Illinois

Species on recordOpen now0Classified8Record year2026

The place

What Illinois is like to hunt

Awaiting survey — Illinois overview

Season classification for Illinois is complete for 2026, but the qualitative overview has not been written yet. Dates, bag limits and status below are current; the narrative is what is outstanding.

Issuing agencyIllinois Department of Natural Resourcesdnr.illinois.govRecord year 2026

The reason people drive here

Ring-necked pheasant

#1Ring-necked pheasantRing-necked pheasant is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 44 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Opens in 78 days

44 statesUpland

Every bird classified here

Species run

Status is computed from the published dates, not stored — a stale build cannot show an ended season as open.

Opens in 78 days

44 statesUpland

#2Northern bobwhite quailNorthern bobwhite quail is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 42 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Opens in 78 days

42 statesUpland

#8Gray (Hungarian) partridgeGray (Hungarian) partridge is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 23 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Opens in 78 days

23 statesUpland

#7ChukarChukar is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 24 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

No wild/general season — licensed hunting preserves only

24 statesUpland

#6Greater prairie-chickenGreater prairie-chicken is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 13 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

Protected/state-endangered — no hunting

13 statesUpland

#3Ruffed grouseRuffed grouse is classified as huntable/regulated upland game in 38 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season (research pass captured 2026-08-18). This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species; see each state's own state-species record for season dates and any opportunistic 2026 notes captured incidentally.

No open season — absent from current regulations

38 statesUpland

#9Mourning doveMourning dove has an open season in 49 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season. This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species this pass.

Opens in 11 days

49 statesFederal framework

#10American woodcockAmerican woodcock has an open season in 37 of the 50 states surveyed for the 2026-27 season. This is a factual presence/season-classification summary, not a population outlook — no 2026 outlook/forecast research was performed for this species this pass.

Opens in 57 days

37 statesFederal framework

Big game open during your bird season

White-tailed deerArchery: OTC purchase (pending availability) 08/03/26-01/17/27, plus an optional early-guarantee lottery 06/01/26-06/30/26. Firearm/Muzzleloader: non-resident Lottery 2 runs 05/11/26-06/30/26 (one firearm + one muzzleloader application), then unclaimed county-quota permits go OTC (in-person only) starting 10/20/26. Youth: OTC in-person only, sold 08/04/26-10/12/26, no draw. Late-Winter/Special-CWD: not separately sold — only valid if hunter already holds an unfilled Firearm/Muzzleloader permit from the regular season, in designated counties.
Wild turkeyFall shotgun: non-resident Lottery 2 runs 07/17/26-08/24/26, then remaining county permits sold OTC first-come-first-served from 09/21/26 until quotas exhausted or season close (Nov 1); 2-permit cap per person. Fall archery: fully OTC, no draw, 08/03/26-01/17/27, 2-permit cap. Spring: general-public (non-landowner) non-resident permit mechanics were not independently verified in this pass; only the Non-Resident Landowner Program path was captured (application deadline close of business Feb 9, 2026; purchase window Nov 17, 2025-Feb 20, 2026, $37.50).