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Illinois White-tailed Deer Hunting Guide, 2026-27
Every IDNR season line for white-tailed deer, opening Oct 1, 2026 and closing Jan 17, 2027.
Photo: NPS Photo (Public domain)
Illinois white-tailed deer: the short version
IDNR prints 8 season rows for white-tailed deer in the 2026-27 Digest, and the earliest opens Oct 1, 2026 while the latest closes Jan 17, 2027. Check the bag line before you go: one deer per permit; no more than two antlered deer per year (Special CWD season exempt).
Illinois sells firearm and muzzleloader deer permits county by county: 99 counties are open, Cook, DuPage and Lake are closed to firearm deer, and Kane is open only west of State Route 47. Over-the-counter sales began October 20 with 67,080 firearm either-sex and 42,327 antlerless permits left from the lotteries. Disease rules add layers, with 28 counties holding confirmed CWD, 25 running a Special CWD season and 18 requiring check stations. Public-land options: 227 sites list white-tailed deer and 227 have their own page here.
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest, IDNR page and IDNR Special CWD season information (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
White-tailed Deer seasons as the IDNR prints them
Each line is one IDNR row for white-tailed deer, earliest first, with the area it covers and the permit it needs.
| Season | Zone or counties | Permit kind | Date range | Bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane (east of Route 47) | Deer permit |
| One deer per archery permit | |
| Archery | Counties with a firearm season and Kane west of Route 47 | Deer permit |
| One deer per archery permit | |
| Youth Firearm | Counties open to youth deer hunting | Deer permit |
| One deer per youth permit | |
| Firearm, first season | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Deer permit |
| One deer per firearm permit | |
| Firearm, second season | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Deer permit |
| One deer per firearm permit | |
| Muzzleloader | Counties open to firearm deer hunting | Deer permit |
| One deer per muzzleloader permit | |
| Late-winter antlerless | Late-winter counties (31) | Late-winter permit |
| One antlerless deer per valid permit | |
| Special CWD | Special CWD counties | CWD permit |
| One deer per valid permit |
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest, IDNR page and IDNR Special CWD season information (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois white-tailed deer: lotteries, leftovers and closed counties
Permit sale calendar for deer
| Window | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Lottery 1 (residents only) | March 3, 2026 | April 30, 2026 |
| Lottery 2 | May 11, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
| Lottery 3 | July 13, 2026 | August 21, 2026 |
| Over-the-counter county permits (leftover quotas) | October 20, 2026 | as available |
The special hunt-area lottery runs October 27, 2026 to November 23, 2026; county permits for the late-winter and Special CWD seasons are sold over the counter from December 8, 2026 to January 17, 2027.
Where firearm deer is open and closed
| Rule | Counties |
|---|---|
| Closed to firearm deer | |
| Open west of State Route 47 only | |
| Restricted Archery Zone (antlered only October 1 to 31) | |
| Open to firearm deer | 99 counties, listed on the permits page |
Two exceptions matter: Chain O Lakes State Park (firearm, in Lake County) and Allerton Park (Restricted Archery Zone, in Piatt County).
From IDNR permit lottery dates and Restricted Archery Zone (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Leading white-tailed deer counties in Illinois
| County | 2025-26 total | Archery | Firearm | Muzzle | CWD and winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | 5,120 | 2,075 | 2,183 | 66 | 642 |
| Pike | 4,724 | 2,337 | 1,620 | 96 | 505 |
| Fulton | 4,267 | 1,739 | 1,932 | 41 | 485 |
| Adams | 4,249 | 1,372 | 2,093 | 71 | 556 |
| Randolph | 4,148 | 1,158 | 2,186 | 69 | 475 |
| Fayette | 4,025 | 1,401 | 2,043 | 76 | 383 |
| Marion | 3,885 | 1,394 | 1,800 | 57 | 499 |
| Macoupin | 3,533 | 1,344 | 1,746 | 50 | 306 |
| Williamson | 3,400 | 1,359 | 1,692 | 47 | 244 |
| Jackson | 3,340 | 1,179 | 2,011 | 56 | 0 |
Leftover permits after the third lottery are a rough guide to where the pressure is lowest, and the ten largest counties by leftover firearm either-sex permits follow.
| County | Firearm either-sex left | Firearm antlerless left |
|---|---|---|
| Jo Daviess | 3,000 | 2,804 |
| Bureau | 2,340 | 1,133 |
| Pope | 2,324 | – |
| Adams | 2,272 | 901 |
| Jackson | 2,227 | 1,045 |
| Fulton | 2,034 | 1,569 |
| McHenry | 2,029 | 1,105 |
| LaSalle | 1,919 | 1,621 |
| Macoupin | 1,857 | 1,367 |
| Winnebago | 1,758 | 1,022 |
From 2025-26 Illinois deer harvest report and IDNR deer permit inquiry (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois white-tailed deer harvest, 2016-17 to 2025-26
IDNR splits the 174,006 deer of 2025-26 as 81,316 firearm, 73,785 archery, 11,464 late-winter and CWD, 2,699 muzzleloader and 4,742 youth.
Compared with 144,303 deer in 2016-17, the 2025-26 count is 29,703 higher.
From IDNR deer harvest reports 2016-17 to 2025-26 (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Daily limits and lawful methods for white-tailed deer
| Line | Rule |
|---|---|
| white-tailed deer | No hunter may take more than two antlered deer per year across youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons (Special CWD season exempt); one deer per permit. |
| white-tailed deer | One deer per archery permit |
| Hunt | Legal equipment | Illegal equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Deer archery |
|
|
| Deer firearm – shotgun, handgun, muzzleloader |
|
|
| Deer firearm – single-shot centerfire rifle |
|
|
The summary line for white-tailed deer reads archery, shotgun with slugs, muzzleloader, handgun, single-shot centerfire rifle by season.
Rifle capacity wording differs between sources: the Digest allows a single-shot centerfire rifle for deer, and an IDNR FAQ adds a three-round limit for centerfire rifles and handguns from January 1, 2027, so confirm before relying on either.
From Digest season tables and Digest equipment pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
White-tailed Deer: paperwork and prices
| What to buy | Residency | Printed price | Price with fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting | Resident | $12.00 | $12.50 |
| Nonresident Hunting | Nonresident | $57.00 | $57.75 |
| State Habitat Stamp | Either | $5.00 | $5.50 |
| Firearm either-sex permit | Resident | $25.00 | $25.50 |
| Firearm antlerless permit | Resident | $17.50 | $18.00 |
| Muzzleloader either-sex permit | Resident | $25.00 | $25.50 |
| Archery combination permit | Resident | $25.00 | $26.00 |
| Archery combination permit | Nonresident | $410.00 | $411.00 |
| Youth firearm combination | Either | $10.00 | – |
| Late-winter antlerless permit | Resident | $17.50 | $18.00 |
| Special CWD antlerless permit | Either | $5.00 | $5.50 |
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 white-tailed deer
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Hunter orange | A solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat and an upper outer garment displaying at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange or blaze pink must be worn to hunt deer during all firearm deer seasons in counties open for firearm deer seasons. |
| Ground blinds, IDNR sites | During firearm deer seasons a ground blind on IDNR-owned or managed land needs at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange or pink on the uppermost portion, visible for 360 degrees; tree stands may not be built or used with nails, screws or devices piercing the bark on IDNR sites, and only one tree stand or ground blind per hunter on IDNR sites. |
| Baiting and feeding deer | May not feed deer at any time or take deer by the use or aid of bait of any kind; baited area stays baited for 10 consecutive days after removal. |
| 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 white-tailed deer; site rules can be tighter.
From Digest general rules and Digest hunter orange page (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Where to hunt white-tailed deer on IDNR sites
White-tailed deer are allowed at 227 IDNR sites, including 54 state fish and wildlife areas, 47 state parks and 28 state natural areas; the table shows the largest with pages.
| Area | Type | County | Acreage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee National Forest | National Forest | Pope and Jackson | 286,498 |
| Hidden Springs Ranger District | Ranger district | Pope and Hardin | 169,222 |
| Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District | Ranger district | Jackson and Union | 117,276 |
| Crab Orchard | Wildlife refuge | Williamson and Union | 44,415 |
| Upper Mississippi River National | Wildlife refuge | Carroll and Jo Daviess | 32,868 |
| Illinois Recreational Access Program | Hunting Access Program | Bond and Christian | 27,000 |
| Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie | National Tallgrass Prairie | Will | 17,000 |
| Cypress Creek | Wildlife refuge | Pulaski and Union | 16,758 |
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.
Clock times for white-tailed deer hunters
Legal hours for white-tailed deer are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (all deer seasons); sunrise, sunset and the legal window on each date below are worked out for Springfield with the NOAA solar formula.
| When | Event | First light | Last light | Shooting hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery opens | 6:53 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Firearm opens | 6:48 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:09 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Archery closes | 7:17 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
Central Time covers the whole state, with the clocks falling back November 1, 2026 and springing forward March 14, 2027; each county has its own times on the hours page.
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); sunrise and sunset worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 13, 2026. Central Time with daylight time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November; times worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
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White-tailed doe standing in light snowPhoto: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain)
White-tailed deer buck in the treesPhoto: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0)
White-tailed buck emerging from the tree line at the edge of a fieldPhoto: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain)
Questions on white-tailed deer in Illinois
What dates does Illinois set for white-tailed deer?
IDNR prints these lines for white-tailed deer: archery in the counties with a firearm season: October 1 to November 19 and November 23 to December 2 and December 7, 2026 to January 17, 2027; archery in Cook, DuPage, Lake and eastern Kane: October 1, 2026 to January 17, 2027; Firearm, first season in the 99 counties open to firearm deer: November 20 to 22; Firearm, second season in the 99 counties open to firearm deer: December 3 to 6; muzzleloader in the 99 counties open to firearm deer: December 11 to 13.
What does IDNR allow for the white-tailed deer bag?
Limit rule: One deer per permit; no more than two antlered deer per year (Special CWD season exempt).
What do I have to buy before hunting white-tailed deer?
The checklist is a hunting license ($12.00 resident, $57.00 nonresident, Digest base prices before vendor fees) and the State Habitat Stamp ($5.00), plus a deer permit for the season and county you hunt.
What does Illinois allow for taking white-tailed deer?
The Digest allows archery, shotgun with slugs, muzzleloader, handgun, single-shot centerfire rifle by season.
When do deer permits go on sale?
The process is lottery first and counter later: residents only in March and April, everyone in May and July, and leftovers from October 20 (by county).
How many deer can I take in Illinois in a year?
The Digest sets one deer per permit and no more than two antlered deer a year in the youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons together; Special CWD season deer do not count.
Which Illinois counties are closed to firearm deer hunting?
Cook, DuPage, Lake and the part of Kane east of State Route 47 take bows only, from October 1 to January 17; Chain O Lakes State Park is the lone firearm exception in Lake.
Which counties have CWD check stations?
IDNR confirms CWD in 28 counties, runs Special CWD seasons in 25, requires check stations in 18 and lists 31 late-winter counties; read the CWD zones and rules page.
What are the hunter orange rules for deer?
Solid blaze orange or pink cap plus an upper garment showing at least 400 square inches. And no baiting or feeding of deer, ever, although food plots and normal farming practices are allowed.
What is the deer reporting deadline?
Tag it at once, report by 10 pm on the day of harvest (phone or online), and in check-station counties take firearm deer to the station.
Which counties lead the deer harvest?
Harvest reached 174,006 in 2025-26, the highest in the series, with Jefferson County at 5,120, Pike County at 4,724 and Fulton County at 4,267 on top.
What do the rules say about Sunday hunting for white-tailed deer?
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 white-tailed deer?
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 white-tailed deer?
The site records show 227 public areas where white-tailed deer are allowed, and 227 pages give the details.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).