State Of Illinois Agency Web Links

IllinoisHunter provides useful direct links to selected official State of Illinois IDNR (Illinois Department of Natural Resources, aka ILDNR) and ISP (Illinois State Police) web pages. You don't have to search throughout the Web (or the comprehensive IDNR site) to reach the specific hunting and shooting-related information that you need. Just click on the links found below, or on any other relevant link found on the pages of IllinoisHunter.com.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is completely updating their web site, and landing pages for our links will be changing as the update process continues. Old Version pages have the URL "dnr.state.il.us" within their path name - New Version pages will have "dnr.illinois.gov" within their path name. IllinoisHunter.com will try to keep our own ages updated during this process, but your patience will be appreciated during this transition process. The good news is that the ILDNR site will be much improved when the process has been completed.

Note: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources web site is the primary source for official state hunting information, while the Illinois State Police web site is the primary source for researching firearms laws and learning about the Illinois FOID (Firearm Owner Identification) card that is required for all Illinois residents in possession of (including hunting with) any gun (including muzzleloaders and other blackpowder firearms.)

Illinois bucks can grow impressive sets of antlers, as shown by the rack pictured above decorating the head of a trophy whitetail buck in Sangamon County. However, they can be highly nocturnal and quite elusive when hunted!
Photo by Jim Mordacq

General Information and Contact Links

• Illinois DNR Agency Home Page
• IDNR Hunting Info (Hunting Homepage)
• 2017-2018 Illinois Hunting Seasons
• 2017-2018 License Fees/Permits/Stamps
• 2017-2018 IL Hunting & Trapping Digest
• Master IL State Agency Phone Directory
• IDNR Law Enforcement
• Game Violation Hotline (1-877-2DNRLAW)

Licensing and Education

• Hunting License, Stamp, and Permit Requirements
• DNR Direct License/Stamp Sales
• FOID Card Information (IL State Police)
• IDNR Hunter Safety Education
• NEW! Online Hunter Safety Instruction
• Hunter-Ed.com Illinois Online Hunter Safety Course
• HunterCourse.com Illinois Online Hunter Safety Course
• Apprentice License Information
• Youth Hunting License
• Lifetime Hunting License Information
• IDNR Wingshooting Clinics
• Over-The-Counter License Vendors By County/City

Illinois Deer Hunting Information

• Official IDNR Deer Hunting Info Portal Page
• Apply Online For Ilinois Firearm Deer Permits
• Illinois Deer Permit Fees
• IDNR Deer Permit Application Inquiry System
• Mail-In 2017 Resident Firearm Applications
• Mail-In 2017 Resident Muzzleloader Applications
• Mail-In Non-Resident Firearm Applications
• Mail-In Non-Resident Muzzleloader Applications
• Nonresident Archery Deer Permits
• Youth Firearm Deer Hunt Information
• Illinois Crossbow Regulations
• OTC PERMITS - Availability By County
• Check In Your Deer (or call 1-866-ILCHECK

Wild Turkey Hunting Information

• IDNR IL Turkey Hunting Info Portal Web Page
• Apply Online
• Check In Your Turkey (or call 1-866-ILCHECK)
• Spring Turkey Season-Specific Information

Waterfowl & Dove Hunting Information

• Illinois Waterfowl Digest
• Public Duck & Goose Areas Information
• Official IDNR Waterfowl Web Portal
• Waterfowl Hunting Season Dates
• Waterfowl Survey Data
• Maps of Approved Waterfowl Zone Lines
• IDNR Dove Hunting Page (Learn More / ILDNR Web Site)
• Application Inquiry System (Dove Permits)
• Remaining Dove Permits (Site Quotas)
• Apply Online (Regular Dove Permits)
• Apply Online (Youth and Youth/Adult Dove Permits)

Upland & Small Game Hunting Information

• Controlled Pheasant Hunting Information
• 2017-2018 Illinois Hunting Seasons

Trapping Information

• Online Trapper Education Course
• Current IL Hunting & Trapping Digest

Additional Resources

• World Shooting Complex (Sparta, IL)
• Illinois Conservation Foundation
• Conservation Stewardship Program (Property Tax Relief)

Just Click on a green-colored web link to go directly to the listed information!

Note: For jurisdiction over hunting and fishing laws and programs, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has superseded the old Illinois Department of Conservation structure, which was more narrow in scope. Officially, the acronym is expressed as IDNR, although some people still refer to it as the ILDNR. The naming of Fish and Game agencies is not consistent throughout the United States, as other states refer to their agencies variously as Division of Fish and Wildlife (IN,) Department of Conservation (MO,) Wildlife Commission (NC,) etc.

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 tab or browser window. We are not responsible for the accuracy of external links, or any information found on or derived from external pages or other sources.