Hunting in Illinois
Official agency resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Buy a license ↗
https://dnr.illinois.gov/lpr/alllicensespermitsstamps.html
- Hunting regulations ↗
https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/hunttrapdigest.html
- Draw / lottery applications ↗
https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/deerfirearmmuzzleloader.html
- GMU map ↗
https://dnr2.illinois.gov/PublicHuntingAreas/
- Harvest reporting ↗
https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/harvestreporting.html
- Hunter education ↗
https://dnr.illinois.gov/safety/huntersafety.html
Authoritative source
For season dates, bag limits, draw deadlines, license costs, and unit-specific rules in Illinois, go straight to the issuing agency.
Illinois Department of Natural ResourcesGame species in Illinois
See all species →Click any species to see every state where it's on the books.
Big Game
Wild Turkey
Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Small Game
Migratory
Unit boundaries
Game management unit boundaries for Illinois are being verified against the state agency source. Outdoors won't publish them until the source has been hand-checked.
In the meantime, use the agency link above for the official unit maps and the parks below for huntable public land in Illinois.
Huntable public lands in Illinois
Wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, and state forest preserves where hunting is permitted.
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
6,617.8 acres
Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
3,929.5 acres
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
47,174.6 acres
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
18,211.5 acres
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
2,633.6 acres
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
11,847.2 acres
Green River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
2,201.3 acres
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
1,178.3 acres
Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Area
National Wildlife Refuge
65.6 acres
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
3,703.8 acres
Middle Mississippi Purchase Unit
Conservation Area
67,260.92 acres
Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
8,694.8 acres