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2026-27 county guide
Whiteside County Hunting Guide
Deer permits, CWD rules, turkey zone, harvest history and public hunting ground for Whiteside County, set out the way IDNR sets them: county by county.
Photo: Joseph Gage (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Whiteside County in brief
IDNR files Whiteside County under its Northwest region, a part of the state that takes in the Rock River valley, the Driftless hills around Galena, the Quad Cities and the Illinois River corridor. Census estimates put the county at 54,657 people in 2024 (1.9% down from the 2020 base of 55,700), with the courthouse in Morrison. Counting only dry ground, the county spreads across 684 square miles, which puts it 26th statewide.
On the map it shares borders with Bureau County, Carroll County, Henry County, Lee County, Ogle County and Rock Island County and Clinton County (IA). Beth Weber covers Whiteside County as the Weber 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 Whiteside County
What deer hunters need in Whiteside County
Gun season in Whiteside 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 Whiteside County found 1,421 left over: 975 either-sex, 446 antlerless.
| Permit type | Either-sex left | Antlerless left | Total left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 975 | 446 | 1,421 |
| Muzzleloader | 42 | 46 | 88 |
A rank of 26th out of 99 on leftover firearm permits tells you how easy the lottery was to clear here. Muzzleloader leftovers are 42 either-sex and 46 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.
Whiteside County deer checklist
| Rule | In this county |
|---|---|
| Firearm deer | Open |
| Archery deer | Split season |
| Check station | Not required |
| Leftover permits | 1,421 |
| 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 Whiteside County
No CWD positive is on record for Whiteside County in the IDNR confirmed county list of 28 counties, so the extra disease rules do not apply here. Winter antlerless hunting after the gun seasons is not offered in Whiteside County under the current IDNR lists. 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 | 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 |
Where Whiteside County hunters can leave a head
Green River State Wildlife…
Franklin Creek State Natural…
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.
Deer and turkey totals for Whiteside County
IDNR reports 1,496 deer harvested in Whiteside County in the 2025-26 seasons, 839 bucks and 657 does. That is the 53rd highest of 102 counties, and about 2.2 deer per square mile of land. The state total, 174,006, puts the county contribution at 0.9%.
| Season | Deer taken | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 715 | 48% |
| Firearm | 719 | 48% |
| Muzzleloader | 22 | 1% |
| Youth | 40 | 3% |
| Late-winter and Special CWD | 0 | 0% |
Compared with the 2016-to-2024 mean of 1,180, the latest season came in above it. By weapon, firearm led with 719 deer, 48% of the whole.
The 2026 spring turkey report counts 161 birds from the county, with 30.6% of permit holders succeeding. First-segment hunters took 39; youth hunters took 25.
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.
Whiteside County first and last days
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 | |
| 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.
Hunting areas listed inside Whiteside County
The Hunt Illinois site list places 6 public hunting areas in Whiteside County, with 37,217 acres between them. At 32,868 acres, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Illinois pools) outweighs the other sites.
| Site | Kind | Acres | Quota hunt | Trips 2025-26 | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend | Fish and wildlife area | 2,338 | Yes | 1,951 | wild turkey, ducks, geese |
| Sinnissippi Lake | Fish and wildlife area | 700 | Yes | — | ducks, geese, furbearer trapping |
| Coleta Trout Ponds | Fish and wildlife area | 11 | No | — | furbearer trapping |
| Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Illinois pools) | Wildlife refuge | 32,868 | No | — | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Morrison Rockwood | State park | 950 | Yes | 2,097 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
| Hennepin Canal State Trail | State trail | 350 | Yes | 261 | white-tailed deer, wild turkey, mourning dove |
The Hunt Illinois fact sheet for each site lists huntable acres, species and special rules.
Hunting sites over the Whiteside line
Do not count on Mickelson's Landing, Millroad Marsh, Lake Como, Prophetstown and Albany Mounds; 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.
Businesses and agency contacts for Whiteside County
The 2024 estimates rank Sterling, Rock Falls and Morrison first among the county's 13 communities.
| Town | Kind | People 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling | City | 14,535 |
| Rock Falls | City | 8,614 |
| Morrison | City | 3,988 |
| Fulton | City | 3,581 |
| Prophetstown | City | 1,906 |
| Erie | Village | 1,491 |
| Albany | Village | 851 |
| Tampico | Village | 675 |
| Lyndon | Village | 529 |
| Coleta | Village | 161 |
| Deer Grove | Village | 39 |
| Como | Cdp | — |
Listings for Whiteside County: 6, followed by the nearest ones in adjoining counties.
Contacts for Whiteside County hunters
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.
Whiteside County on the hunting events calendar
3 dates ahead here, of these kinds: DU firearm frenzy and NWTF banquet. 3 of the listings are banquet nights; tickets are bought through the organizer.
| Day | What | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2027 | Rock Falls Firearm Frenzy 50 Gun Raffle DU firearm frenzy (as listed) | McCormick Center, 205 East 3rd St Rock Falls | Tickets | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Sterling-Rock Falls Gobblers NWTF Banquet NWTF banquet (as listed) | 712 4th Ave Rock Falls | Event page | Source |
| Mar 20, 2027 | Big Bend Longbeards NWTF Banquet NWTF banquet (as listed) | 3298 Hoover Road Deer Grove | Tickets | Source |
Zeroing a slug gun in Whiteside County
6 ranges in Whiteside County; Morrison-Rockwood (IDNR site) sits on an IDNR site.
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2026 | Class or clinic | Class page |
| Jan 26, 2027 | Class or clinic | Listing |
| Apr 9, 2027 | Trap shoot | Listing |
Ranges from the IDNR archery and hand-trap page, the Sparta complex pages, club sites and directory listings, checked November 13, 2026.
Whiteside County dawn and dusk on season dates
Upland bird, dove and rabbit hours are not printed in a form we can read from the Digest table, so none are listed for Whiteside County.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Waterfowl hours | Turkey hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:55 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:05 a.m. | 6:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:28 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:38 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:54 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:16 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:23 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:26 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:36 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.
Whiteside 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)
Whiteside County hunting questions
How much public hunting ground is in Whiteside County, in acres?
Roughly 37,217 listed acres across 6 sites, by Hunt Illinois fact sheet figures.
Do hunters take more bucks or does in Whiteside County?
In 2025-26 the county report lists 839 male and 657 female deer.
What tag goes on a deer in Whiteside 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.
What counts as bait for deer in Whiteside County?
Any feed, mineral or store-bought attractant placed to draw deer, and the area stays baited for 10 days afterward.
Do I need a habitat stamp to hunt in Whiteside County?
Yes, the State Habitat Stamp costs $5.00 and is required with a hunting license, with a free version for super seniors.
Is there an apprentice license for Whiteside 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 Whiteside 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 Whiteside County?
On November 20 the window runs from 6:24 a.m. to 5:07 p.m., a half hour on each side of sunrise and sunset.
What are the duck season dates near Whiteside County?
North Zone opens October 24, Central October 31 and South November 14; each zone has a split and a different closing date.
Who do I call with a wildlife question in Whiteside County?
Beth Weber, the IDNR district biologist, at (815) 273-2733.
What are the odds of getting a deer permit in Whiteside County?
IDNR has not published the original county quotas, so odds cannot be worked out; what we can say is that 1,421 firearm permits were unsold after Lottery 3.
Where do I drop off a deer head for testing near Whiteside County?
The nearest listed IDNR drop-off is Green River State Wildlife Area in Harmon, about 22 miles from the middle of the county.
What are the January deer hunting dates in Whiteside County?
Archery deer runs to January 17; no late-winter or Special CWD days apply.
When does turkey season end in Whiteside County?
The fifth segment closes May 13, 2027.
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.