ILLINOIS · DEER · 2026–27

Illinois deer
season dates.

Archery splits, regular firearm, muzzleloader, youth, late-winter and CWD hunts, with Kane County and October antler restrictions.

Last checked: Nov. 3, 2026Official Illinois hunting regulations ↗2026–27 Illinois hunting guide ↗

Find dates, calendars & a printable summary →

DEER RULES THAT CHANGE YOUR DATES

County, equipment & permit matter

Regular firearm: Nov. 20–22 and Dec. 3–6, 2026. Muzzleloader-only: Dec. 11–13; a muzzleloader permit also works Dec. 3–6 with a muzzleloading rifle.
Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of Route 47 are closed to firearm/muzzleloader/youth firearm deer hunting. Their archery dates remain Oct. 1–Jan. 17. Elsewhere, archery-permit dates close during regular firearm segments. A separate private-land bow exception requires an unfilled firearm permit.
Oct. 1–31 archery in Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt is antlered-only, except Allerton Park. A buck has at least one antler 3 inches or longer.
Maximum 2 antlered deer across ordinary seasons; one deer per valid permit. Special CWD-season deer are exempt from that antlered limit. A $5 CWD permit is antlerless-only; an eligible unfilled either-sex permit can authorize a buck. Late-winter is always antlerless-only.
A qualifying single-shot centerfire rifle is allowed during the appropriate firearm dates. This is not an unrestricted rifle season. Legal .30+ straight-wall or short-case bottleneck ammunition must meet IDNR’s factory energy and cartridge rules. Unfilled muzzleloader permits require a muzzleloading rifle.

Source: IDNR: Archery deer dates and restricted zone ↗; IDNR: Firearm and muzzleloader deer ↗; IDNR: 2026–27 special CWD deer county and permit rules ↗; IDNR: 2026–27 late-winter deer county and permit rules ↗

Special CWD open counties (25)

Adams, Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Effingham, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Scott, Stark, Stephenson, Will, Winnebago; Kane west of Route 47 only.

Late-winter open counties (31)

Brown, Clay, Coles, Clinton, Crawford, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jefferson, Knox, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, McDonough, Mercer, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Rock Island, Saline, Schuyler, Shelby, Williamson, Warren, Washington, Woodford.

PUBLISHED DATES

Deer seasons & permit-specific exceptions

Season	Dates	Where	Bag limit
Archery deer — firearm countiesOpen now · through Nov. 19Vertical bow or legal crossbow	Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2026 Nov. 23 – Dec. 2, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed counties; ordinary private land. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. October antlered-only restriction applies in Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt except Allerton Park. Archery-permit dates close during the two regular firearm segments where listed. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Archery deer — Kane west of Route 47Open now · through Nov. 19Vertical bow or legal crossbow	Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2026 Nov. 23 – Dec. 2, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed counties; ordinary private land. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. October antlered-only restriction applies in Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt except Allerton Park. Archery-permit dates close during the two regular firearm segments where listed. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Archery deer — Cook, DuPage and LakeOpen now · through Jan. 17Vertical bow or legal crossbow	Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed counties; ordinary private land. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. October antlered-only restriction applies in Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt except Allerton Park. Archery-permit dates close during the two regular firearm segments where listed. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Archery deer — Kane east of Route 47Open now · through Jan. 17Vertical bow or legal crossbow	Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed counties; ordinary private land. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. October antlered-only restriction applies in Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt except Allerton Park. Archery-permit dates close during the two regular firearm segments where listed. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Firearm deerOpens Nov. 20, 2026Qualifying single-shot centerfire rifle, legal handgun, slug shotgun or muzzleloading rifle	Nov. 20 – Nov. 22, 2026 Dec. 3 – Dec. 6, 2026	All counties except Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of Route 47. Qualifying single-shot centerfire rifle, legal handgun, slug shotgun or muzzleloading rifle only. No unrestricted rifle season. Shotguns 10–20 gauge, slugs only, maximum 3 consecutive slugs; muzzleloading rifles at least .45 caliber. Centerfire cartridges must meet IDNR case/caliber/energy rules; no FMJ or suppressor. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Firearm-permit deer — private-land bow exceptionOpens Nov. 20, 2026Legal vertical bow or crossbow with a FIREARM deer permit	Nov. 20 – Nov. 22, 2026 Dec. 3 – Dec. 6, 2026	All counties except Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of Route 47. A valid unfilled FIREARM deer permit is required. An archery permit is not valid for these dates in firearm counties. Private land only; firearm-season orange and reporting rules apply. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Muzzleloader-only deerOpens Dec. 11, 2026Muzzleloading rifle	Dec. 11 – Dec. 13, 2026	All counties except Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of Route 47. Muzzleloading rifle only with a muzzleloader permit; that permit may also be used Dec. 3–6 with a muzzleloading rifle. The Dec. 3–6 overlap is listed separately. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Muzzleloader permit — second firearm segmentOpens Dec. 3, 2026Muzzleloading rifle	Dec. 3 – Dec. 6, 2026	Open firearm counties; Kane west of Route 47 only. Muzzleloader permit is valid with muzzleloading rifle during the second firearm segment, Dec. 3–6. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Muzzleloader dates — unfilled property-only firearm permitOpens Dec. 11, 2026Muzzleloading rifle	Dec. 11 – Dec. 13, 2026	All counties except Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane east of Route 47. An unfilled Property-Only Hunting (Landowner) FIREARM deer permit may be used during Dec. 11–13 with a muzzleloading rifle only on the land the permit authorizes. This does not make an ordinary county firearm permit valid in muzzleloader-only season. Muzzleloading rifle only with a muzzleloader permit; that permit may also be used Dec. 3–6 with a muzzleloading rifle. The Dec. 3–6 overlap is listed separately. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Youth firearm deerClosed for 2026-27Youth-legal single-shot rifle, slug shotgun or muzzleloading rifle	Oct. 10 – Oct. 12, 2026	Open firearm counties; Kane west of Route 47 only. Under 18 on opening day. Required youth permit and non-hunting supervisor. Youth/Apprentice license needs a licensed Illinois adult 21+; other license types have the prescribed supervisor rules. One supervisor per youth. Legal youth guns exclude handguns. Landowner permits do not replace the youth permit. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Unfilled youth permit — regular firearm datesOpens Nov. 20, 2026Youth-legal single-shot rifle, slug shotgun or muzzleloading rifle	Nov. 20 – Nov. 22, 2026 Dec. 3 – Dec. 6, 2026	Open firearm counties; Kane west of Route 47 only. Unfilled valid 2026 Youth Deer Hunt Permit on private land during first/second firearm season; youth equipment and applicable supervision rules remain. Confirm the permit is unused. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer per valid unused permit, of the sex authorized. Maximum 2 antlered deer across youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined; special CWD-season harvest is exempt. Antlered means at least one antler 3 inches or longer.source · source
Late-winter antlerless deerOpens Dec. 31, 2026Legal firearm matched to the permit	Dec. 31, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 Jan. 15 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed open counties only; Kane west of Route 47 only. Resident OTC late-winter permit or an eligible unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth permit for an open county. Nonresidents need an eligible unfilled permit; they cannot buy the resident late-winter permit. Unfilled muzzleloader permits require a muzzleloading rifle. Public sites have separate permits and schedules. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One ANTLERLESS deer per valid permit, even when using an unfilled either-sex permit. No buck.source · source
Special CWD — antlerless-only permitOpens Dec. 31, 2026Legal firearm matched to the permit	Dec. 31, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 Jan. 15 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed open counties only; Kane west of Route 47 only. Residents and nonresidents may buy county-specific antlerless-only CWD permits. Use the actual open county and property. Unfilled muzzleloader permits require a muzzleloading rifle. Public sites have separate permits and schedules. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One ANTLERLESS deer per Special CWD permit; a $5 OTC CWD permit never authorizes a buck.source · source
Special CWD — eligible unfilled permitOpens Dec. 31, 2026Legal firearm matched to the permit	Dec. 31, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 Jan. 15 – Jan. 17, 2027	Listed open counties only; Kane west of Route 47 only. Eligible unfilled current firearm, muzzleloader or youth permit, valid for the open county. Only an unfilled either-sex permit authorizes a buck. An unfilled muzzleloader permit permits muzzleloading rifle only. Unfilled muzzleloader permits require a muzzleloading rifle. Public sites have separate permits and schedules. Tag immediately before moving, transporting or field dressing. Report by 10 p.m. the same day, except first/second firearm harvest in designated CWD surveillance counties requires a physical check station. Check the actual permit, hunter orange/pink, FOID/exemptions, access and legal hours. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. First/second firearm CWD check-station counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Station hours normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow current late-retrieval instructions.	One deer of the sex authorized by the eligible unfilled permit. Antlered harvest in this special CWD season does not count toward the ordinary 2-antlered limit.source · source

TAGGING & CWD

Use the right reporting route

Immediately tag deer before moving, transporting or field dressing. For ordinary archery, youth, muzzleloader, late-winter and special CWD seasons, report by 10 p.m. the same day. During the first and second firearm seasons, deer harvested in the designated CWD surveillance counties must go to a physical check station the same day, normally 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; follow the late-retrieval instructions in the current guide.

The 18 surveillance counties are Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Ford, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. This is a different list from the 25 special CWD-season counties. Check current station locations and transport/import restrictions before moving the carcass.

Source: IDNR: 2026–27 Hunting and Trapping Digest ↗; IDNR: CWD management and check stations ↗

LICENSES & PERMITS

Match the permit to the hunt

A valid signed deer permit must match the weapon, county/site, dates and sex of the deer. Tag before moving or field dressing. Ordinary registration is due by 10 p.m. the same day; first/second firearm harvest in CWD surveillance counties uses a physical check station. No all-white deer, bait or feeding. FOID/exemptions, legal ammunition and orange/pink requirements still apply.

Public, controlled, IRAP, refuge, island and river hunts need their own access and current hunter fact sheet. A county-wide reference does not authorize every property. Confirm shooting hours, local discharge restrictions and hunter education. License exemptions do not automatically exempt a required species permit.

Source: IDNR: 2026–27 Hunting and Trapping Digest ↗; IDNR hunter fact sheets: check the exact property ↗

GET READY FOR THE WOODS

Prepare for your hunt

FREE PRINTABLEFree deer season starter checklistRead more →FIELD GUIDEPlan your first public-land huntRead more →

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Reviewed for this season

We compare IDNR’s current digest, season-specific county/permit sheets and official maps. Every split and local exception stays separate. Published spring 2027 turkey dates are included; unpublished future seasons are not inferred. Sources are reviewed weekly, with editorial review before changes are published.

Last checked: Nov. 3, 2026. Saved calendars and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.