Illinois › Towns › Springfield
Kelley district · Sangamon County
Plan a hunt from Springfield, Illinois
Public land from Springfield: 1 places inside 10 miles, 3 inside 25, and one county rule book for all of them.
Photo: Jeff Sharp (CC BY 2.0)
Springfield public land, nearest first
1 listed public place sit within 10 miles of Springfield: 1 conservation area. The records inside 10 miles of Springfield carry roughly 178 acres between them, and 2,682 acres inside 25; sites that overlap are counted by their own listed size.
The nearest place with no access caution is Sangamon County State Conservation Area, 9.5 miles out; its status cell reads "some hunts by permit". From the nearest record out to Freeman Mine State Habitat Area at 24 mi, the 25-mile table spans 3 types of ground.
| Area | Type | Miles | Band | In county | Hunting access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangamon County State Conservation | Conservation area | 9.5 mi | Inside 10 | Sangamon | Some hunts by permit |
| Sangchris Lake SP | State park | 15 mi | Inside 25 | Christian, Sangamon | Some hunts by permit |
| Freeman Mine SHA | Habitat area | 24 mi | Inside 25 | Montgomery | Some hunts by permit |
| Revis Hill Prairie Nature | Nature preserve | 27 mi | Long drive | Mason | Some hunts by permit |
| Goode’s Woods Nature Preserve | Nature preserve | 28 mi | Long drive | Macoupin | Some hunts by permit |
| Oakford SHA | Habitat area | 28 mi | Long drive | Menard, Mason | Open in season |
| Jim Edgar Panther Creek | Fish and wildlife area | 30 mi | Long drive | Cass | Some hunts by permit |
| Hallsville Pheasant Habitat Area | Habitat area | 38 mi | Long drive | DeWitt | Some hunts by permit |
Rings and distances from places.json (lands.json points to the Census point of Springfield, straight lines); access cells from each record’s own fields (IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheets, 50 CFR 32.32 for refuges, Corps and program records). Acres are the sizes printed in those records. Checked November 13, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Springfield
Springfield close-in hunting places
Each card pulls acres, game and open seasons from that place's record.
Sangamon County State Conservation
Plan for check-in rules; the site runs quota hunts for at least one species.
Sangchris Lake SP
IDNR assigns blinds or days by drawing at some seasons here, and the fact sheet spells out which.
Freeman Mine SHA
IDNR assigns blinds or days by drawing at some seasons here, and the fact sheet spells out which.
From lands.json (IDNR Hunt Illinois fact sheets and the 2025-26 Public Hunting Areas Report, 50 CFR 32.32, USFS and Corps pages). Checked November 13, 2026.
Springfield hunters and the Sangamon County rule book
Springfield sits in Sangamon County, which is open to firearm deer hunting this season. The leftover count for Sangamon County reads 121 either-sex and 0 antlerless firearm permits, and 34 and 0 for the muzzleloader season. Once the lotteries close, the remaining permits are sold over the counter from October 20.
Chronic wasting disease is not listed as confirmed in Sangamon County.
The North Zone covers Sangamon County for spring turkey, with segments from April 12 to May 13 of 2027. The next marker on the Sangamon County calendar falls on November 20, 2026: shotgun deer opens. The calendar for Sangamon County runs 55 lines long once every species and weapon is counted.
| What | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| Firearm season | Open |
| Archery deer | Split by gun seasons |
| Spring turkey zone | North Zone |
| CWD confirmed | Not listed |
| Special CWD season | No |
| Check station needed | No |
| Late-winter antlerless | No |
| Restricted Archery Zone | No |
| Leftover firearm permits | 121 either-sex, 0 antlerless |
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens |
County rules from the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources); firearm counties, CWD counties, check stations, spring turkey zones and the permit inquiry system. Checked November 13, 2026.
Springfield opening and closing days
25 species and 55 season lines apply around Springfield this year, and the last column checks each window against today.
| Species | Window | Permit | Reach | First | Last | 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 | |
| Eastern cottontail | 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 (sora and Virginia) | 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 (groundhog) | 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.
Deer and turkey taken in Sangamon County, near Springfield
Hunters in Sangamon County took 1,743 deer across the 2025-26 seasons, and the table splits them by weapon.
| Season | Total |
|---|---|
| Deer, all seasons | 1,743 |
| Male deer | 958 |
| Female deer | 785 |
| Archery | 1,066 |
| Firearm | 605 |
| Muzzleloader | 30 |
| Youth | 42 |
| Late-winter and CWD | 0 |
| Spring turkey 2026 | 115 |
| Turkey, youth | 23 |
| Turkey, segment 1 | 39 |
| Turkey, segment 2 | 30 |
| Turkey, segment 3 | 17 |
| Turkey, segment 4 | 14 |
| Turkey, segment 5 | 15 |
Deer: IDNR deer harvest by county (2025-26 seasons); turkey: spring turkey harvest by county (2026); county figures, not town figures. Checked November 13, 2026.
Wildlife biologist and CWD drop-off for Springfield
IDNR lists Tim Kelley as district biologist for the area that holds Springfield, in the West Central region. IDNR runs its statewide office from Springfield, 1 mile out from Springfield. For leaving a deer head for CWD testing, the nearest listed station is Jubilee College State Park, 71 miles off.
Kelley district biologist
IDNR headquarters
Jubilee College SP
IDNR Office (Gibson City)
Marshall SFWA
District biologists from the IDNR District Wildlife Biologists page and the IDNR wildlife districts map (as of August 16, 2026); drop-off stations from the 2026-27 CWD sampling locations (services.json); straight-line distances. Checked November 13, 2026.
Off-limits land around Springfield
Before heading out of Springfield, check that the ground ahead is not one of these closed places.
| Place | Manager | Distance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Thomas House | Historic site | 0.4 mi | Closed here |
| Illinois Governors Mansion | IDNR site | 0.6 mi | Closed here |
| Korean War Memorial | State Memorial | 2.1 mi | Closed here |
| World War II Memorial | State Memorial | 2.2 mi | Closed here |
| Vietnam Veterans Memorial | State Memorial | 2.2 mi | Closed here |
| Lincoln's Tomb | Historic site | 2.3 mi | Closed here |
| Veterans Parkway Wetland Mitigation Site | IDNR site | 3.3 mi | Closed here |
| Conservation World | IDNR site | 3.4 mi | Closed here |
From lands.json closed rows (IDNR sites with no Hunt Illinois hunting fact sheet and no hunting land-use polygon, plus refuges where 50 CFR 32.32 reserves hunting). Checked November 13, 2026.
Springfield gear and game care
Within 25 miles of Springfield: 15 gun or outdoor shops, 5 taxidermists, 2 game processors and 9 guide or outfitter listings. Sangamon County appears as the licensed county of 6 outfitter or preserves.
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, IDNR outfitter and preserve lists, CWD vendor and Hunters Feeding Illinois lists (services.json); chain stores left out and not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 13, 2026.
Hunting dates around Springfield
On November 13, 2026 the 30-mile ring showed 4 dates ahead: DU cash bash, DU firearm frenzy and NWTF banquet. Tickets for the 4 banquet nights come from each chapter.
| Day | What | Mi | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Macon County/Moweaqua Ducks Unlimited Cash Bash kind: DU cash bash | 26 | Stonington American Legion, 401 W North St | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 6, 2027 | Flatlanders Chapter NWTF Banquet kind: NWTF banquet | 15 | 316 W. Birch New Berlin | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 20, 2027 | 2027 Springfield Firearm Frenzy kind: DU firearm frenzy | 0 | Illinois State Fairgrounds | Tickets | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Woodys White Oaks Turkey Chapter NWTF Banquet kind: NWTF banquet | 19 | 800 Railroad St Kincaid | Tickets | Source |
Springfield: ranges within a drive
Two Bears Custom Archery is the quickest range run from Springfield, about 3 miles.
Siddens Indoor Shooting Range & Gun Shop, 11 miles from Springfield, is the nearest range that lists rifles.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 13, 2026.
Clock times for Springfield hunters
Hunters in Springfield must be done by 1 p.m. in the spring turkey season, even though deer hunters keep shooting light until after dark.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Deer day | Goose day | Turkey day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Bow season opens | 6:53 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 6:43 p.m. | Not in season |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth deer weekend | 7:02 a.m. | 6:29 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:29 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Pheasant and quail | 6:33 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. | Not in season |
| Nov 20, 2026 | Shotgun deer opens | 6:48 a.m. | 4:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:41 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Muzzleloader weekend | 7:09 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | Not in season |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | Not in season |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:27 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 5:57 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.
Load the truck for Springfield
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
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Springfield hunt planning answers
What do the sources say about Sundays for Springfield hunters?
We found no sentence on Sunday hunting in the Digest or on the IDNR pages, and we will not guess; call the site before you go.
Is Springfield in the North, Central or South waterfowl zone?
Upland dates split along a road line too (see the upland page), so Sangamon County cannot be filed under North or South here.
Which stores and studios serve hunters in Springfield?
Hayden's Sport Center in Springfield is the closest listed gear shop (2.1 mi); 15 sit within 25 miles.
Why are some IDNR sites near Springfield left out of the land table?
17 IDNR or federal sites within 25 miles carry no hunting listing, led by Dana Thomas House; see the closed ground table.
How many deer were reported from Sangamon County last season?
Last season Sangamon County reported 1,743 deer, and the page chart shows the ten seasons before it.
Where does public hunting ground start around Springfield?
The land table puts Sangamon County State Conservation Area first among open places (9.5 mi), ahead of 2 more inside the 25-mile ring.
Is Springfield in a county that allows firearm deer?
Yes, firearm deer is on the Sangamon County calendar, alongside the archery, youth and muzzleloader seasons.
Can I still buy a deer permit for Sangamon County?
Yes, while they last: leftover permits are sold over the counter from October 20, 2026, and Sangamon County still listed 121 either-sex firearm permits after Lottery 3.
What dates does spring turkey run near Springfield?
Sangamon County is in the North Zone, with spring dates of April 12 to May 13, 2027, in five segments plus youth weekends.
Is a CWD check required for deer from Sangamon County?
CWD status for Sangamon County: not listed as confirmed. The nearest CWD head drop-off station is Jubilee College State Park, 71 miles from Springfield.
What time can I start hunting in Springfield on December 21?
From 6:46 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. on December 21, 2026 at Springfield: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time.
What do Springfield hunters pay for a hunting license?
Budget $12.00 for a resident license or $57.00 for a nonresident license, plus the habitat stamp and each permit you need.
Is hunter orange required for turkey near Springfield?
A cap and an upper outer garment showing 400 square inches of solid orange or pink are the standard for firearm deer.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest, hunter orange, Sunday hunting, license fees, CWD), counties.json, harvest.json and services.json. Checked November 13, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Jeff Sharp (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0); David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bryan Werner (CC BY 2.0).