Regulations change. Always confirm with the official state fish and wildlife agency before you hunt or fish. This site is an unofficial index, not legal advice. Each fact shows its source and the date we last read it.
Illinois: 2026-27 deer seasons, resident license fees and official links
Run by: Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR). Below are the deer season dates and resident license fees we could read on official pages (regulation year 2026-27). This state is newly added and coverage is partial.
Deer seasons
| Season type | Zone / unit | Dates (inclusive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Counties with a firearm season and Kane County west of Route 47 (first segment) | Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 19, 2026 | Archery is closed during the firearm seasons (Nov 20-22 and Dec 3-6). |
| Archery | Same area (second segment) | Nov 23, 2026 to Dec 2, 2026 | |
| Archery | Same area (third segment) | Dec 7, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Archery | Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane (east of Route 47) counties | Oct 1, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027 | Open the whole period. |
| Youth firearm | Counties open per IDNR (see regulations) | Oct 10, 2026 to Oct 12, 2026 | |
| First firearm | Counties open per IDNR (see regulations) | Nov 20, 2026 to Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Second firearm | Counties open per IDNR (see regulations) | Dec 3, 2026 to Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Muzzleloader-only | Counties open per IDNR (see regulations) | Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | A muzzleloader permit may also be used with a muzzleloading rifle during the second firearm season. |
| Late-winter antlerless | Open counties are posted online in October (first segment) | Dec 31, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | One antlerless deer per valid permit. |
| Late-winter antlerless | Open counties are posted online in October (second segment) | Jan 15, 2027 to Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Special CWD season | Open CWD counties (first segment) | Dec 31, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | See the Special CWD section of the regulations for open counties. |
| Special CWD season | Open CWD counties (second segment) | Jan 15, 2027 to Jan 17, 2027 |
Source: IDNR: deer hunting season dates. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Dates can vary by zone, unit or land type; check the official page for your location.
Selected resident license fees
| License (resident) | Fee | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident hunting license, adult | $12.00 | Excludes vendor or transaction fees. Resident sportsman combo hunt/fish is $25.50. | Official page |
| State habitat stamp | $5.00 | Required to hunt deer in addition to the license; some exemptions apply. | Official page |
| Either-sex firearm or muzzleloader deer permit, resident | $25.00 | Antlerless-only permit is $17.50. | Official page |
| Combination archery permit (1 either-sex, 1 antlerless), resident | $25.00 | Single either-sex archery permit is $15.00 (residents only). | Official page |
Fees are copied from the official page linked in each row, last verified Oct 17, 2026. Fees, agent fees and online fees change; confirm before you buy.
Good to know
- No hunter may harvest more than two antlered deer in a year (12 months starting July 1), except during the special CWD season.
Source: IDNR 2026 hunting regulations. Last verified Oct 17, 2026. - In the Restricted Archery Zone (Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt counties, except Allerton Park) only antlered deer may be taken Oct 1-31 during archery season.
Source: IDNR: deer archery hunting information. Last verified Oct 17, 2026.
Not yet researched
Which counties are open for each firearm and late-winter season, lottery application deadlines, turkey dates, small game dates, fishing seasons and fishing license fees, non-resident fees.