Furbearer
Mink in Illinois, 2026-27 Trapping Rules
Every IDNR season line for mink, opening Nov 10, 2026 and closing Feb 15, 2027.
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Illinois mink: the short version
IDNR prints 1 season row for mink in the 2026-27 Digest, and the earliest opens Nov 10, 2026 while the latest closes Feb 15, 2027. Check the bag line before you go: no limit.
Mink sit on the shared statewide trapping line with raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, red fox and coyote, which runs November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027 with no limit. Public-land options: 147 sites list mink and 147 have their own page here.
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
All dated windows for mink in Illinois
Each line is one IDNR row for mink, earliest first, with the area it covers and the permit it needs.
| Season | Zone or counties | Permit kind | Date range | Bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping |
| No limit |
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Daily limits and lawful methods for mink
| Line | Rule |
|---|---|
| raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, weasel, mink, muskrat, red fox, coyote | No limit |
The summary line for mink reads trapping.
From Digest season tables and Digest equipment pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Mink: paperwork and prices
| What to buy | Residency | Printed price | Price with fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Trapping | Resident | $10.50 | $10.50 |
| Nonresident trapping license | Nonresident | $175.50 | $175.50 |
The Digest prints base prices and the IDNR fee table adds the vendor fee, so the last column is usually a little higher; hunting licenses go on sale March 1 and run through March 31 of the next year.
From Digest license pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Rules to know before hunting mink
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Sale of wildlife | May not buy, sell or offer to sell or barter game birds, migratory game birds or parts (including feathers, nests, eggs and wild turkey parts) or the edible parts of game mammals except under specific permits. |
| Landowner permission | It is unlawful to take or attempt to take wildlife, or let a dog hunt, on land or waters of another, or knowingly shoot a gun or bow at wildlife on or flying over another person's property, without permission from the owner or the owner's designee (written authorization with notarized signature). Purple paint on trees or posts marks no-trespassing land. Illinois law does not grant a right of trespass to retrieve wounded wildlife. |
| Dogs | A dog may not be allowed to chase, harass or kill deer or turkey. Dogs may be used for hunting other species. Competitive dog events require an IDNR permit applied for 4 weeks ahead. |
Treat the table as a reminder and the Digest as the authority for mink; site rules can be tighter.
From Digest general rules and Digest hunter orange page (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Mink on state and federal land in Illinois
Mink are allowed at 147 IDNR sites, including 53 state fish and wildlife areas, 30 state parks and 18 state habitat areas; the table shows the largest with pages.
| Area | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Edgar Panther Creek | Fish and wildlife area | Cass | 16,400 |
| Cache River | Natural area | Johnson and Pulaski | 15,425 |
| Kaskaskia River | Fish and wildlife area | St. Clair and Randolph | 14,000 |
| Horseshoe Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Alexander | 11,690 |
| Mississippi River Pool 24 | Fish and wildlife area | Pike and Calhoun | 10,211 |
| Carlyle Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Fayette and Clinton | 9,868 |
| Mississippi River Pool 21 | Fish and wildlife area | Adams | 8,536 |
| Rend Lake Project Lands | Fish and wildlife area | Jefferson and Franklin | 7,740 |
Before a trip, open the site page for permits and seasons; the acreage comes from IDNR fact sheets.
From IDNR site records (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Mink hunting kit
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Cable restraint stakes
Toss the cable restraint stakes behind the seat before you drive out.
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (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)
Sunset over the Mississippi River at Buffalo, Iowa, across from Rock Island CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Questions on mink in Illinois
When can I hunt mink in Illinois this season?
IDNR prints these lines for mink: trapping statewide: November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027.
What is the daily limit for mink in Illinois?
Limit rule: No limit.
What do I have to buy before hunting mink?
The checklist is a trapping license ($10.50 resident, Digest-listed or fee-table price) or, for hunting, a hunting license and the State Habitat Stamp.
Which weapons can I use on mink in Illinois?
The Digest allows trapping.
What does a resident trapping license cost?
Besides the license, first-time trappers born on or after January 1, 1998 complete a trapper education course.
What site permits does trapping need?
Many IDNR sites require a site permit and a drawing for trapping, with assigned areas and trap-type limits; see the public land pages and the trapping page.
Do Sundays change the mink season?
The sources we read, the 2026-27 Digest and IDNR pages, state no Sunday rule at all, so we do not say Sunday hunting is allowed or banned; ask IDNR or your site office before you go.
Do I need hunter safety education to hunt mink?
Course or past license: that is the test for anyone born on or after January 1, 1980. Apprentice hunters are exempt from the course and must stay with a licensed hunter of 21 or older.
Does public land in Illinois allow mink?
The site records show 147 public areas where mink are allowed, and 147 pages give the details.
Other photos on this page: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0); Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0); David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0).