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2026-27 county guide
Lake County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Lake County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Lake County overview
IDNR files Lake 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 718,604 people in 2024 (0.6% up from the 2020 base of 714,412), with the courthouse in Waukegan. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 444 square miles, which puts it 61st statewide.
On the map it shares borders with Cook County and McHenry County and Allegan County (MI), Berrien County (MI), Kenosha County (WI) and Van Buren County (MI). Stefanie Fitzsimons covers Lake County as the Fitzsimons 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 Lake County
Firearm deer hunting is closed in Lake County; archery deer is the way in, and it runs October 1 through January 17. No pause for firearm weekends interrupts bow season in Lake County; it runs straight from October 1 to January 17. Because gun hunting is closed, Lake County does not appear in the leftover firearm permit counts.
The antlered limit is two per year across every season but Special CWD; one deer goes with each permit.
What governs deer in Lake County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Closed |
| Archery deer | One run |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | None |
| Hunter orange | Not needed for gun |
| 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 Lake County
IDNR counts Lake County among the 28 counties where CWD is confirmed, so the disease rules apply here. IDNR logged 10 CWD-positive deer in Lake over the life of the program, with 32 adults sampled in fiscal 2026 and 1 positive. No same-day station visit is required here, only the usual harvest report. Winter antlerless hunting after the gun seasons is not offered in Lake County under the current IDNR lists.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not 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 Lake County hunters can leave a head
Moraine Hills State Park
IDNR Region 2 Office / James Pate Phillips State Park
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.
County harvest numbers, Lake County
IDNR reports 332 deer harvested in Lake County in the 2025-26 seasons, 211 bucks and 121 does. That is the 98th highest of 102 counties, and about 0.7 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 0.2%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 314 | 95% |
| Firearm | 5 | 2% |
| Muzzleloader | 0 | 0% |
| Youth | 13 | 4% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 308, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, archery led with 314 deer, 95% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 16 birds from the county, with 17.2% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 2; youth hunters took 1. In the CWD annual report the county shows 0 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.
Lake County first and last days
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 | Cook, DuPage, Lake, east Kane | Oct 1, 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 Lake County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 5 public hunting areas in Lake County, with 4,691 acres between them. At 2,500 acres, Chain O’Lakes State Park outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain O’Lakes | State park | 2,500 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach | State park | 900 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, squirrel, furbearers |
| Volo Bog | Natural area | 1,000 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, furbearers |
| Redwing Slough/Deer Lake | Natural area | 155 | Yes | — | ducks, geese, squirrel |
| Black Crown Marsh | Natural area | 136 | Yes | 110 | ducks |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Sites just outside Lake County
Do not count on Wauconda Bog, Cedar Lake Bog and North Point Marina; 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.
Lake County towns and services
The 2024 estimates rank Waukegan, Buffalo Grove and Mundelein first among the county's 55 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Waukegan | City | 88,570 |
| Buffalo Grove | Village | 43,072 |
| Mundelein | Village | 32,641 |
| Highland Park | City | 30,794 |
| North Chicago | City | 30,639 |
| Gurnee | Village | 30,546 |
| Round Lake Beach | Village | 27,091 |
| Vernon Hills | Village | 27,002 |
| Zion | City | 24,583 |
| Grayslake | Village | 21,262 |
| Libertyville | Village | 20,643 |
| Lake Zurich | Village | 19,960 |
Listings for Lake County: 16, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Lake wildlife staff 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.
Lake County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
5 ranges in Lake County; Chain O' Lakes (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14-15, 2026 | Gun show | Details |
| Dec 1-12, 2026 | CMP match | Match page |
| Dec 19-20, 2026 | Gun show | Details |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Lake County sunrise and legal hours
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Lake County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:31 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:22 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:17 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 5:47 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.
Lake County hunting kit
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A white-tailed buck with a small rack browsing at Buffalo Creek Forest PreservePhoto: Brian Plunkett (CC BY 2.0)
An eastern cottontail sitting in the grass at Buffalo Creek Forest PreservePhoto: Brian Plunkett (CC BY 2.0)
Dune grass and Lake Michigan in December at Illinois Beach State ParkPhoto: CheepShot (CC BY 2.0)
Lake County hunting questions
What are the duck season dates near Lake County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Is there a gun shop in Lake County?
16 sporting goods or gun listings appear for Lake County.
What deer permit do I need in Lake County?
An archery deer permit, because gun permits are not issued for Lake County.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Lake County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry, about 26 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Lake County?
Archery deer runs to January 17; no late-winter or Special CWD days apply.
What time does turkey hunting stop in Lake County?
At 1 p.m. each day in spring; shooting starts one-half hour before sunrise.
Do I need a permit to hunt public land in Lake County?
Some sites use the quota lottery or require site permits; 5 of the 5 listed sites carry a quota hunt flag.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Lake County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 211 male and 121 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in Lake 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.
Can I use a mineral lick for deer in Lake County?
Store-bought deer baits and attractants are illegal at any time in Illinois except for licensed captive cervid owners.
Are there discounts on a Lake hunting license?
Seniors 65 to 74 pay $6.00 and those 75 or older $1.00; veterans $6.00.
Is there an apprentice license for Lake 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 Lake County?
The Digest mentions Sundays only in season-date wording, and it contains no county Sunday rule.
How long is the legal day for archery in Lake County?
A half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset.
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.