Overview
Known For
Illinois is known for having ample wildlife for hunting, including trophy-class whitetail deer, eastern wild turkey, waterfowl, and upland birds. A new law effective in 2023 will allow hunters to use centerfire, single-shot rifles in certain calibers for deer hunting.
Terrain
From fertile lands and low hills in the Central Plains of Illinois to the forested northwest and western edges, the state’s terrain consists mostly of rolling farmlands, growing mostly soybeans and corn.
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Illinois Hunting Seasons
North and South zones open for youth.
Illinois Licenses, Permits and Regulations
Illinois hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Illinois hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Illinois hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunting units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Illinois.
Hunting Layers
IL Private Lands
Over 4,300,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Illinois. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
IL Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,700,000 acres in Illinois. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
IL Possible Access
onX has mapped 26,000 acres of possible access lands in Illinois including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
IL Hunt Zones
Illinois Hunt Zones for six different species.
Includes 6 Sublayers
- Fall Turkey Hunt Zones
- Spring Turkey Hunt Zones
- Upland Game Bird Hunt Zones
- Waterfowl Hunt Zones
- Bobcat Hunt Zones
- Furbearer Hunt Zones
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- 975 million acres of public land
- 10,668 unique hunting units
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