Mississippi River Pool 21 Hunting Guide

Open and closed seasons on Mississippi River Pool 21

The fact sheet marks 17 of 20 season lines open at Mississippi River Pool 21. By group, the open lines break down as 4 deer, 4 turkey, 4 waterfowl, 4 upland and small game and 1 furbearers. No hunting for late winter antlerless, special cwd and upland birds.

Conditions IDNR lists beside the open seasons:

• Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers: The Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Unit (Pool 21) is closed to all access from 2 pm to 4 am during the regular duck season. Also, waterfowl hunting is NOT allowed from temporary blinds in the Quincy Bay Waterfowl Management Unit.
• Goose: Follows the same regulations as Ducks, Coots, & Mergansers.
• Hunting: Rimfire rifles .22 caliber and smaller may be used from sunset to sunrise. Furbearer hunting is closed during Firearm Deer Season. Hunters with a valid, unfilled firearm deer permit for the hunt area may take coyotes during legal hours of the firearm deer season. Groundhog hunting is permitted. No hunting within 100 yards of an occupied blind.

Availability and exceptions from the IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheet (record source); statewide dates in the Digest; checked November 13, 2026.

Permits, drawings and reservations for Mississippi River Pool 21

Why Mississippi River Pool 21 appears with a quota hunt: the fact sheet says the following.

• Waterfowl – Ducks, Coots and Mergansers: Blind/hunting sites are allocated by way of a public drawing conducted on the third Sunday in July in odd-numbered years.

Do not confuse the county deer lottery with site permits: the lottery page covers the county system, and the site terms above cover this ground. Permit rounds and dates.

Quota basis from the record source; lottery rounds from the IDNR lottery page; checked November 13, 2026.

Mississippi River Pool 21: deer permits, CWD and turkey zone

Illinois has no hunting units, so Adams County is the unit that sets deer permits, CWD rules and turkey zones for Mississippi River Pool 21. Adams County carries a confirmed CWD record and its extra rules.

County guide with permit counts and harvest tables: Adams County.

County rules from the Digest, IDNR CWD counties and the leftover permit list (IDNR permit page); checked November 13, 2026.

Nearest towns and an IDNR site for Mississippi River Pool 21

Quincy, 5 miles off, is the closest town on this site. Quincy and Ursa list Mississippi River Pool 21 within ten miles.

Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); IDNR sites from the CWD sampling list and the IDNR contact page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 13, 2026.

Calendar entries around Mississippi River Pool 21

Rows tied to this land meet on it; the rest are within about 10 miles. 1 date ahead in total. Fundraiser nights among them: 1, sold by the chapter.

Spotted a flyer we have not listed? Pass it on

What to carry onto Mississippi River Pool 21

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.

Sites like Mississippi River Pool 21 within reach

What hunters ask about Mississippi River Pool 21, with sources