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County seat: Lawrenceville
Hunting in Lawrence County
Lawrence County rules in one place: open firearm deer, CWD not found, south turkey zone and a 1,404 deer harvest to measure against.
Photo: TheCatalyst31 (CC0 1.0)
Know Lawrence County before you go
Lawrence County belongs to the South region on IDNR public land fact sheets, a stretch of Illinois made up of the Shawnee Hills, the Ohio and Wabash river counties and the Cache and Kaskaskia bottoms. County business runs from Lawrenceville; the 2024 population estimate is 14,801, 3.3% down from the 2020 base of 15,307. Its 372 square miles of land, roughly 238,195 acres, rank 80th among Illinois counties by area.
Border counties are Crawford County, Richland County and Wabash County; the state boundary brings in Knox County (IN). Questions about habitat or local deer numbers go to Paul Skoglund, the district biologist for the Skoglund area.
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 Lawrence County
Lawrence County deer permits and firearm rules
IDNR lists Lawrence County among the firearm counties, which means the November weekend and the December four-day season both apply. Expect archery windows of October 1 to November 19, November 23 to December 2 and December 7 to January 17 in Lawrence County. 905 firearm permits remained here after the final lottery round, made up of 379 either-sex and 526 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 379 | 526 | 905 |
| Muzzleloader | 56 | 105 | 161 |
Counted against the other 98 firearm counties, the leftover total puts Lawrence at number 45. Muzzleloader permits left: 56 either-sex and 105 antlerless, 161 together. We call these leftovers rather than quotas, since the first-round county allocations are not in the sources we could read. Illinois caps antlered deer at two a year per hunter, adding up youth, bow, muzzleloader and gun harvests, and lets Special CWD deer fall outside that count.
Lawrence County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 905 |
| 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.
Lawrence County CWD status and turkey zone
Lawrence County is not one of the 28 confirmed CWD counties, though neighbours may be and sampling continues statewide. The January antlerless weekends skip this county. The county is in the South Zone for spring turkey, where the five segments run from April 5 to May 6, 2027. Young hunters get two weekends ahead of everyone else, and every spring bird has to be reported by 10 p.m.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| 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 |
Closest CWD sampling sites
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Bring the head, a completed card and your permit number if the site asks.
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.
Lawrence County deer and turkey harvest figures
The county deer harvest report for 2025-26 lists 1,404 deer for Lawrence: 790 male and 614 female. Only 57 counties reported more deer, and the density works out near 3.8 per square mile. The county supplied 0.8% of the 174,006 deer taken statewide that year.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 674 | 48% |
| Firearm | 675 | 48% |
| Muzzleloader | 29 | 2% |
| Youth | 26 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Long-run average 1,202; this year the harvest ran above that mark. The largest slice of the harvest came in the firearm category: 675 deer.
County permits produced 180 spring turkeys in 2026 at a 33.3% success rate. Early season matters: 56 birds in segment one, 11 in the youth hunt.
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.
Lawrence County permits and windows by species
Lawrence County has its own deer permit counts, so the Deer rows below assume you hold a county permit or an archery permit, while the other species follow statewide dates.
| Species | Hunt | Paperwork | Area | Opening day | Final day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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.
Where the public hunting ground lies in Lawrence County
Public hunting in Lawrence County means 3 listed sites, a combined 3,410 acres by the fact sheet figures. The largest is Embarras River State Natural Area, a natural area of 1,360 acres.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hills | State park | 736 | Yes | 179 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Chauncey Marsh | Nature preserve | 1,314 | Yes | 373 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Embarras River | Natural area | 1,360 | Yes | 639 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
Access rules differ by site, and the quota hunt column below flags where permits are drawn.
Close public sites beyond the county line
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 Lawrence County
The largest places in Lawrence County by the 2024 Census estimate are Lawrenceville, Sumner and Bridgeport, and 5 incorporated or census-designated places lie inside the county.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrenceville | City | 4,315 |
| Sumner | City | 2,596 |
| Bridgeport | City | 1,686 |
| St. Francisville | City | 527 |
| Russellville | Village | 88 |
We list 5 businesses in Lawrence County and the closest from adjoining counties after them.
Biologist and Springfield office for Lawrence 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.
Coming up in Lawrence County
As of November 13, 2026 this county has 1 date ahead, namely NWTF banquet. The chapter fundraisers come to 1.
| When | Title | Location | Tickets or sign-up | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2027 | Lawrence County Longbeards NWTF Banquet listing type NWTF banquet | US Hwy 50 Sumner | Tickets | Source |
Lawrence County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
Lawrence County has no listed range of its own; the nearest three across the line are below, with miles.
Edwards County Sportsmens Club is the rifle range nearest Lawrence County, 28 miles away; check its access line first.
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Lawrence County hunting hours by date
Teal run from sunrise to sunset in September; every other waterfowl day starts a half hour before sunrise.
| When | Event | First sun | Last sun | Deer legal | Duck legal | Turkey legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:45 a.m. | 6:36 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 6:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:54 a.m. | 6:22 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:52 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:22 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:24 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:38 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:05 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:31 a.m. | 7:17 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 6:01 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.
Load the truck for Lawrence County
Picked for cornfields, creek bottoms and river backwaters; nothing loads until you tap.
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Chest waders
Illinois River backwaters and flooded corn run knee to waist deep in Illinois.
Sunset over the Mississippi River at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (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)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Lawrence County FAQ
Is Lawrence County hard to draw a deer permit for?
The county ranks 45th of 99 for leftover permits (905 firearm permits), so it is easier than the typical county to find a permit after the lotteries.
Are there taxidermists in Lawrence County?
No taxidermist is listed in Lawrence County; check the services section for neighbours.
Can I hunt antlerless deer after the gun seasons in Lawrence County?
Only with archery equipment, since no late-winter hunt is listed.
Is Lawrence on the CWD confirmed county list?
It is not. The confirmed list names 28 other counties.
Is there a state fish and wildlife area in Lawrence County?
None is listed inside the county; the sites above are other kinds of public land.
Is Lawrence County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the South Zone (34 counties), so the spring dates start April 5.
When is the deadline to report a deer or turkey in Lawrence County?
Deer must be reported by 10 p.m. the day of harvest, and spring turkeys also by 10 p.m.
How does the Lawrence County deer harvest compare with the rest of Illinois?
It is 0.8% of the 174,006 deer taken statewide, 58th among counties.
What license do I need to hunt in Lawrence 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 Lawrence County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
What days of the week can I hunt in Lawrence County?
Season dates are published as calendar ranges; the Digest states no weekday restriction that we could find, so confirm with IDNR for Sundays.
How long is a hunter safety card good for?
Illinois hunter safety certificates are valid for life.
When does goose season start near Lawrence County?
Canada goose and other goose seasons follow zone calendars and run into January and, for light geese, a Conservation Order to April 30.
What time can I start deer hunting in Lawrence County?
One-half hour before sunrise. On November 20, 2026 sunrise near Lawrence is 6:38 a.m., so legal shooting light starts 6:08 a.m. and ends 5:05 p.m..
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.