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Rogus district
Kankakee County, Illinois Hunting
What a Kankakee County hunter needs before opening day: permit status, zone flags, check station rules, sites to hunt and a county harvest record back to 2016.
Photo: MrHarman at English Wikipedia (Public domain)
Kankakee County at a glance
For the Hunt Illinois site list, this county counts as Northeast region country: the Chicago region, the Kankakee River country and the Fox and Des Plaines valleys. Kankakee anchors a county of 106,410 people by the 2024 Census estimate, 1.1% down from the 2020 base of 107,647. The Census gazetteer measures 676 square miles of land and 5 of water, the 27th largest land area of the 102.
Illinois neighbours are Ford County, Grundy County, Iroquois County, Livingston County and Will County, and across the state line it meets Lake County (IN) and Newton County (IN), where a different agency sets the rules. IDNR assigns Kankakee County to the Rogus district, where Joe Rogus is the biologist of record.
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 Kankakee County
Deer in Kankakee County: permits and gun rules
Firearm deer hunting is open in Kankakee County: the first season runs November 20 to November 22, 2026 and the second December 3 to December 6, 2026. Bow season closes during each firearm period, leaving three windows that end on November 19, December 2 and January 17. After Lottery 3, IDNR still had 1,206 firearm permits unsold for Kankakee County: 920 either-sex and 286 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 920 | 286 | 1,206 |
| Muzzleloader | 169 | 28 | 197 |
Only 35 firearm counties had more permits left over after Lottery 3. For the December muzzleloader weekend, 197 permits were unsold, 169 either-sex plus 28 antlerless. Residents had first crack in Lottery 1; whatever remained after Lottery 3 is what this table counts. Each permit tags one deer, and a hunter may not exceed two antlered deer in a year, Special CWD excepted.
Kankakee County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Required |
| Leftover permits | 1,206 |
| 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.
Disease rules and turkey dates for Kankakee County
Kankakee County sits on the confirmed CWD county list (28 counties in 2026), which brings extra seasons and sampling. Since 2003 the surveillance program has found 31 infected deer here; of 147 adults tested in fiscal 2026, 1 were positive. Gun hunters in Kankakee County must present deer at a check station on the day of the kill, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The station is at Kankakee River State Park Visitor Center, 5314 W. Rt. 102, Bourbonnais, IL 60914. Antlerless-only Special CWD days fall on December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17 here, using an over-the-counter county permit.
| 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 |
Spring turkey hunters in Kankakee County follow the North Zone calendar, opening April 12 and closing May 13, 2027. Two youth weekends open the spring, then five segments follow, and shooting stops at 1 p.m. each day.
| 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 |
Head drop-off near Kankakee County
Kankakee River State Park
Des Plaines Game Propagation…
Drop-off stations take adult deer heads for CWD testing: fill out a sample submission card and leave the head.
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.
Kankakee County deer and turkey harvest figures
Hunters took 746 deer in Kankakee County during 2025-26 by IDNR county figures, 426 of them male. A rank of 83rd statewide goes with a density of roughly 1.1 deer harvested per square mile. Statewide the harvest was 174,006, so this county accounts for 0.4% of it.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 392 | 53% |
| Firearm | 262 | 35% |
| Muzzleloader | 8 | 1% |
| Youth | 8 | 1% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 76 | 10% |
Against an earlier average of 572 deer a season, the most recent total is above the pattern. Season by season the leader is archery, which produced 53% of the deer.
In the 2026 spring season the county gave up 63 turkeys, and about 29.3% of permit holders tagged out. Youth hunters accounted for 7 of those birds, and the first segment yielded 13. 76 deer came from the Special CWD season of 2025-26, according to the CWD report.
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.
Kankakee seasons by species
56 season lines for 25 species reach Kankakee County this year, and the last column checks each against today's date.
| Animal | Window | Buy | Covers | Begins | Ends | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Sites, acres and quota hunts in Kankakee County
6,568 acres across 3 public sites make up the listed hunting ground in Kankakee County. Kankakee River State Park is the biggest, at 4,000 acres of state park.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroquois County | State wildlife area | 2,108 | Yes | 1,721 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, pheasant |
| Kankakee River | State park | 4,000 | Yes | 2,585 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Momence Wetlands Land and Water Reserve | Land and water reserve | 460 | Yes | 381 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
Permit hunts are common on state fish and wildlife areas, while many state parks open only a few species.
Closest sites outside Kankakee limits
Not open for hunting here: Gooseberry Island and Iroquois Woods.
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 Kankakee County
Kankakee County holds 20 Census places; Kankakee, Bourbonnais and Bradley lead in population.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee | City | 23,535 |
| Bourbonnais | Village | 18,083 |
| Bradley | Village | 15,298 |
| Manteno | Village | 9,241 |
| Momence | City | 3,169 |
| Limestone | Village | 1,524 |
| Herscher | Village | 1,493 |
| Grant Park | Village | 1,282 |
| St. Anne | Village | 1,130 |
| Essex | Village | 853 |
| Aroma Park | Village | 653 |
| Hopkins Park | Village | 625 |
13 listed hunting businesss sit inside Kankakee County, and the cards below add the closest ones from nearby 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.
Kankakee County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
4 ranges in Kankakee County; Kankakee River (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2026 | ATA trap | Posted at |
| Nov 21-22, 2026 | Gun show | Posted at |
| Nov 21, 2026 | USPSA | Register |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Women shooters | Register |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Multi-gun | Register |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Glock league | Enter |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Kankakee County hunting hours by date
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, so the window around Kankakee County below comes from the NOAA solar formula for this spot.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Antlered or not | Blind hours | Spring hunt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:47 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:56 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:29 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:42 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:45 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:06 a.m. | 4:23 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:53 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:23 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:13 a.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:26 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:16 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:18 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 5:48 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.
Kankakee County gear picks
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
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.
The calm Kankakee River under a clear sky in KankakeePhoto: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Spring floodwater among bare bottomland trees near MomencePhoto: David Wilson (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)
Hunting Kankakee County, answered
What license do I need to hunt in Kankakee 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.
Who needs hunter orange in Kankakee County?
Anyone hunting deer in firearm seasons in open counties, with a solid blaze orange or pink cap and an upper garment showing at least 400 square inches.
Are Sundays open for deer in Kankakee County?
Season dates are listed as date ranges; the Digest does not say anything we could read about Sunday restrictions.
When does legal deer shooting light end in Kankakee County?
One-half hour after sunset: 5:00 p.m. on opening day of firearm season, November 20, 2026.
Can I hunt waterfowl in Kankakee County?
Yes, with the hunting license, habitat stamp, state and federal waterfowl stamps, and attention to site rules; public waterfowl sites are drawn by lottery.
Are there taxidermists in Kankakee County?
1 taxidermist listed inside the county.
When can I buy leftover deer permits for Kankakee County?
Over the counter from October 20, 2026. Check the IDNR permit inquiry page for the live count, which began at 1,206 firearm permits for Kankakee County after Lottery 3.
Should Kankakee County hunters worry about chronic wasting disease?
CWD is confirmed here, so follow the Special CWD and sampling rules and consider dropping a head at a sampling site.
Do Special CWD deer count against my limit in Kankakee County?
No. Deer taken in the Special CWD season do not count toward the two-antlered-deer yearly limit.
Is Kankakee County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the North Zone (66 counties), so the spring dates start April 12.
Which public hunting sites does Kankakee County have?
3 sites inside the county: Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, Kankakee River State Park and Momence Wetlands Land and Water Reserve.
How many archery deer are taken in Kankakee County?
392 in 2025-26, 53% of the county total.
Can I report a deer online in Kankakee County?
Yes, through the IDNR harvest reporting site, or by phone at 1-866-452-4325.
How long after removing bait can I hunt in Kankakee County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
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.