ILLINOIS · TURKEY · 2026–27
Illinois turkey
season dates.
Fall 2026 and published spring 2027 dates, North/South permit periods, youth dates and open shotgun counties.
PUBLISHED SPRING 2027
Five periods in each spring zone
South: Apr. 5–May 6; North: Apr. 12–May 13, divided into the five permit periods below. Cook and DuPage are closed to spring turkey. South includes Crawford, Jasper, Effingham, Fayette, Bond and Madison and every county south of them; the remaining open counties are North. Youth dates are Mar. 27–28 and Apr. 3–4. Spring shooting ends at 1 p.m.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring turkey — North segment 1Opens April 12, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 12 – April 16, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — North segment 2Opens April 17, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 17 – April 22, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — North segment 3Opens April 23, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 23 – April 28, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — North segment 4Opens April 29, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 29 – May 5, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — North segment 5Opens May 6, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | May 6 – May 13, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — South segment 1Opens April 5, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 5 – April 9, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — South segment 2Opens April 10, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 10 – April 15, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — South segment 3Opens April 16, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 16 – April 21, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — South segment 4Opens April 22, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 22 – April 28, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Spring turkey — South segment 5Opens April 29, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | April 29 – May 6, 2027 | North/South spring turkey counties as shown on the official map. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. Marshall/Putnam and Gallatin/Hardin are combined permit areas; confirm the exact area printed on the permit. | One tom, jake or bearded hen per permit; at most 3 spring permits total including youth and landowner permits.source · source |
| Youth spring turkey — published 2027 datesOpens March 27, 2027Legal shotgun, vertical bow or crossbow | March 27 – March 28, 2027 April 3 – April 4, 2027 | Open spring turkey counties and designated youth sites. Under 18 before the first day of the hunt; correct youth county/site permit and non-hunting supervisor required. Youth/Apprentice licenses need a licensed Illinois adult 21+. Detailed 2027 youth information is due January 2027; verify the issued permit and any later eligibility instructions. Correct unused county/site and season-segment permit required; a listed period does not authorize every permit. Tag immediately and report by 10 p.m. the same day. Spring hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.; no bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller; legal broadhead vertical bow/crossbow. No rifle or handgun. | One bearded turkey per youth permit; 1 youth permit per year, counts toward 3 spring permits.source · source |
FALL 2026
Shotgun counties & archery closures
Shotgun: Oct. 24–Nov. 1 in the 56 open counties below; Gallatin/Hardin is a combined permit area. Archery: Oct. 1–Jan. 17, with Nov. 20–22 and Dec. 3–6 closures where firearm deer hunting is open. Kane’s Route 47 boundary matters. Fall shotgun allows only shotgun; fall archery only legal bow/crossbow.
Adams, Alexander, Brown, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Hardin, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Mason, Massac, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Perry, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Rock Island, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Stephenson, Union, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson, Winnebago.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall turkey shotgunClosed for 2026-27Shotgun only | Oct. 24 – Nov. 1, 2026 | 56 open counties; Gallatin/Hardin combined permit area. Use the county/site printed on the permit; Gallatin/Hardin is a combined permit area. Shotgun .410–10 gauge, No. 4 shot or smaller. Hours half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. | One either-sex turkey per permit; maximum 2 fall shotgun permits, including landowner permits.source · source |
| Fall turkey archery — firearm countiesOpen now · through Nov. 19Legal vertical bow or crossbow | Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2026 Nov. 23 – Dec. 2, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 | Listed counties/portion; fall archery is statewide. Correct fall archery permit. Closed during regular firearm deer segments where listed; youth/muzzleloader/late-winter dates do not close ordinary archery. Hours half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. | One either-sex turkey per permit; maximum 2 fall archery permits.source · source |
| Fall turkey archery — Kane westOpen now · through Nov. 19Legal vertical bow or crossbow | Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2026 Nov. 23 – Dec. 2, 2026 Dec. 7, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 | Listed counties/portion; fall archery is statewide. Correct fall archery permit. Closed during regular firearm deer segments where listed; youth/muzzleloader/late-winter dates do not close ordinary archery. Hours half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. | One either-sex turkey per permit; maximum 2 fall archery permits.source · source |
| Fall turkey archery — no firearm seasonOpen now · through Jan. 17Legal vertical bow or crossbow | Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 | Listed counties/portion; fall archery is statewide. Correct fall archery permit. Closed during regular firearm deer segments where listed; youth/muzzleloader/late-winter dates do not close ordinary archery. Hours half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. | One either-sex turkey per permit; maximum 2 fall archery permits.source · source |
| Fall turkey archery — Kane eastOpen now · through Jan. 17Legal vertical bow or crossbow | Oct. 1, 2026 – Jan. 17, 2027 | Listed counties/portion; fall archery is statewide. Correct fall archery permit. Closed during regular firearm deer segments where listed; youth/muzzleloader/late-winter dates do not close ordinary archery. Hours half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. | One either-sex turkey per permit; maximum 2 fall archery permits.source · source |
SPRING APPLICATIONS
Apply before planning the permit period
2027 lottery 1: Oct. 6–Dec. 1 (eligible Illinois residents); lottery 2: Dec. 11–Jan. 11; lottery 3: Jan. 22–Feb. 9. Remaining county permits go on sale Mar. 9; special hunt-area permits are lottery-only. Youth site applications: Jan. 19–Feb. 15; youth county permits: Mar. 2–Apr. 4. These are permit dates, not additional hunting dates. New 2027 youth details and the reporting insert are due January.
Source: IDNR: 2027 spring turkey dates and permits ↗; IDNR: 2027 youth spring turkey dates ↗
LICENSES & PERMITS
Match the permit to the hunt
A spring permit is valid for its county/site and one season segment. Maximum 3 spring permits total, including youth and landowner permits. Fall shotgun and fall archery each have a separate 2-permit limit. Tag immediately; report by 10 p.m. the same day. No rifle/handgun, bait, dogs, live/electronic decoys or recorded calls. Use legal broadheads for archery or a .410–10 gauge shotgun with No. 4 shot or smaller where the season permits.
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
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.
- IDNR: 2026–27 Hunting and Trapping Digest ↗
- IDNR: 2027 spring turkey dates and permits ↗
- IDNR: 2027 youth spring turkey dates ↗
- IDNR: 2026 fall turkey dates ↗
- IDNR: 2026 fall shotgun turkey open counties ↗
- Illinois administrative code: spring turkey, Part 710 ↗
- Illinois administrative code: fall archery turkey, Part 720 ↗
Last checked: Nov. 3, 2026. Saved calendars and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.