Understanding the deer hunting seasons in Illinois is crucial for any hunter planning to participate. Whether you’re a seasoned Illinois resident or coming from out of state, knowing the dates, regulations, and permit requirements is essential for a successful and legal hunt. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the 2024-2025 deer hunting seasons in Illinois, ensuring you’re well-prepared and informed. And for those wondering about time, Illinois operates on Central Time, which is important to note as hunting hours are often defined around sunrise and sunset.
2024-2025 Illinois Deer Season Dates and Limits
Illinois offers various deer hunting seasons, each with specific dates, hours, and weapon restrictions. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you plan your hunting trips:
| SEASON | DATES | HOURS | LIMIT | ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery (Counties with a firearm season and west of Route 47 in Kane County) | Oct 1 – Nov 21 & Nov 25 – Dec 4 & Dec 9, 2024 – Jan 19, 2025 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer per archery permit | ** See footnote below |
| Archery (Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane [east of route 47] Counties) | Oct 1, 2024 – Jan 19, 2025 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer per archery permit | ** See footnote below |
| Firearm (Shotgun, Centerfire Rifle, Muzzleloader, Handgun) | Nov 22-24 & Dec 5-8, 2024 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer per firearm permit | ** See footnote below |
| Muzzleloader only | Dec 13-15, 2024 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer per muzzleloader permit | ** See footnote below |
| Special CWD | Dec 26-29, 2024 & Jan 17-19, 2025 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer per valid permit | Antlered deer limit in footnote below does NOT apply to this season |
| Late-Winter Antlerless-only (Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Handgun) | Dec 26-29, 2024 & Jan 17-19, 2025 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One antlerless deer per permit | ** See footnote below |
| Youth Firearm | Oct 12-14, 2024 | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | One deer | ** See footnote below |
| **No hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than two antlered deer during a year, including the youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons. For the purpose of this harvest limit, deer seasons are considered to be in the same year if their opening dates are within the same 12-month period that begins July 1 |
It’s crucial to note that “1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset” is the defined hunting time for all seasons. To accurately determine What Time Is It In Illinois and when these periods occur, hunters should consult local sunrise and sunset charts for their specific location within Illinois, as these times can vary slightly across the state. Remember, Illinois observes Central Time.
Licenses and Permits for Deer Hunting in Illinois
To legally hunt deer in Illinois, both residents and non-residents must acquire the necessary licenses and permits.
Deer Hunting Permits: A Detailed Guide
Illinois offers various deer hunting permits, each tailored to specific seasons and residency.
Archery Permits
For Residents:
- Unlimited availability.
- Can be purchased from licensed vendors or online through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) website. No lottery is required for resident archery permits.
For Non-Residents:
- Limited to one archery combination permit per license year. Non-resident landowners who have obtained landowner archery permits are also eligible for one combination non-resident archery permit.
- Applications are accepted from June 1-30 online via the IDNR website.
- Any permits remaining after the initial drawing will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.
Firearm/Muzzleloader Deer Permits
These permits are primarily obtained through a lottery system.
First Lottery:
- Application Dates: March 5 – April 30, 2024.
- Exclusively for Illinois residents.
Second Lottery:
- Application Dates: May 13 – June 30, 2024.
- Open to: Residents who were unsuccessful in the first lottery, residents who did not apply in the first lottery, and non-residents.
Third Lottery:
- Application Dates: July 11 – August 16, 2024.
- Available to anyone, allowing applicants to apply for multiple permits.
Late Winter Antlerless-only Permits
- Application dates are to be announced (TBA).
- Available to Illinois residents only.
- Legal weapons include shotgun, centerfire rifle, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle (refer to weapon definitions).
- Hunters with valid, unused permits from previous firearm, muzzleloader, or youth seasons may use weapons permitted in those respective seasons.
- Permits are valid only in Special Hunt Areas (IDNR sites) and counties open for the late winter season.
- Remaining permits after the lottery are sold over-the-counter to residents at vendors starting in early December.
- Apply online via the IDNR website.
Special CWD Permits
- Application dates are to be announced (TBA) and are for residents only.
- Legal weapons include shotgun, centerfire rifle, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle (refer to weapon definitions).
- Similar weapon restrictions apply for hunters with unused permits from previous seasons.
- Permits (either-sex) are valid only in Special Hunt Areas (IDNR sites) and counties with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
- Some state sites are lottery-based (similar to Firearm permits), but open counties are over-the-counter.
- Antlerless-only permits remaining after the lottery are available over-the-counter to both residents and non-residents starting in early December.
- Apply online via the IDNR website.
Youth Deer Permits
- Youth Deer Hunt Permits are available over-the-counter (OTC) from agents starting the first Tuesday in August through the last day of the Youth Deer Season.
- Available to both residents and non-residents.
- Youth hunters are limited to one either-sex deer permit valid statewide, except in the closed areas of Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties, and the portion of Kane County east of State Route 47.
Landowner Deer Permits
Archery Season: Equipment, Clothing, and Regulations
Always check specific regulations for the IDNR site(s) you plan to hunt, as some locations may have stricter rules. Detailed deer hunting information can be found in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Pertinent Administrative Rules include 510 and 670.
Legal Archery Hunting Equipment
- Long, recurve, or compound bows with a minimum pull of 30 pounds at any point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length (excluding point) is 20 inches.
- Crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds, minimum overall length of 24 inches, a working safety, and used with fletched bolts or arrows of at least 14 inches.
- Broadheads must be used, with fixed (metal or flint-, chert-, or obsidian-knapped) or expandable (metal) cutting surfaces, and a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened.
Clothing Requirements for Archery Deer Season
There are no specific clothing requirements for archery deer hunting in terms of blaze orange or pink. However, hunters using archery equipment during other seasons should be aware of blaze clothing requirements for those seasons.
Tagging and Harvest Reporting
Upon harvesting a deer, immediately before moving or field dressing, detach the leg tag from your permit, invalidate it, and attach it to the deer’s leg using your own fastener through the provided holes. A head tag is also provided for taxidermy purposes. Deer must remain whole (or field dressed) until checked in.
Successful archery deer hunters must report their harvest by 10 p.m. on the same calendar day the deer was taken. Reporting can be done via the toll-free telephone check-in system or the online check-in system. Prepare to answer questions listed on the back of your permit before reporting.
Restricted Archery Zone (RAZ)
In Champaign, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties, only antlered deer may be harvested during October 1-31 as part of a Restricted Archery Zone (RAZ) initiative to manage deer populations. After October 31, regular archery regulations apply.
Download the Archery Deer Harvest Reporting and Hunting Regulations Information Sheet for more details.
Firearm and Muzzleloader Seasons: Regulations and Gear
Always consult the regulations for your specific IDNR hunting site. Comprehensive details are available in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Relevant Administrative Rules include 510, 650, 660, 675, 680, and 685.
Legal Firearm Hunting Equipment
- Shotguns (10 to 20 gauge) loaded with slugs only, holding no more than three consecutive slugs.
- Single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .45 caliber, firing a single projectile through a barrel of at least 16 inches.
- Single-shot centerfire rifles using bottleneck centerfire cartridges of .30 caliber or larger with case length not exceeding 1.4 inches, OR straight-walled centerfire cartridges of .30 caliber or larger with manufacturer-published ballistic data showing at least 500 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. No full-metal jacket bullets; magazine capacity limited to 1 round in magazine and chamber combined. Centerfire rifle definition.
- Centerfire revolvers or single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum 4-inch barrel.
- Muzzleloading rifles loaded from the muzzle end. Muzzleloader definition.
- Use only black powder or approved “black powder substitutes.” Modern smokeless powders are allowed only in muzzleloaders designed for them.
- Ignition types: percussion caps (shotgun primers legal), wheellock, matchlock, or flintlock. Electronic ignition muzzleloaders are also legal.
- Unloaded muzzleloader definition provided in regulations.
- Archery equipment is permitted on private land during firearm season for hunters with a valid, unfilled Firearm Deer Permit.
- Suppressors/silencers are prohibited.
- Scopes are allowed on any legal firearm for deer hunting.
Clothing Requirements for Firearm Deer Hunting Seasons
For all firearm deer hunting seasons (First and Second Firearm, Late Winter, Muzzleloader, Special CWD, and Youth Firearm), hunters must wear a solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat and an upper outer garment with at least 400 square inches of blaze orange or blaze pink material.
Tagging and Harvest Reporting for Firearm and Muzzleloader Seasons
Tagging procedures are identical to archery season.
Harvest Reporting for Non-CWD Counties:
Successful firearm and muzzleloader deer hunters in counties without CWD surveillance must report their harvest by 10 pm on the same day. Reporting can be done via:
- Telephone check-in: 1-866-452-4325 (1-866-IL-CHECK)
- Online check-in
Hunters with muzzleloader permits during the second firearm weekend may report electronically or at a designated firearm deer check station by 8 pm on the day of the kill.
Mandatory Check Stations for CWD Counties
Hunters in CWD surveillance counties (Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, LaSalle, Livingston, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago) must physically register their deer at a designated check station on the same day of the kill, between 8 am and 8 pm. Check station locations are available on the Firearm Deer Check Stations Map and in the Firearm Deer Hunting Information for CWD Counties information sheet.
Download the Firearm/Muzzleloader Deer Harvest Reporting & Hunting Regulations Information Sheet for further details.
Late Winter Antlerless-only Deer Hunting Season Details
Legal firearms, muzzleloaders, or handguns as specified for the Firearm and Muzzleloader seasons are allowed, except youth hunters are restricted to shotguns or muzzleloaders. Archery equipment is also permitted with archery permits, and blaze orange/pink clothing rules apply. Refer to the Late Winter and CWD Deer Hunting map for open counties. Tagging, clothing, and harvest reporting regulations are the same as firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
Download Late-Winter Deer Hunting Permit Information for more information.
Special CWD Deer Hunting Season Information
Legal firearms, muzzleloaders, or handguns from the Firearm Season section are permitted during the Special CWD season. Check the CWD and Late Winter Deer Hunting map for open counties. Notably, the two antlered deer limit does not apply during this season. Clothing, tagging, and harvest reporting requirements are the same as firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
Download the Special CWD Deer Season Information sheet.
Youth Firearm Deer Hunting Season Guidelines
Youth hunters must be under 18 years old on the first day of the hunt and possess a youth permit (resident or nonresident, limit of 1 either-sex deer permit). Permits are valid statewide on private land (with permission) or public sites open to this season. See the list of open public sites. Legal weapons include shotguns, centerfire rifles, or muzzleloaders as per Firearm Season specifications. Each youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult in immediate control at all times. Adults must have a valid Illinois hunting license if a nonresident or if the youth uses an Apprentice or Youth hunting license. Clothing, tagging, and reporting rules are the same as firearm and muzzleloader seasons.
Download the Youth Deer Hunting Information Sheet for complete details.
Deer Management and Ecology in Illinois
The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources manages and protects white-tailed deer and their habitats. Deer management in Illinois balances ecological principles with human interests, using harvest trends, hunter success, deer-vehicle collisions, and agricultural damage data to set harvest quotas. More information on Illinois deer management is available online.
- IDNR Deer Harvest Query for historic harvest data.
Deer Management by the Numbers
- Interactive Harvest Data
- Deer Management Statistics
Annual Deer Season Harvest Reports:
Deer Harvest Summaries by County:
[2023]
[2022]
[2021]
[2020]
[2019]
Disease Awareness: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Hunters should be aware of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), particularly in northern Illinois counties. Mandatory deer checks are required in firearm seasons within CWD surveillance counties. Find check station information online.
Report any sick or dead deer to IDNR via online reporting. If you find abnormalities while field dressing and are concerned about meat consumption, contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist.
Learn more about white-tailed deer diseases and parasites. Submit samples from any county for CWD testing by IDNR. Statewide testing locations are available via partnerships with taxidermists and meat processors. Annual CWD reports detail CWD prevalence in Illinois.
Additional Resources for Illinois Deer Hunters
- Gifting or Donating Venison
- Recipe Book – Illinois Learn to Hunt Program
- Maximizing use of harvested deer (YouTube Playlist)
- Video Q&A with the IDNR Deer Project Manager
- First deer harvest certificate
- Private land permission form
- Collector pin vendors or order online
- Claim a road-kill deer
This comprehensive guide should equip you with the necessary information for deer hunting in Illinois during the 2024-2025 seasons. Always ensure you check the most current regulations and know what time it is in Illinois to adhere to legal hunting hours and have a safe and successful hunting experience.
