Illinois Deer Shotgun Season 2025, 2026
Shotgun deer hunting dates for Illinois.
Recorded dates, not hunting permission
Status assessment: 2026-10-14 UTC (static build snapshot). Static activity badges and day counts use this build assessment, not a live check. Interactive finder results show their own UTC assessment day.
2 of 4 recorded windows have date-review evidence. Other rows remain unverified. Historical records are retained and are not a current-season promise.
Check your current agency regulations, GMU or zone, hunt code, license and access restrictions before hunting. An agency link or successful publication fetch does not verify a row. Reviewed base dates do not cover every license-specific exception.
Date evidence: Official date source. Review dates apply only to the stated row scope, not an entire state or current license eligibility.
Illinois Deer Shotgun Season
Find shotgun deer hunting season dates for Illinois. Plan your 2025, 2026 shotgun hunt with dates, zones, and equipment requirements.
Shotgun Season Coming Soon
2 shotgun seasons opening within 60 days
Nov 20-22, 2026
Actual 2026 Illinois rules PDF page 2: first Firearm base window, shown in the shotgun view. Permit is valid only for its specific county/hunt area; private-land permission and signed permit are required. Shotguns use slugs only, 10–20 gauge, at most three consecutive slugs. Qualifying centerfire single-shot rifles are also permitted subject to cartridge/bullet rules; this is not a rifle ban. Check current license/habitat-stamp exemptions, FOID, legal ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/harvest reporting, CWD rules and site closures. Not muzzleloader-only, youth, late-winter/CWD or site-specific dates; not individual permission.
Dec 3-6, 2026
Actual 2026 Illinois rules PDF page 2: second Firearm base window, shown in the shotgun view. The November–December gap is not open under these records. Permit is valid only for its specific county/hunt area; private-land permission and signed permit are required. Shotguns use slugs only, 10–20 gauge, at most three consecutive slugs. Qualifying centerfire single-shot rifles are also permitted subject to cartridge/bullet rules; this is not a rifle ban. Check current license/habitat-stamp exemptions, FOID, legal ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/harvest reporting, CWD rules and site closures. Not muzzleloader-only, youth, late-winter/CWD or site-specific dates; not individual permission.
Shotgun Deer Season Dates
4 shotgun seasons in Illinois
| Dates | Zone | Status | Notes | Add to Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21 - Dec 1, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Unverified historical first-firearm summary; these dates were not checked against a dated source. | |
| Nov 20-22, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | General Firearm — first base window, permitted county/hunt area only | Upcoming | Actual 2026 Illinois rules PDF page 2: first Firearm base window, shown in the shotgun view. Permit is valid only for its specific county/hunt area; private-land permission and signed permit are required. Shotguns use slugs only, 10–20 gauge, at most three consecutive slugs. Qualifying centerfire single-shot rifles are also permitted subject to cartridge/bullet rules; this is not a rifle ban. Check current license/habitat-stamp exemptions, FOID, legal ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/harvest reporting, CWD rules and site closures. Not muzzleloader-only, youth, late-winter/CWD or site-specific dates; not individual permission. | |
| Dec 3-6, 2026 Date window reviewed 2026-10-09; verify license-specific exceptions Official date source | General Firearm — second base window, permitted county/hunt area only | Upcoming | Actual 2026 Illinois rules PDF page 2: second Firearm base window, shown in the shotgun view. The November–December gap is not open under these records. Permit is valid only for its specific county/hunt area; private-land permission and signed permit are required. Shotguns use slugs only, 10–20 gauge, at most three consecutive slugs. Qualifying centerfire single-shot rifles are also permitted subject to cartridge/bullet rules; this is not a rifle ban. Check current license/habitat-stamp exemptions, FOID, legal ammunition, sex/bag limits, tagging/harvest reporting, CWD rules and site closures. Not muzzleloader-only, youth, late-winter/CWD or site-specific dates; not individual permission. | |
| Dec 4-7, 2025 Unverified date record; agency review required | Zone not recorded | Historical record | Second firearm season | |
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Compare Other Deer Hunting Methods
Explore 2 other methods available in Illinois
Zone-Specific Shotgun Dates
Illinois has different shotgun deer dates by zone. Zones include: General Firearm — first base window, permitted county/hunt area only, General Firearm — second base window, permitted county/hunt area only. Check official state regulations for zone boundaries.
Important Note for Illinois
Only the two 2026 General Firearm base windows were reviewed, shown in the shotgun view. Qualifying single-shot centerfire rifles are permitted subject to current ammunition rules. Signed county/hunt-area permits, licenses/habitat stamp, FOID, sex/bag limits, tagging/reporting, CWD, land permission and closures require agency checks. Other hunt types/site-specific dates, historical rows and license-year metadata remain unverified.
Illinois Deer Shotgun Hunting FAQ
Common questions about shotgun deer hunting in Illinois
When does shotgun deer season start in Illinois?
Recorded windows, not one continuous season: 2025-11-21 to 2025-12-01; 2026-11-20 to 2026-11-22; 2026-12-03 to 2026-12-06; 2025-12-04 to 2025-12-07. Historical and unverified records may be included. Check each row's evidence and your current GMU/hunt code and license before hunting.
What shot size is legal for deer in Illinois?
Illinois regulates shot size and shot type for deer hunting. Many states require non-toxic shot for waterfowl and may have specific pellet size requirements for other game. Verify current shotgun regulations with the state.
Are there different shotgun deer zones in Illinois?
Yes, Illinois has zone-specific shotgun deer seasons. Zones include: General Firearm — first base window, permitted county/hunt area only, General Firearm — second base window, permitted county/hunt area only. Each zone may have different dates and regulations.
Do I need a special tag for shotgun deer hunting in Illinois?
You need a valid Illinois hunting license and applicable deer tags or permits. Some states offer shotgun-specific tags or have separate quotas. Check current license requirements and availability.
What other methods can I use to hunt deer in Illinois?
Besides shotgun, Illinois offers deer seasons for: Archery, Muzzleloader. Each method has different season dates and regulations.
Shotgun Deer in Other States
Compare shotgun seasons across states
View All Illinois Deer Seasons
See all hunting methods for deer in Illinois.
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