Elizabeth | Village | 688 |
| Scales Mound | Village | 419 |
| Apple River | Village | 333 |
| Menominee | Village | 206 |
| Nora | Village | 110 |
| Apple Canyon Lake | Cdp | — |
| The Galena Territory | Cdp | — |
Local listings number 6; closer-by neighbours add to them below.
IDNR staff covering Jo Daviess 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.
Dated events inside Jo Daviess County
Within the county line the listings show 1 date ahead: NWTF banquet. Read November 13, 2026. Fundraiser nights among them: 1, sold by the chapter.
| When | Title | Location | Tickets or sign-up | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027 | Jo Daviess County Longbeards NWTF Banquet sorted under NWTF banquet | 90 Sinsinawa Ave East Dubuque | Tickets | Source |
Zeroing a slug gun in Jo Daviess County
Jo Daviess County has 1 range on file.
Matches in the county
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Jo Daviess County dawn and dusk on season dates
All of Illinois keeps Central Time, which falls back on November 1, 2026 and returns on March 14, 2027; watch the clock jump in the Jo Daviess County rows.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer window | Regular waterfowl | Gobbler hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:56 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:06 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:41 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:57 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:20 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:26 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:30 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:26 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 5:56 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.
Jo Daviess County gear picks
Built around prairie, farm and river country.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Black cattle grazing a green pasture near Apple River CanyonPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A wide view over rolling farms and woods from the Apple River Canyon overlookPhoto: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Rolling pasture and farmland in the hills along Terrapin Ridge near GalenaPhoto: Gary Todd (CC0 1.0)
Plain answers about Jo Daviess County
Where do I check in a deer taken in Jo Daviess County?
Firearm deer go to a check station (Elizabeth Community Building, 402 West St, Elizabeth, IL 61028) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.; everyone also reports by phone or online.
How many deer are taken in Jo Daviess County each year?
IDNR reports 2,696 deer in the 2025-26 seasons, ranking 17th of 102 counties.
Do I need a habitat stamp to hunt in Jo Daviess County?
Yes, the State Habitat Stamp costs $5.00 and is required with a hunting license, with a free version for super seniors.
What counts as bait for deer in Jo Daviess County?
Any feed, mineral or store-bought attractant placed to draw deer, and the area stays baited for 10 days afterward.
Is there a Sunday ban on hunting in Jo Daviess County?
None is stated in the Digest or IDNR pages we read, and we cannot confirm one way or the other.
Can kids hunt in Jo Daviess County?
Yes. Youth have their own deer weekend (October 10 to 12) and turkey weekends, and an apprentice license skips the course if a licensed hunter 21 or older supervises.
Does Jo Daviess County sit in a single waterfowl zone?
We cannot say: the zones are described by roads, and a county can be split by a road line.
Do hunting hours change when daylight time ends in Jo Daviess County?
Yes. Clocks fall back on November 1, 2026, so November sunrise comes earlier on the clock: 6:57 a.m. here on November 20.
Can I buy a Jo Daviess firearm permit over the counter?
Leftover permits go on sale from October 20, 2026. For Jo Daviess County the leftovers were 3,000 either-sex and 2,804 antlerless for firearm hunting.
Who do I call with a wildlife question in Jo Daviess County?
Brodie Eddington, the IDNR district biologist, at (815) 369-2030.
Does Jo Daviess County have a Special CWD season?
Yes, antlerless only, December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17.
Can I take deer carcass parts out of Jo Daviess County?
Illinois does not publish a carcass-transport ban for Jo Daviess County in the Digest sections we read; check the current CWD rules and the state where you are heading before moving a carcass.
Do I need a permit to hunt public land in Jo Daviess County?
Some sites use the quota lottery or require site permits; 8 of the 9 listed sites carry a quota hunt flag.
When does turkey season end in Jo Daviess County?
The fifth segment closes May 13, 2027.
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.