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Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County Hunting Overview
Peoria County for 2026-27: firearm deer is open, 1,214 permits were still unsold after Lottery 3, and 4 public sites lie inside the line.
Photo: H. Michael Miley (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Start here for Peoria County
The Northwest region that holds Peoria County runs across the Rock River valley, the Driftless hills around Galena, the Quad Cities and the Illinois River corridor. About 179,630 people called the county home in 2024 (1.3% down from the 2020 base of 182,021), and Peoria is where the offices sit. Ground inside the county line adds up to 619 square miles, near 395,965 acres; 31 counties are larger.
Neighbouring counties are Fulton County, Knox County, Marshall County, Stark County, Tazewell County and Woodford County, all inside Illinois. A vacancy covers the district around Peoria County; regional staff answer in the meantime.
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 Peoria County
Permits and rules for Peoria County deer hunters
Every firearm county shares the same two gun seasons, so in Peoria 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 Peoria County total 1,214, split 890 either-sex and 324 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 890 | 324 | 1,214 |
| Muzzleloader | 24 | 29 | 53 |
That ranks the county 34th of 99 firearm counties for leftover permits, where first place has the most. Leftover muzzleloader stock stands at 53: 24 either-sex and 29 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.
Rule checklist for Peoria County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 1,214 |
| 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.
Peoria County zone flags and CWD rules
A CWD positive has turned up here, and IDNR keeps Peoria County on its list of 28 confirmed counties. The annual surveillance report tallies 1 CWD positives from the county between November 2003 and June 2026, and 0 of 42 adult samples tested positive in fiscal 2026. Firearm deer in Peoria County do not have to go to a check station, though hunters must still report the harvest by 10 p.m. A Special CWD season is held in Peoria County: antlerless deer only, December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17, on a county-specific permit.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | Yes |
| Special CWD season | Yes |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Firearm check station | Not required |
| Spring turkey zone | North |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
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.
| 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 Peoria 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.
Peoria County harvest records
County harvest tables for the 2025-26 seasons credit Peoria with 2,141 deer, including 984 does. The total sits 29th in the state and equals about 3.5 deer taken per square mile. One deer in every 81 taken in Illinois came from Peoria, a 1.2% share of 174,006.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 1,011 | 47% |
| Firearm | 907 | 42% |
| Muzzleloader | 25 | 1% |
| Youth | 38 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 160 | 7% |
The newest season is above the earlier average of 1,895 for 2016 to 2024. Weapons split the harvest unevenly; archery topped the list with 1,011 deer.
160 gobblers and bearded hens were reported on county permits in spring 2026, a 24.7% rate of success. Of the total, 20 came during youth weekends and 49 in the first regular segment. Late-winter Special CWD hunting contributed 160 deer 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.
Peoria County season calendar, 2026-27
Archery deer, spring turkey and furbearer dates run far past the November gun weekends, which means most of the calendar for Peoria 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 | |
| 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.
Peoria IDNR and federal hunting areas
Count 4 public hunting sites in Peoria County: 13,057 listed acres in total. Top of the list sits Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area: 5,807 acres classed as a fish and wildlife area.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | Fish and wildlife area | 5,807 | Yes | 804 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Banner Marsh | Fish and wildlife area | 3,000 | Yes | 1,539 | ducks, geese, mourning dove |
| Woodford | Fish and wildlife area | 1,350 | No | 1,510 | white-tailed deer, ducks, geese |
| Jubilee College | State park | 2,900 | Yes | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
Site-specific rules matter: some areas limit shot type, close at set hours or require a permit drawn in advance.
Public areas a short drive from Peoria
Sites that look public but are not open to hunting in Peoria County: Schmoeger Park Buffer, Peoria Salvation Army Woods, Hazel and Bill Rutherford Wildlife Prairie and Rock Island Trail.
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.
Peoria County local services
Of 20 places in the county, Peoria, Chillicothe and Bartonville are the most populous.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria | City | 111,696 |
| Chillicothe | City | 6,052 |
| Bartonville | Village | 5,836 |
| Peoria Heights | Village | 5,802 |
| West Peoria | City | 4,204 |
| Elmwood | City | 2,041 |
| Bellevue | Village | 1,903 |
| Princeville | Village | 1,719 |
| Dunlap | Village | 1,596 |
| Hanna City | Village | 1,248 |
| Glasford | Village | 849 |
| Brimfield | Village | 770 |
Shops, processors, taxidermists and outfitters in the data: 16 here and more across the line.
Phone numbers for Peoria County wildlife questions
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.
Peoria County shooters: ranges and shoot dates
4 ranges in Peoria County; Banner Marsh (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5-6, 2026 | Gun show | Source |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Legal hours near Peoria County
Regular duck and goose hours end at sunset, a full half hour earlier than deer hours, and the Peoria County columns show that gap on each date.
| Date | Marker | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks, geese | Spring turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:54 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:03 a.m. | 6:28 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:36 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:51 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 4:39 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:13 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:20 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:23 a.m. | 4:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:26 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:34 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.
Load the truck for Peoria County
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Peoria Lake on the Illinois River from the bluffs at Peoria HeightsPhoto: Jeff Sharp (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Upper Peoria Lake on the Illinois River and fall-colored bluffs from the Peoria Heights towerPhoto: NatFee (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Peoria hunters ask
Do I have to report my deer in Peoria County?
Yes. Every deer must be reported by phone or online by 10 p.m. on harvest day.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in Peoria County?
Planted agricultural crops and normal food plots are not bait under the Digest wording we read, but dumping feed or minerals is.
How much is a hunting license for Peoria County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Do I need hunter safety to hunt in Peoria 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 Peoria County?
Ask IDNR directly, because the Digest and IDNR pages we read are silent on the point.
What time is sunrise in Peoria County in November?
About 6:51 a.m. on November 20, 2026, with sunset at 4:39 p.m..
How do I know which duck zone covers Peoria County?
Read the road description in the Digest or the IDNR waterfowl zones PDF, since zone lines follow roads and not county borders.
Can I hire a hunting guide in Peoria County?
2 IDNR licensed outfitter or guide listings for the county.
How many leftover deer permits does Peoria County have?
1,214 firearm and 53 muzzleloader permits remained after the third lottery, and the count falls as they sell.
Is there a CWD check station in Peoria County?
No, Peoria is not one of the 18 mandatory check-station counties.
Is there a late-winter deer season in Peoria County?
No, Peoria County is not on the 2026-27 late-winter antlerless county list.
Which spring turkey zone is Peoria County in?
The North Zone, with five segments from April 12 to May 13, 2027.
Which public hunting sites does Peoria County have?
4 sites inside the county: Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area, Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area and Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Which season produces most of the Peoria deer harvest?
In 2025-26 the firearm seasons produced 907 deer and archery 1,011.
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.