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Mason County, Illinois
Mason County Hunting Overview
Mason County for 2026-27: firearm deer is open, 16 permits were still unsold after Lottery 3, and 7 public sites lie inside the line.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Know Mason County before you go
The West Central region that holds Mason County runs across the Illinois and Mississippi river bottoms, the Pike County hills and the Metro East. About 12,543 people called the county home in 2024 (4.1% down from the 2020 base of 13,086), and Havana is where the offices sit. Ground inside the county line adds up to 539 square miles, near 345,185 acres; 47 counties are larger.
Neighbouring counties are Cass County, Fulton County, Logan County, Menard County, Schuyler County and Tazewell County, all inside Illinois. Reach the district biologist, Jake Lux, for the Lux area that takes in Mason County.
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}
Permits and rules for Mason County deer hunters
Every firearm county shares the same two gun seasons, so in Mason County the dates to circle are November 20 through November 22 and December 3 through December 6. Archery deer is split around the gun seasons: October 1 to November 19, November 23 to December 2, then December 7 to January 17. Leftover firearm permits for Mason County total 16, split 16 either-sex and 0 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Muzzleloader | 12 | 0 | 12 |
That ranks the county 98th of 99 firearm counties for leftover permits, where first place has the most. Leftover muzzleloader stock stands at 12: 12 either-sex and 0 antlerless. From October 20 the leftovers can be bought at license vendors or online, and the numbers above are the counts after Lottery 3. No hunter may take more than two antlered deer a year across youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons; the Special CWD season is exempt, and each permit covers one deer.
What governs deer in Mason County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 16 |
| 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.
Mason County zone flags and CWD rules
Hunters here are outside the confirmed CWD list, but deer move across county lines, so check the neighbours before hauling a carcass. Neither a Special CWD season nor a late-winter antlerless season is listed for Mason County this year. Expect five spring segments in the North Zone, starting April 12 and finishing May 13, 2027. The 2027 youth weekends fall on March 27 and 28 and April 3 and 4; adults wait for segment one.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
| 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 |
CWD head drop-off stations near Mason County
Jubilee College State Park
Marshall SFWA
IDNR lists 38 voluntary head drop-off sites, and these are the two closest to the county center.
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, Mason County
County harvest tables for the 2025-26 seasons credit Mason with 1,071 deer, including 451 does. The total sits 69th in the state and equals about 2.0 deer taken per square mile. One deer in every 162 taken in Illinois came from Mason, a 0.6% share of 174,006.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 626 | 58% |
| Firearm | 407 | 38% |
| Muzzleloader | 14 | 1% |
| Youth | 24 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
The newest season is above the earlier average of 913 for 2016 to 2024. Weapons split the harvest unevenly; archery topped the list with 626 deer.
160 gobblers and bearded hens were reported on county permits in spring 2026, a 29.1% rate of success. Of the total, 20 came during youth weekends and 41 in the first regular segment.
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.
When each Mason County hunt starts and stops
Archery deer, spring turkey and furbearer dates run far past the November gun weekends, which means most of the calendar for Mason County falls outside the firearm seasons.
| Game | Season name | Permit kind | Zone | From | To | Right 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 | |
| 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.
Where the public hunting ground lies in Mason County
Count 7 public hunting sites in Mason County: 15,294 listed acres in total. Top of the list sits Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area: 7,000 acres classed as a fish and wildlife area.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanganois | Fish and wildlife area | 7,000 | Yes | 4,302 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Oakford | Habitat area | 115 | No | 24 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Chautauqua | Wildlife refuge | 809 | No | — | waterfowl, upland game |
| Sand Ridge | State forest | 6,600 | Yes | 3,957 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Sparks Pond Land and Water Reserve | Land and water reserve | 230 | Yes | 60 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, rabbit |
| Revis Hill Prairie | Nature preserve | 420 | Yes | 102 | white-tailed deer |
| Henry Allen Gleason | Nature preserve | 120 | No | — | white-tailed deer |
Site-specific rules matter: some areas limit shot type, close at set hours or require a permit drawn in advance.
Close public sites beyond the county line
Sites that look public but are not open to hunting in Mason County: Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, Illinois River Biological Station, Havana Field Headquarters, Barton-Sommer Woodland, Matanzas Prairie and Mason State Tree Nursery.
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.
Mason County towns and services
Of 10 places in the county, Havana, Mason City and Manito are the most populous.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Havana | City | 2,826 |
| Mason City | City | 1,982 |
| Manito | Village | 1,488 |
| San Jose | Village | 469 |
| Easton | Village | 302 |
| Bath | Village | 265 |
| Kilbourne | Village | 259 |
| Forest City | Village | 210 |
| Topeka | Village | 56 |
| Goofy Ridge | Cdp | — |
Shops, processors, taxidermists and outfitters in the data: 6 here and more across the line.
Mason 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.
Mason County: club benches and clay fields
1 range in Mason County; Sand Ridge (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Pistol Prep Academy is the rifle range nearest Mason County, 36 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.
Mason County sunrise and legal hours
Regular duck and goose hours end at sunset, a full half hour earlier than deer hours, and the Mason County columns show that gap on each date.
| Date | Marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks, geese | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:55 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:04 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:35 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:51 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:12 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:18 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:28 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 5:58 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 Mason County
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Sand prairie in fall color under a blue sky at Henry Allan Gleason Nature PreservePhoto: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
Snow geese lifting off the water at Chautauqua National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Jacob Randa (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Sand prairie and scattered trees at Henry Allan Gleason Nature Preserve in Mason CountyPhoto: Curtis Abert (CC BY 2.0)
Mason County: common questions
Are there discounts on a Mason hunting license?
Seniors 65 to 74 pay $6.00 and those 75 or older $1.00; veterans $6.00.
Do I need hunter safety to hunt in Mason County?
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1980 must complete hunter safety education or show a prior-year hunting license before buying one.
Where can I confirm the Sunday rule for Mason County?
Ask IDNR directly, because the Digest and IDNR pages we read are silent on the point.
What time is sunrise in Mason County in November?
About 6:51 a.m. on November 20, 2026, with sunset at 4:41 p.m..
How do I know which duck zone covers Mason County?
Read the road description in the Digest or the IDNR waterfowl zones PDF, since zone lines follow roads and not county borders.
Is there a gun shop in Mason County?
4 sporting goods or gun listings appear for Mason County.
How many leftover deer permits does Mason County have?
16 firearm and 12 muzzleloader permits remained after the third lottery, and the count falls as they sell.
Is there a CWD check station in Mason County?
No, Mason is not one of the 18 mandatory check-station counties.
Is there a late-winter deer season in Mason County?
No, Mason County is not on the 2026-27 late-winter antlerless county list.
What time does turkey hunting stop in Mason 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 Mason County?
Some sites use the quota lottery or require site permits; 4 of the 7 listed sites carry a quota hunt flag.
Which season produces most of the Mason deer harvest?
In 2025-26 the firearm seasons produced 407 deer and archery 626.
Do I have to report my deer in Mason County?
Yes. Every deer must be reported by phone or online by 10 p.m. on harvest day.
Can I use a mineral lick for deer in Mason County?
Store-bought deer baits and attractants are illegal at any time in Illinois except for licensed captive cervid owners.
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.