Illinois Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Hunting in Illinois

Small game and normal game species such as rabbits, deer, and turkeys are available for hunting in Illinois. There are also several bird games in the states.

Hunting Regulations in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources strictly regulates hunting. There are rules, laws, and restrictions that hunters must follow. Some of the most important ones are as follows:

Regulation of Hunting Licenses

You must have a valid hunting license in Illinois before you can hunt, regardless of whether you are a resident or non-resident hunter. However, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources may allow non-licensed hunting of specific game.

Regulations for Game Tagging

Some games necessitate tagging and must be examined by hunting officials after being taken. One such game is deer. It is the duty of Illinois hunters to understand all tagging regulations for the games they wish to pursue. Incorrect tagging may result in a violation, which may result in fines or the forfeiture of a hunting license.

Requirements for game harvesting

The hunter must register deer harvested in Illinois during muzzleloader, archery, and the special Chronic Waste Disease season. In addition, harvested deer in Illinois counties that do not have Chronic Waste Disease surveillance must be registered if taken during a firearm season.

In Illinois, the deadline for registering hunted deer is 10 p.m. on the day the deer was harvested. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also accepts deer-harvesting registration by phone or on their website.

Counties with CWD surveillance, on the other hand, will demand physical registration of harvested deer at numerous check sites. The hunter will receive a tag after registering the animal. The tag will have a harvest confirmation number. It is critical that the harvested deer stay intact, as it was captured during the hunt.

Dress Code for Hunters

Some hunting seasons or events in Illinois have dress rules that hunters must follow. This comes in a bright orange color with a pink hat. Hunters must wear it with an outer garment that matches the color standards. Colors such as camouflage, pink, and orange are not permitted.

These dressing criteria are required in order to:

Take deer during any of the year’s deer firearm seasons.
Track injured deer using a hunting dog during any of the year’s deer rifle seasons.
During any of the deer firearm seasons, keep an eye on young and inexperienced hunters.
In any of the firearm seasons, you can harvest turkey with archery equipment.

Baggage Restrictions

Bag limitations are restrictions that hunters can use to limit the number of game animals they can take during a hunting season. Depending on the game animal, the Illinois hunting bag limit might be daily or seasonal. The amount of that specific game that the hunter can take in a day will be limited by daily limitations. A seasonal limit, on the other hand, limits the quantity of certain games a hunter can take during a given hunting season.

Bag limitations vary from year to year. They differ from game to game and are defined by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources based on the population of the game to be taken. Hunters are responsible for knowing and adhering to the bag limit for the game they wish to take. Violations may result in fines and, potentially, license revocation.

Illinois hunting restrictions

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources forbids the following activities while hunting in the state: possessing a firearm in any of the state wildlife management areas without the approval of that WMA’s management.

It is illegal to possess a snare or any device that acts similarly to a snare, pit trap, net, or deadfall in order to capture game animals. The regulation makes an exception for snares that are not powered by a spring or any other type of motorized device used for hunting furbearer games in bodies of water. However, part of the snare must always be submerged.
It is illegal for any hunter or individual to take wildlife or games from their home or den using mechanized devices, digging devices, smoke, or other gas compounds to drive them out.
It is illegal to use small mammals, such as ferrets or hares, to drive wildlife and games from their homes or dens in order to hunt them.
It is illegal to use hooks, gigs, or spears to hunt games or wildlife protected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
It is illegal to employ medicines, poisons, or any type of explosive to take games or wildlife protected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
It is illegal to hunt near grasses, bushes, peat bogs, or other flammable substances that are on fire.
It is illegal in Illinois to use a shotgun with a gauge larger than 10 when hunting or attempting to hunt games and wildlife.
It is illegal to hunt game birds, migrating birds, waterfowl, and other species using firearms such as rifles, air guns, revolvers, and pistols.
It is illegal to discharge firearms such as air guns, rifles, revolvers, and handguns into any Illinois water body. This includes the state’s frozen waters.
It is illegal to discharge weapons or archery devices across public roadways or highways when hunting.
It is illegal to use silencers or other silencing devices to diminish or totally muffle the sound of a rifle when hunting.
It is illegal to take fur-bearing games from a licensed trapper’s traps without the approval of the trap owner.
It is illegal to hunt on private state property if you are not the landowner or do not obtain permission from the landowner.
It is prohibited to harvest game with shotguns loaded with slugs. White-tailed deer and fur-bearing games are exempt from this rule. Furthermore, anyone with the approval of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources may violate this restriction.

Licenses, permits, and tags for hunting in Illinois

In Illinois, many sorts of legitimate hunting licenses are issued. Residents of the state are eligible for Illinois hunting licenses.

In Illinois, the following licenses, permits, and tags are available:

Illinois Resident Permits

These licenses are exclusively available to Illinois citizens. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources defines a resident as someone who has lived in the state for at least 30 days for the purpose of obtaining a resident hunting license. Active military personnel in the state are also considered inhabitants.

Furthermore, all Illinois citizens are required to have a hunting license. Hunters who use weapons are required to have a Firearm Owner Identification Card.

Illinois hunting licenses are as follows:

Residents’ Hunting Permit

This license allows holders to participate in Illinois hunting seasons. Residents can get this license online or from suppliers. It is $12.5.

Lifetime Resident License

This is a lifelong hunting license for Illinois residents. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources can only grant this license, which costs $360.

Residents with a Sportsman Lifetime Fishing and Hunting License

This license is identical to a regular resident lifetime license; however, it allows holders to hunt and fish in the state. The price is $765.

Senior Resident Hunting License

This license is exclusively available to senior Illinois citizens aged 65 and over. It is available for purchase both online and through retailers. It is $6.50.

Resident Senior Sportsman Lifetime Fishing and Hunting License

This license allows older citizens to participate in hunting and fishing activities in Illinois. The license is perpetual and costs $13.5.

Residents’ Hunting and Fishing License

This license allows regular Illinois residents to participate in hunting and fishing activities. The license is perpetual and costs $26.25.

Residents who have obtained a Super Senior Hunting License

This license is accessible to Illinois residents who turn 75 and fall into the super senior category. It is available for purchase both online and from local sellers. It is $1.50.

Residents who have obtained a Super Senior Hunting and Fishing License

This license is accessible to Illinois residents who turn 75 and fall into the super senior category. It enables them to engage in both hunting and fishing. It is available for purchase both online and from local sellers. It is $2.75 in price.

Residents who have obtained a Veteran’s Hunting License

Illinois veterans can obtain this license online or from merchants. However, proof is required before acquiring the license to establish that a person is a veteran. It is $6.50.

Residents who have obtained a Veteran Hunting and Fishing License

Illinois veterans can obtain this license online or from merchants. They can use the license to go fishing and hunting. However, proof is required before acquiring the license to establish that a person is a veteran. It will set you back $13.5.

Non-Resident License in Illinois

This is an Illinois out-of-state hunting license for non-resident hunters who desire to participate in any Illinois game hunting season. They are as follows:

Non-resident hunting permit

Non-residents can use this license to participate in Illinois hunting seasons. It is available for purchase online or via dealers in Illinois. In Illinois, there are two sorts of non-resident hunting licenses available in terms of validity. The annual license costs $57.75, whereas the 5-day license costs $35.75.

License for Non-Resident Hunting Preserve

This is a particular form of non-resident license granted to protect the Illinois hunting season. Non-resident hunters can only utilize the license in hunting preserve zones to take released game birds. It is $12.50.

Resident and Non-Resident Hunting Licenses

This hunting license is valid for both Illinois citizens and non-residents. They are as follows:

Apprentice Hunting License

This license is given to trainee hunters who will be supervised by a licensed hunter. It is $7.5.

Youth Hunting Permit

This license is given to minors under the age of 18. It costs $7 and is available online and from state retailers.

Licenses, permits, and tags for fishing in Illinois

Fishing permits in Illinois, like hunting licenses, are issued based on residency.

Fishing Licenses for Illinois Residents

These licenses are only valid for Illinois residents. Before you may purchase or apply for a resident fishing license in Illinois, you must have lived in the state for at least 30 days.

Illinois resident licenses are as follows:

Sport Fishing License for Residents

This is a resident’s annual fishing license. It is priced at $15.

Senior Spot Fishing License for Residents

This license is only valid for Illinois residents aged 65 and up. It is $7.75 in price.

Lifetime Sport Fishing License for Residents

This license is available to Illinois residents and is good for the rest of their lives. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources issues it, and it costs $765.

Non-Resident Fishing License in Illinois

Non-residents who want to fish in Illinois can purchase one of these licenses. Non-resident fishing permits are exempt for fishermen who have licenses from other states that share a border with Illinois and are fishing on the Illinois side of the water.

These are the licenses:

Sport Fishing License for Non-Residents

This license allows non-residents to fish in Illinois bodies of water. In Illinois, there are two categories of this license. The first is good for a year and costs $31.5, while the second is good for 10 days and costs $20.

The following licenses and stamps are available to both residents and non-residents in Illinois:

Sport Fishing License for Residents and Non-Residents

This license is valid for 24 hours and is available to both residents and non-residents. It is $5.50.

Stamp for Lake Michigan Salmon

This stamp will allow holders to harvest salmo in Lake Michigan. Only licensed anglers can obtain the stamp. It is $6.50.

Stamp for Inland Trout

This is another stamp for catching trout in all Illinois water bodies, excluding Lake Michigan. Only licensed anglers can obtain the stamp. It is $6.50.

Hunting season in Illinois

Hunting seasons in Illinois vary depending on the game and style of hunting. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources determines the hunting seasons for the calendar year.

The following species will be hunted in Illinois during the deer hunting season:

Seasons for shooting deer in Illinois

Archery Season (October 1st to January 17th)
Muzzleloader Season (December 11th to December 13th)
Seasons for firearms (20th November to 22nd November, 3rd December to 6th December)
Youth Firearms Hunting Turkey Hunting in Illinois (October 12th)

Turkey Season in Illinois

Fall Firearms Season (October 24th to November 1st)
Gall Archery Season (October 1st to January 17th)

The fall archery season will be stopped for deer firearm seasons for the safety of hunters in the state.

Small Game Hunting Seasons in Illinois

Season of Quail Hunting (3rd November to 15th January)
Season for Partridge Hunting (7th November to 15th January)
Season for Rabbit Hunting (7th November to 15th February)
Season for hunting fox squirrels (1st of August to 15th of February, with firearm deer season closed)
Crow Hunting Season (October 28th to February 28th)

Hunters should be aware that the start and end dates for each game and firearm season differ depending on the hunting zone in Illinois. In addition, several small game hunting seasons will be canceled owing to deer firearm seasons. This is to ensure the safety of hunters.

It is the hunter’s responsibility to follow all Illinois hunting gun laws and regulations during gun hunting seasons.

The Department of Natural Resources in Illinois establishes bag limitations based on the animal season. A hunter’s responsibility is to get additional information prior to hunting games.

Wildlife, games, and fishing in Illinois

The following are some of the most common games and fauna available for hunting in Illinois:

Illinois deer hunting

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources allows deer hunting on public properties in Illinois. Deer can be hunted on private lands by hunters who have land permission. Deer can be found in northern Illinois, primarily around the Illinois River. Deer hunting is thriving in the state, with hunters in Fulton County bagging up to 4014 deer in a single hunting season.

Illinois Turkey Hunting

Turkey hunting is quite popular in Illinois, with an estimated 150,000 of them spread out across the state. The eastern wild turkey is the only turkey species present in the state. They are especially common in Will County’s woodland preserves.

Fox hunting in Illinois

Foxes live in places in Illinois such as forest margins, grassland areas, farmlands, and even suburban areas. They live above ground but have burrows where they raise their young, especially in cold times. In Illinois, red foxes are common.

Coyote hunting in Illinois

Because of the presence of predators in the state, coyote hunting is prevalent in Illinois. Coyotes can be found throughout the state’s rural, urban, and even suburban areas. They can be observed in the open, especially in parks, golf courses, and fields.

Quail hunting in Illinois

Another enjoyable hobby in Illinois is quail hunting, with the bobwhite quail being the most prevalent variety. The center and west-central regions of Illinois now have the most quails in the state. However, due to adverse weather conditions such as storms and high quantities of rain, snow, and ice, they are scarce in southern Illinois.

Duck hunting in Illinois

In Illinois, duck hunting takes place in marshy areas far from human habitation. In the state, there are numerous species of suckers. They can also be hunted in wildlife refugee areas. They are found in shallow areas of water bodies, like ponds and lakes.

Dove hunting in Illinois

White-winged doves from the southwest have been spotted in Illinois. Mourning doves, for example, are migratory game birds that can be found in the state all year.

Pheasant hunting in Illinois

Pheasant hunting is popular in Illinois’ wildlife management zones and public lands. Hunters with authorization to hunt on private property will also be permitted to take pheasants on various private estates throughout the state.

Partridge hunting in Illinois

Partridges can only be found in northern Illinois. The gray partridge is the most frequent species, with an estimated population of 12,000 individuals.

Goose hunting in Illinois

The native geese of Illinois are the huge Canada geese, which can be found throughout the state all year. They have a body weight of 9 to 16 pounds and a wingspan of nearly 6 feet. Aside from swans, the largest waterfowl game in Illinois is the giant Canada goose.

Hunting and shooting ranges in Illinois

The following shooting ranges are open to the general public in Illinois:

Alton Woodriver Sportsmen’s Association
Byron-Oregon Sportsman’s Association.
Centralia Trapping Association
Clark County Sportsmen’s Association
Darnall’s Gun Shop and Ranges
Gun Club of Decatur
The Gordon Trap and Skeet Club
World Gun Range
Highland Rifle and Pistol Club

Hunting Lands in Illinois for Sale and Lease

Illinois hunting acreage for sale includes the following:

30 acres in Fithian, Illinois (Vermilion County).
166 acres in Flora, Illinois (Clay County).
138 acres in Ipava, Illinois (Fulton County).
102.3 acres in Alton, Illinois (Madison County).
53.38 acres in Bradford, Illinois (Stark County).
198 acres in Alton, Illinois (Macoupin County).
198 acres near Reevesville, Illinois (Johnson County).

In Illinois, hunting land for lease includes the following:

Crawford County has 40 acres of deer property for lease.
80 acres of white-tailed deer acreage are available for lease in Gallatin County.
2000-acre deer hunting lease (Crawford Lease)