Three days of guided shotgun hunting over the first firearm season. Bucks are still rutting, the ground has not been shot at yet, and the odds are as good as they get here.
01 · Straight answer
What does a first shotgun season cost at Bigger Bucks?
A three day first shotgun season hunt costs $2,400 with lodging and meals included. First firearm falls on November 20, 21 and 22 in 2026, right on the back of the rut, and it is the highest odds hunt we sell.
Illinois splits its firearm deer season into two, and the first one is the one you want. In 2026 it falls on November 20, 21 and 22, which puts it directly on the tail of the rut. Deer are still moving, they have not been pressured by a firearm season yet, and a shotgun or a straight walled cartridge extends your range past what a bow gives you.
We hunt this season out of blinds and stands positioned on the same corridors we bowhunt, with a few field setups added where a longer shot is safe and sensible. Your guide will walk you through shooting lanes and safe arcs before you sit.
This block fills fast and it fills early. Groups get priority because the lodge sleeps thirty-four and it is a better week when the camp is full.
02 · What is included
What the price covers.
There is no lodging charge on top and no meal plan to buy. What is on this list is what you get.
03 · Season and timing
When this hunt runs.
First firearm season, November 20 to 22, 2026.
Blaze orange as required by Illinois law, your shotgun or legal straight walled rifle, and warm gear.
Illinois sets these dates and they move year to year. We keep the current ones on our season dates page, and the permit guide covers what you have to hold before you can hunt them. Both link out to the Illinois DNR so you can check us.
04 · Questions
Questions about this hunt.
Is lodging included in the first shotgun season?
Yes. The 3 day price of $2,400 includes lodging in our twelve bedroom lodge and meals cooked there.
Can I bring my child on this hunt?
Yes. One child hunts free with every paid adult, on this hunt and every other hunt we run. See Kids Hunt Free.
What do I need to bring?
Blaze orange as required by Illinois law, your shotgun or legal straight walled rifle, and warm gear. There is a full list on our what to bring page.
How do I get an Illinois permit for this hunt?
Nonresident deadlines land earlier than most people expect and the combination archery permit is $411. The whole process is written out on our Illinois deer permits page.
Check dates for the first shotgun season.
309-337-8396Lodging and meals included · kids hunt free with a paid adult