IDNR 2026-27 dates
Illinois Hunting Seasons Open Now
IDNR dates sorted into running, upcoming and ending seasons for Friday, November 13, 2026
Photo: USDA Forest Service Eastern Region (Public domain mark)
Which Illinois seasons include today
Seasons that are running now by IDNR dates, with the close date and source for each row.
| Species | Season | Zone or unit | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodchuck (groundhog) | Hunting | Statewide | Until Mar 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Squirrel (gray and fox) | Squirrel | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | Statewide | Until Jan 9, 2027 | IDNR |
| Rails (sora and Virginia) | Rails | Statewide | Until Nov 13 | IDNR |
| Wilson's snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Until Dec 20 | IDNR |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Counties with a firearm season and Kane west of Route 47; Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane (east of Route 47) | Until Jan 17, 2027 | IDNR |
| Wild turkey | Fall – archery | Statewide | Until Jan 17, 2027 | IDNR |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Until Nov 30 | IDNR |
| Brant | Regular season | Same dates as light geese (North, Central, South) | Until Jan 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Canada goose | Regular season | North Zone | Until Jan 26, 2027 | IDNR |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | North Zone | Until Dec 27 | IDNR |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | North Zone | Until Jan 26, 2027 | IDNR |
| Scaup (bluebills) | Scaup | North Zone | Until Dec 27 | IDNR |
| Crow | Crow | Statewide | Until Feb 28, 2027 | IDNR |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Central Zone | Until Jan 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | Central Zone | Until Jan 3, 2027 | IDNR |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | Central Zone | Until Jan 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Scaup (bluebills) | Scaup | Central Zone | Until Jan 3, 2027 | IDNR |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | North Zone | Until Jan 26, 2027 | IDNR |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Central Zone | Until Jan 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | North Zone | Until Jan 8, 2027 | IDNR |
| Bobwhite quail | Upland bird | South Zone | Until Jan 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | North Zone | Until Jan 8, 2027 | IDNR |
| Hungarian partridge | Upland bird | South Zone | Until Jan 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Migratory waterfowl | Youth waterfowl | South Zone | Until Jan 30, 2027 | IDNR |
| Rabbit (cottontail and swamp) | Rabbit | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Ring-necked pheasant (roosters only) | Upland bird | North Zone | Until Jan 8, 2027 | IDNR |
| Ring-necked pheasant (roosters only) | Upland bird | South Zone | Until Jan 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Badger | Trapping | North Zone; South Zone | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Until Mar 31, 2027 | IDNR |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide except bobcat closed zone | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Bobcat | Trapping | Statewide except bobcat closed zone | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, weasel, mink, muskrat, red fox, coyote | Trapping | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Until Feb 15, 2027 | IDNR |
| River otter | Trapping | Statewide | Until Mar 31, 2027 | IDNR |
Illinois openers coming in the next 30 days
| Species | Season | Zone or unit | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada goose | Regular season | South Zone | Opens Nov 14 | IDNR |
| Ducks, mergansers and coots | Regular duck season | South Zone | Opens Nov 14 | IDNR |
| Light geese (snow and Ross's) | Regular season | South Zone | Opens Nov 14 | IDNR |
| Scaup (bluebills) | Scaup | South Zone | Opens Nov 14 | IDNR |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | South Zone | Opens Nov 14 | IDNR |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – first season | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Opens Nov 20 | IDNR |
| White-tailed deer | Firearm – second season | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Opens Dec 3 | IDNR |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Opens Dec 11 | IDNR |
Draw, quota and controlled hunts with their own hunt numbers are on the drawn and permit hunt pages, not here. Rows without published dates are left off. Each row links to the IDNR page it was taken from; the lists redraw from your device date when the page loads.
Closing in the next fourteen days across Illinois
| Species | Season | Zone or unit | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rails (sora and Virginia) | Rails | Statewide | Closes Nov 13 | IDNR |
Today's Illinois season questions
Illinois white-tailed deer season: open or closed this week?
Open on November 13: Archery until Jan 17, 2027 (Counties with a firearm season and Kane west of Route 47; Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane (east of Route 47)).
What light geese (snow and ross's) hunting is open in Illinois?
Open on November 13: Regular season until Jan 26, 2027 (North Zone); Regular season until Jan 31, 2027 (Central Zone).
Where does Illinois canada goose season stand today?
Open on November 13: Regular season until Jan 26, 2027 (North Zone); Regular season until Jan 31, 2027 (Central Zone).
Is ducks, mergansers and coots season open in Illinois today?
Open on November 13: Regular duck season until Dec 27 (North Zone); Regular duck season until Jan 3, 2027 (Central Zone).
Can I hunt migratory waterfowl in Illinois right now?
Open on November 13: Youth waterfowl until Jan 30, 2027 (South Zone).
When is scaup (bluebills) season in Illinois?
Open on November 13: Scaup until Dec 27 (North Zone); Scaup until Jan 3, 2027 (Central Zone).
Illinois white-fronted goose season: open or closed this week?
Open on November 13: Regular season until Jan 26, 2027 (North Zone); Regular season until Jan 31, 2027 (Central Zone).
What bobcat hunting is open in Illinois?
Open on November 13: Hunting until Feb 15, 2027 (Statewide except bobcat closed zone); Trapping until Feb 15, 2027 (Statewide except bobcat closed zone).