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Is deer season open in Illinois?
Every Illinois deer season for 2026-27 from Illinois Department of Natural Resources, open or closed on the day you pick, and when the next one opens.
Illinois deer seasons 2026-27
Illinois's First Firearm Deer Season opens Nov 20, 2026.
- Archery Deer Season · Counties with a firearm seasonOct 1 to Nov 19 · Nov 23 to Dec 2 · Dec 7 to Jan 17, 2027
- Archery Deer Season · Cook, DuPage, Lake and east KaneOct 1 to Jan 17, 2027
- Youth Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season · youth hunters onlyOct 10 to Oct 12
- First Firearm Deer Season · Counties with a firearm seasonNov 20 to Nov 22
- Second Firearm Deer Season · Counties with a firearm seasonDec 3 to Dec 6
- Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season · Counties with a firearm seasonDec 11 to Dec 13
- Late-Winter Antlerless Deer Season · Counties Open to Late-Winter Deer Season onlyDec 31 to Jan 3, 2027 · Jan 15 to Jan 17
- Special CWD Deer Season · Counties Open to Special CWD Deer Season onlyDec 31 to Jan 3, 2027 · Jan 15 to Jan 17
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. IDNR Deer Firearm and Muzzleloader Season Information, checked November 2026.
Deer season · Illinois · Today. Yes. A deer season is open today in every Illinois zone. Pick yours above to see which.
Deer season · Illinois · Today
Season openYes. A deer season is open today in every Illinois zone. Pick yours above to see which.
- Archery Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season
- Archery Deer Season · Cook, DuPage, Lake and east Kane
- Youth Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season
- First Firearm Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season
- Second Firearm Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season
- Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season · Counties with a firearm season
- Late-Winter Antlerless Deer Season · Counties Open to Late-Winter Deer Season
- Special CWD Deer Season · Counties Open to Special CWD Deer Season
Archery Deer SeasonArcheryOpen
Oct 1 to Nov 19 · Nov 23 to Dec 2 · Dec 7 to Jan 17, 2027
Counties with a firearm season
Illinois's wording
"Counties with a firearm season and west of State Route 47 in Kane County: | October 1 - November 19, 2026 | November 23 - December 2, 2026 | December 7, 2026 - January 17, 2027"
SourceArchery Deer SeasonArcheryOpen
Oct 1 to Jan 17, 2027
Cook, DuPage, Lake and east Kane
Illinois's wording
"Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane County (east of State Route 47): | October 1, 2026 - January 17, 2027"
SourceYouth Deer SeasonYouth
Oct 10 to Oct 12
Counties with a firearm season, Youth hunters only
Illinois's wording
"Season Dates: October 10-12, 2026"
SourceFirst Firearm Deer SeasonFirearm
Nov 20 to Nov 22
Counties with a firearm season
Illinois's wording
"First Firearm Deer Season: November 20, 21 & 22, 2026"
Second Firearm Deer SeasonFirearm
Dec 3 to Dec 6
Counties with a firearm season
Illinois's wording
"Second Firearm Deer Season: December 3, 4, 5 & 6, 2026"
Muzzleloader-Only Deer SeasonMuzzleloader
Dec 11 to Dec 13
Counties with a firearm season
Illinois's wording
"Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season: December 11, 12 & 13, 2026 - Hunters may also use a muzzleloader permit with a muzzleloading rifle during Second Firearm Season December 3 - 6, 2026"
Late-Winter Antlerless Deer SeasonLate
Dec 31 to Jan 3, 2027 · Jan 15 to Jan 17
Counties Open to Late-Winter Deer Season only
Illinois's wording
"Late Winter Season and CWD Season | Season Dates: December 31, 2026 - January 3, 2027 and January 15-17, 2027"
SourceSpecial CWD Deer SeasonOther
Dec 31 to Jan 3, 2027 · Jan 15 to Jan 17
Counties Open to Special CWD Deer Season only
Illinois's wording
"Late Winter Season and CWD Season | Season Dates: December 31, 2026 - January 3, 2027 and January 15-17, 2027"
Source
Hunter orange
"A solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat and an upper outer garment displaying at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange or blaze pink material must be worn: • to hunt deer during all firearm deer seasons in counties open for firearm deer seasons."
More from Illinois's rules
"During the period October 1-October 31, only antlered deer may be harvested in the Restricted Archery Zone, regardless of permits in possession."
"Even though archery season is closed during the regular firearm season, archery season is still open during the youth, muzzleloader, late winter antlerless-only and the special CWD deer seasons."
"Only antlerless deer may be harvested during Late-Winter Deer season."
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR Deer Firearm and Muzzleloader Season Information, checked November 2026.
A guide to the dates each state printed for the year, not the regulations. Bag limits, permits, weapon rules and unit closures are in the state's own digest, which is the authority.
- Each state's own dates, quoted
- Your zone and your day
- When the next season opens
Hunting in Illinois
40 outfitters, guides and lodges listed in Illinois. Legal shooting hours in Illinois today.
Common questions
Deer season questions
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