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2026-27 county guide
Shelby County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Shelby County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Start here for Shelby County
IDNR files Shelby County under its East Central region, a part of the state that takes in the central Illinois cornbelt, the Sangamon and Embarras bottoms and Lake Shelbyville country. Census estimates put the county at 20,542 people in 2024 (2.1% down from the 2020 base of 20,978), with the courthouse in Shelbyville. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 759 square miles, which puts it 18th statewide.
Adjoining counties: Christian County, Coles County, Cumberland County, Effingham County, Fayette County, Macon County, Montgomery County and Moultrie County; none lies across a state line. Bryan Eubanks covers Shelby County as the Eubanks 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}
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Shelby County
What deer hunters need in Shelby County
Gun season in Shelby County comes in two pieces, November 20 to November 22, 2026 followed by December 3 to December 6, 2026. The archery calendar has three pieces here, ending November 19, December 2 and January 17 respectively. Hunters hoping for a gun permit in Shelby County found 939 left over: 459 either-sex, 480 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 459 | 480 | 939 |
| Muzzleloader | 0 | 110 | 110 |
A rank of 44th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 0 either-sex and 110 antlerless. Check the IDNR permit inquiry page before you travel, because the over-the-counter leftovers sell down daily after October 20. The antlered limit is two per year across every season but Special CWD; one deer goes with each permit.
Shelby County deer rules at a glance
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 939 |
| 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.
CWD, winter hunts and turkey zone in Shelby County
No CWD positive is on record for Shelby County in the IDNR confirmed county list of 28 counties, so the extra disease rules do not apply here. Late-winter permits apply in Shelby County on private ground; public land follows site rules. 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.
| Flag | Status |
|---|---|
| Confirmed CWD | No |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | Yes |
| 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 |
Where Shelby County hunters can leave a head
Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
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.
Shelby County deer and turkey harvest figures
IDNR reports 2,769 deer harvested in Shelby County in the 2025-26 seasons, 1,433 bucks and 1,336 does. That is the 15th highest of 102 counties, and about 3.7 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 1.6%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 1,132 | 41% |
| Firearm | 1,265 | 46% |
| Muzzleloader | 32 | 1% |
| Youth | 101 | 4% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 239 | 9% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 2,363, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, firearm led with 1,265 deer, 46% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 142 birds from the county, with 31.7% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 39; youth hunters took 32.
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.
Shelby seasons by species
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 | 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 | 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 Shelby County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 4 public hunting areas in Shelby County, with 24,983 acres between them. At 23,000 acres, Lake Shelbyville (Corps of Engineers) outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Springs | State forest | 963 | Yes | 1,132 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Eagle Creek | State park | 520 | Yes | 217 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Wolf Creek | State park | 500 | Yes | 374 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ducks |
| Lake Shelbyville (Corps of Engineers) | Corps lake | 23,000 | No | — | — |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Sites just outside Shelby County
Do not count on Margaret Guzy Pothole Wetlands; 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.
Supplies, meat processing and contacts for Shelby County
The 2024 estimates rank Shelbyville, Moweaqua and Windsor first among the county's 13 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville | City | 4,540 |
| Moweaqua | Village | 1,724 |
| Windsor | City | 1,037 |
| Stewardson | Village | 718 |
| Findlay | Village | 649 |
| Strasburg | Village | 517 |
| Cowden | Village | 499 |
| Tower Hill | Village | 473 |
| Herrick | Village | 358 |
| Sigel | Town | 317 |
| Oconee | Village | 136 |
| Lakewood | Cdp | — |
Listings for Shelby County: 13, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Biologist 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.
Shelby County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
4 ranges in Shelby County; Eagle Creek (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Cowboy action | Match page |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Multi-gun | Squad up |
| Nov 15, 2026 | ATA trap | Listing |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Cowboy action | Match page |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Cowboy action | Match page |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Cowboy action | Match page |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Shelby County hunting hours by date
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Shelby County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:50 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 6:59 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:29 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:44 a.m. | 4:38 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:38 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 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 |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:11 a.m. | 4:35 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Late-winter days | 7:15 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:24 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. | 5:54 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.
Shelby County hunting kit
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Orange sunset over Horseshoe Lake with the St. Louis skyline beyondPhoto: Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Sunset over the Mississippi River at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hunting Shelby County, answered
What tag goes on a deer in Shelby 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.
How long after removing bait can I hunt in Shelby County?
An area is considered baited for 10 consecutive days after the bait is gone.
What license do I need to hunt in Shelby 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.
Is there an apprentice license for Shelby 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 Shelby County?
The Digest mentions Sundays only in season-date wording, and it contains no county Sunday rule.
How long is the legal day for deer hunting in Shelby County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:14 a.m. to 5:08 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Shelby County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Are there taxidermists in Shelby County?
No taxidermist is listed in Shelby County; check the services section for neighbours.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Shelby County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 939 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Shelby County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Harry “Babe” Woodyard State Natural Area in Georgetown, about 76 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Shelby County?
Late-winter and Special CWD hunting run December 31 to January 3 and January 15 to 17; archery continues to January 17.
Is Shelby County in the North or South turkey zone?
IDNR lists it in the North Zone (66 counties), so the spring dates start April 12.
Is there a state fish and wildlife area in Shelby County?
None is listed inside the county; the sites above are other kinds of public land.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Shelby County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 1,433 male and 1,336 female deer.
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.