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Phillips district
Saline County, Illinois Hunting
What a Saline 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: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)
Saline County at a glance
For the Hunt Illinois site list, this county counts as South region country: the Shawnee Hills, the Ohio and Wabash river counties and the Cache and Kaskaskia bottoms. Harrisburg anchors a county of 22,826 people by the 2024 Census estimate, 4.2% down from the 2020 base of 23,821. The Census gazetteer measures 380 square miles of land and 7 of water, the 77th largest land area of the 102.
The county shares its lines only with Franklin County, Gallatin County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Johnson County, Pope County and Williamson County. IDNR assigns Saline County to the Phillips district, where Adam Phillips 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 Saline County
Deer in Saline County: permits and gun rules
Firearm deer hunting is open in Saline 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 1,930 firearm permits unsold for Saline County: 1,231 either-sex and 699 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 1,231 | 699 | 1,930 |
| Muzzleloader | 117 | 44 | 161 |
Only 19 firearm counties had more permits left over after Lottery 3. For the December muzzleloader weekend, 161 permits were unsold, 117 either-sex plus 44 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.
Rule checklist for Saline County
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 1,930 |
| 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 Saline County
IDNR has not confirmed CWD in Saline County; the confirmed list covers 28 other counties. Saline County makes the list of 31 late-winter antlerless counties this year, and the list changes yearly. Spring turkey hunters in Saline County follow the South Zone calendar, opening April 5 and closing May 6, 2027. Two youth weekends open the spring, then five segments follow, and shooting stops at 1 p.m. each day.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | Yes |
| 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 |
Head drop-off near Saline County
Kaskaskia River Lock and Dam Parking Area
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
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.
Saline County harvest records
Hunters took 1,814 deer in Saline County during 2025-26 by IDNR county figures, 936 of them male. A rank of 38th statewide goes with a density of roughly 4.8 deer harvested per square mile. Statewide the harvest was 174,006, so this county accounts for 1.0% of it.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 634 | 35% |
| Firearm | 900 | 50% |
| Muzzleloader | 26 | 1% |
| Youth | 45 | 2% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 209 | 12% |
Against an earlier average of 1,699 deer a season, the most recent total is above the pattern. Season by season the leader is firearm, which produced 50% of the deer.
In the 2026 spring season the county gave up 164 turkeys, and about 33.5% of permit holders tagged out. Youth hunters accounted for 34 of those birds, and the first segment yielded 36.
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.
Saline County first and last days
56 season lines for 25 species reach Saline 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 | Late-Winter Antlerless | Late-winter permit | Late-winter 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 | 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.
Sites, acres and quota hunts in Saline County
460,520 acres across 4 public sites make up the listed hunting ground in Saline County. Shawnee National Forest is the biggest, at 286,498 acres of national forest.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saline County | Fish and wildlife area | 1,000 | No | 186 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Shawnee National Forest | National forest | 286,498 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Hidden Springs Ranger District | Ranger district | 169,222 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey |
| Sahara Woods | Recreation area | 3,800 | Yes | 316 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
Permit hunts are common on state fish and wildlife areas, while many state parks open only a few species.
Closest sites outside Saline limits
Not open for hunting here: Tunnel Hill.
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.
Saline County local services
Saline County holds 7 Census places; Harrisburg, Eldorado and Carrier Mills lead in population.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | City | 7,937 |
| Eldorado | City | 3,583 |
| Carrier Mills | Village | 1,600 |
| Galatia | Village | 787 |
| Raleigh | Village | 278 |
| Stonefort | Village | 219 |
| Muddy | Village | 57 |
2 listed hunting businesss sit inside Saline County, and the cards below add the closest ones from nearby counties.
Phone numbers for Saline 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.
Saline County listings by date
2 dates ahead are held inside the county, covering DU banquet and NWTF banquet. Of the total, 2 ask for a ticket from the hosting group.
| Day | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Harrisburg 3rd Annual Dinner kind: DU banquet | Deer Shed Tap Room, 35 S Vine St | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Saline Valley Strutters NWTF Banquet kind: NWTF banquet | 600 E. Logan St | Tickets | Source |
Saline County shooters: ranges and shoot dates
Hamilton County (IDNR site) is the closest listed range to Saline County, 21 miles from its centre.
Ten Mile Creek (IDNR site) in Hamilton County is the nearest range listing a rifle line, roughly 23 miles away.
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 Saline County
The Digest sets deer hours at half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, so the window around Saline 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 | 6:48 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:56 a.m. | 6:26 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:26 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:25 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:39 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 4:36 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:36 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:06 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:09 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 5, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:35 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:05 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.
Saline 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.
Snow on the bank of the Ohio River at Locks and Dam 53 near Grand ChainPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Orange sunset over Horseshoe Lake with the St. Louis skyline beyondPhoto: Bryan Werner (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)
Saline County hunting questions
Do Special CWD deer count against my limit in Saline County?
The question does not arise in Saline County, which has no Special CWD season; elsewhere those deer do not count toward the antlered limit.
Which spring turkey zone is Saline County in?
The South Zone, with five segments from April 5 to May 6, 2027.
Which public hunting sites does Saline County have?
4 sites inside the county: Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Shawnee National Forest and Hidden Springs Ranger District.
How many archery deer are taken in Saline County?
634 in 2025-26, 35% of the county total.
Can I report a deer online in Saline County?
Yes, through the IDNR harvest reporting site, or by phone at 1-866-452-4325.
Are food plots allowed for deer hunting in Saline 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 Saline County?
The Digest base price for a resident hunting license is $12.00 and nonresident $57.00, before vendor fees.
Who needs hunter orange in Saline 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 Saline 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 Saline County?
One-half hour after sunset: 5:11 p.m. on opening day of firearm season, November 20, 2026.
Can I hunt waterfowl in Saline 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.
Can I hire a hunting guide in Saline County?
1 IDNR licensed outfitter or guide listing for the county.
When can I buy leftover deer permits for Saline County?
Over the counter from October 20, 2026. Check the IDNR permit inquiry page for the live count, which began at 1,930 firearm permits for Saline County after Lottery 3.
Should Saline County hunters worry about chronic wasting disease?
It has not been confirmed in the county, but IDNR samples deer statewide and neighbouring counties may be on the confirmed list.
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.