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IllinoisHunter Home:
Your guide to useful information about hunting in Illinois...........
The Midwestern state of Illinois is well known as one of the best states in the USA for trophy whitetail deer and eastern-strain wild turkeys. However, Illinois offers more than just great deer and turkey hunting. In addition to having big bucks and trophy gobblers, Illinois also boasts excellent hunting for a wide variety of other wild game species. Illinois upland game choices include great hunting for pheasant, bobwhite quail, rabbit, and squirrel hunters. Coyote and fox are popular predator hunting species. Excellent migratory waterfowl hunting opportunities for both ducks and geese are also found throughout Illinois. Great dove hunting is also available in Illinois every September. View 2008-2009 Seasons Guide
Special Notices
Illinois Legislature Debates Budget: Competition for state finances threatens IDNR budgets restorations enacted earlier this year. Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever asks hunters and conservationists to contact their legislators to help Illinois wildlife. Learn More
Wingshooting Clinics : IDNR-sponsored shotgunning clinics are designed for a wide range of shooting skill levels. The new 2009 wingshooting clinic schedule has been posted. Learn More
State Site Closures: The reopening of seven state sites was announced 2/26/09. This action reopened seven state sites closed last year, and restored 12 full time jobs to the IDNR. The announcement officially started the process of reopening Castle Rock State Park and Lowden State Park in Oregon, Illini State Park in Marseilles, Hidden Springs State Forest in Strasburg, Moraine View State Park in Leroy, Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton, and Wolf Creek State Park in Windsor. Check out the current ILDNR Site Closure Update for specifics regarding the availability of services at state sites, including weather closures. Learn More
2008 Combined Deer Harvest Totals 188,425: Hunters in Illinois completed the 2008-09 deer hunting seasons by taking a preliminary total of 12,525 deer during the last three days of firearm deer hunting on Jan. 16-18, while the archery deer season ended with preliminary harvest slightly above that of the 2007-08 archery season. Hunters in Illinois took a preliminary total of 64,955 deer during the 2008-09 archery deer season (Oct. 1, 2008-Jan. 15, 2009), compared with the archery deer harvest of 64,260 in 2007-08. The preliminary harvest total of 12,525 for the January 16-18 gun hunt, which included both the Late-Winter Antlerless-only Deer Season and the Special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Deer Season, compares with a harvest of 12,433 deer taken during those seasons last year. This year’s Special CWD Deer Season was limited to Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, and Winnebago counties and Kane County west of Ill. Rt. 47, while 76 additional counties were open for the Late-Winter Antlerless-only Deer Season. The Special CWD Season is used to assist in controlling the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd, while the Late-Winter Season provides additional harvest opportunities as a population management tool. Learn More
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2007-2008 Public Hunting Area Reports: Detailed statistics have been released regarding hunter usage and harvest success during last year's hunting seasons at state-owned hunting sites. The IDNR currently offers 182 public land sites for hunting. Learn More
Public Hunting Areas : Need a place to hunt? Many public hunting opportunities are available at sites owned or managed by the state of Illinois, but regulations are often hard to find and vary widely. Search Site-Specific Hunting Regulations
Landowner Property Tax Relief: The Conservation Stewardship Program offers the incentive of reduced valuation for property taxes to Illinois landowners who are willing to commit to maintaining and managing unimproved land. Learn More
Firearm Deer Hunting Hours Extended: Public Act 95-0289 was amended to extend Illinois firearm deer hunting hours to 1/2 hour after sunset. ( the act also included muzzleloader season, Late-Winter Season, and the Special CWD Season.) Hunting hours previously ended at sunset for the firearm seasons. Click Here to read the official details.
Senior Crossbow Hunting: Hunters 62 years of age and older are now permitted to hunt using a crossbow without a special permit. Prior to the change, only persons with a disability or persons who had obtained a special use permit were allowed to use the devices. Eligible hunters using a crossbow need an archery deer permit and must carry proof of age in the form of an official ID. Hunters who are under 62 years old and wish to use a crossbow are still required to qualify for the permanent disability exemption and must obtain a special permit from the Department of Natural Resources. Equipment restrictions apply. Learn More
CWD and the Special Northern CWD Season: Read the latest CWD Information and Updates
Hunting & Trapping Digests: The Illinois 2008-2009 Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations is the primary public source of official information about Illinois hunting laws and related regulations. The 2008-2009 Waterfowl Digest is the official source of information for hunting migratory species. The Digests can be accessed either online, or as printed pamphlets available at hunting license vendors and ILDNR offices statewide. Learn More
TIP Line: Game Violation Hotline (1-877-2DNRLAW)
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IDNR Announces Deer Hunting Dates, Regulations Changes for 2009-2010 Seasons
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced the new deer hunting season dates and a series of regulations changes for the upcoming 2009-2010 seasons that were recommended by hunters, landowners, and other members of the state’s Joint Deer Population Task Force. Learn More
Licenses, Permits,
& Seasons!
Archery Permit Applications: Nonresident applications for combination (either-sex and antlerless) deer permits are now being accepted as of June 1st through the DNR Direct Online License Sales. Resident archery deer permits will be available "over-the-counter" before the archery deer season begins October 1st. Learn More
Second Lottery Deadline For Firearm Deer Permits Is August 14th, 2009: Applications are being accepted from both residents and nonresidents in the second lottery for 2009 firearm and muzzleloader deer permits. (The resident-only first drawing was April 30th check results.) Non-Resident Firearm Deer paper mail-in applications are expected to be made available by mid-July 2009, which will be several weeks before the second lottery deadline. For all public land hunters, IllinoisHunter recommends that you first check the list of remaining firearm permits or the list of remaining muzzleloader permits, which reflect the results from the first lottery drawing. Apply Online or download the 2009 resident Firearm Mail-In Application or the 2009 resident Muzzleloader Mail-In Application. More Deer Hunting Details
Dove Hunting Begins September 1st: For dove hunting at participating state sites, Internet applications from Illinois residents are being through June 26. (drawings began June 9) Apply Online Now
There are two new features in the dove permit application process this year: 1) Hunters will be allowed to apply for up to 6 different state sites for dove permits. 2) Hunters can list a partner on their application and, if successfully drawn, will receive a permit for the same date and hunting area as their partner. Partners cannot have already applied, or apply later on another application. Learn More
Wild Turkey Hunting: Fall Shotgun Wild Turkey Permit applications are now being accepted from residents through July 6th for the first lottery drawing. Apply Online or Download The Application The 2009 fall shotgun wild turkey season will run October 24-November 1st in selected Illinois counties and at a few state hunting sites. Nonresidents may apply in the second lottery with a deadline of August 24th. More IL Wild Turkey Hunting Web Links
Find a Hunter Safety Class in your County: (Certification is generally required for anyone anyone born on or after January 1, 1980.) Most counties in Illinois will be running classes prior to Spring Turkey hunting seasons. Note: Many older adults are finding that they need hunter safety certification in order to hunt out-of-state regardless of age. Learn More
Illinois Hunting Licenses: 2009 fishing, hunting and sportsman combination licenses are available from local license and permit vendors, online through the IDNR web site at DNR Direct Online License Sales, or by calling 1-888-6PERMIT. Online license buyers can use American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa or E-Check and print the license or receipt. The system is available 24 hours a day. Note: Dove and waterfowl hunters should remember to register with the HIP program when they obtain their licenses. View IDNR price schedule for Illinois Hunting Fees/Permits/Stamps.
Waterfowl Season Wrap-Up: All duck and Canada goose seasons have long since closed, and the Conservation Order snow goose season ended March 31st. Learn More
Apprentice Hunting License: Illinois has a special apprentice resident hunting license, which allows youngsters ages 10 to 17 to go hunting with a parent, grandparent or guardian who has a valid Illinois resident hunting license. Individuals 18 and older will also be able to buy an apprentice license, then hunt with any family member or friend who is a licensed Illinois resident hunter. Apprentice hunting licenses are available through vendors with online licensing terminals, and do not require completion of an ILDNR Hunter Safety course. Illinois Apprentice hunting licenses are valid for only one year, and cannot be renewed. Apprentice licenses are also now available for non-resident hunters. Learn More
Returning Military Veterans:The Armed Forces Special Pass was created for military members who live in Illinois and who have served abroad, including guard or reserve members called to active duty. The special pass provides camping, fishing and hunting fee exemptions for qualified military members, guard and reserve members who can apply within two years of their return from abroad or release from mobilization. Learn More
IDNR Contacts: The State of Illinois Telephone Directory is useful for contacting specific departments of State Agencies such as Natural Resources. For example, the IDNR hunting permit office telephone number in Springfield is 217-782-7305. (The IDNR permit office email address is permit1@dnrmail.state.il.us.) We feel that IDNR is greatly understaffed; you should first try to answer your questions by researching online through IllinoisHunter.com and other Internet sites, or reading the latest issue of the Illinois Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations publication.
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Our Mission
IllinoisHunter.com is designed to provide a friendly user interface to access useful information about hunting and outdoor conservation in Illinois. Many of our links will take you to other sites, especially selected portions of the IL Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) web site. Please note that IllinoisHunter.com is not officially associated with the IDNR or other organizations whose sites open in a new browser window, and that we are not responsible for the accuracy of information derived from or found on these external sources.
Our Feature Section
The 2008 feature section is being revised to a series of "special reports" instead of comprehensive looks at specialized topics. The First Special Report of 2008 took a look at the hunting opportunities offered by a variety of upland hunting preserves located throughout Illinois. The Second Special Report of 2008 looked at the precarious status of the Controlled Pheasant Program on state sites. The Third Special Report of 2008 takes a look at the current controversies surrounding the 2008-2009 ILDNR budget.
In 2007, the IllinoisHunter.com feature section went undeveloped as other aspects of our site were enhanced. (and personal priorities were attended to...) Please keep in mind that IllinoisHunter.com is a small semi-commercial web publishing project, but we are honored that 5,000+ unique visitors each month come to our site for "useful information about hunting in Illinois." We know that our home page has become too "wordy" over time, and a new visual interface is being designed to help you cut through the links and go straight through to the information that you need. Please keep the questions and suggestions rolling....................
The 2006 feature section covered the process of applying for 2006 Illinois firearm and muzzleloader deer permits, and took a special look at public deer hunting opportunities in Illinois.
The 2005 Illinois Heritage Youth Turkey Season was the topic of our first IllinoisHunter feature section. Here you will find some facts about a special youth turkey hunt, learn about a related outreach project by a local NWTF chapter in Central Illinois, and read an exciting first-person hunt narrative written by a 13-year-old female hunter from Auburn, Illinois.
IllinoisHunter.com provides access to a wide variety of resources, including:
State Of Illinois Links - where you can go directly to useful State of Illinois information without having to search through multiple levels of state sites to reach the basic information that you need. Our focus is on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (acronyms ILDNR or IDNR) for Illinois hunting information, and also includes the Illinois State Police (ISP) web site for Firearm Owner Identification Card (FOID) information. However, you can also check here for a list of useful IDNR departmental Email links, and an online Master Contact Listing covering all governmental agencies in the great State of Illinois, including full DNR agency-wide listings and departmental phone numbers.
Local Club and Chapter Sites - a clearinghouse where local sporting clubs and organizations in Illinois can get a free link to their current web site, or arrange to publish an inexpensive site through our domain name and web hosting partner SportingDomains.com!
Sporting Organizations - here are handy links to United States of America national and state organizations supporting hunting and shooting, such as the NWTF (National Wild turkey Federation,) DU (Ducks Unlimited,) NRA (National Rifle Association,) ISRA (Illinois State Rifle Association,) and IFOR (Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources.)
Illinois Sporting Publications - a guide to sporting publications and videos featuring hunting, fishing, and shooting sports throughout the state.
Hunter Tools - links to useful tools related to hunting such as Illinois FOID card information, weather forecasts, sunrise/sunset tables, and more. Send us an email about what topics you would like to see in this section. Do you want topics like hunting dog resources, wing shooting clinics, local upland hunting preserves, rifled slugs vs sabots, shed antler collecting, taxidermy, etc?
Hunting Facts - a collection of resources that will help to educate Illinois hunters and non-hunters alike regarding the importance of hunting in our culture and our environment.
Feature Article Section - IllinoisHunter.com feature articles are created with a focus on informational and educational topics that will be of interest to Illinois sportsmen and sportswomen.
IllinoisHunter.com has been developed as a premier source of useful web links and general information about sport hunting and wildlife conservation in the great state of Illinois, USA. Our site is being designed for use by sportsmen of all ages and skill levels, as well as by non-hunters who simply want to learn more about hunting and related activities. We intend to accomplish our goals without bothering you with annoying commercial interruptions and distractions like "popups" and/or unrelated advertising. Whether you are a resident or non-resident hunter, you will especially appreciate our upcoming "County by County" search for local resources in Illinois counties. In addition, we will also be featuring innovative online ways to buy hunting products, services, or properties - such as turkeypro.com and aspenauctionsonline.com!
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