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Permit guide
Illinois deer permits for nonresidents.
The nonresident combination archery permit is $411 and the lottery closes June 30. Firearm lotteries close earlier. Here are the 2026 to 27 windows, straight from the Illinois DNR.
01 · Straight answer
How does a nonresident get an Illinois deer permit?
You apply through the Illinois DNR yourself, in a lottery if you want the best odds, or over the counter if you missed it. The nonresident combination archery permit is $411, the archery lottery closes June 30, and the firearm lotteries close earlier still.
Almost every hunter who misses an Illinois season misses it on a date rather than on a draw. That is the single most useful thing on this page. The lotteries here are not the brutal odds you get in a western state, and there is a long over the counter window for archery on top of them. The problem is that the windows open in May for a season that starts in October, and people do not think about deer in May.
So put the dates in your phone now, before you read the rest of this.
Below is how the 2026 to 27 season lays out. Every one of these numbers comes from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and you should verify them there, because the state can and does adjust them. We have linked straight to the source rather than asking you to take our word for it.
02 · The dates
2026 to 27 permit windows.
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Verify before you apply.
| Permit | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresident combination archery, lottery | June 1 – June 30, 2026 | Online only. $411. |
| Nonresident combination archery, over the counter | August 3, 2026 – January 17, 2027 | Subject to availability. |
| Firearm and muzzleloader, Lottery 2 | May 11 – June 30, 2026 | First lottery open to nonresidents. |
| Firearm and muzzleloader, Lottery 3 | July 13 – August 21, 2026 | No application limit. |
| Firearm, over the counter | From October 20, 2026 | In person only. |
| Nonresident landowner eligibility | Must be approved by September 1, 2026 | Hard deadline. |
03 · Which permit
Which permit goes with which hunt.
If you booked an archery hunt, a rut hunt or the extended versions of either, you want the combination archery permit. It covers the long October to January archery window.
If you booked first shotgun season or the archery and shotgun combination, you need a firearm permit, which comes out of the firearm lotteries. If you booked muzzleloader, you need a muzzleloader permit.
If you booked spring turkey, that is a separate season with its own permits and its own deadlines, and Illinois sets them independently of deer. Call us and we will walk you through the current turkey dates rather than printing a number here that might be a year old.
Coyote hunting does not require a deer permit. See our season dates page for how the seasons overlap.
04 · Questions
Illinois permit questions.
How much is a nonresident Illinois deer permit?
The nonresident combination archery permit is $411. Firearm and muzzleloader permits are priced separately by the state. Fees are set by the Illinois DNR and you should check them there before you send money anywhere.
When is the nonresident Illinois archery permit deadline?
The online only lottery runs June 1 to June 30, 2026. If you miss it, nonresident combination archery permits go over the counter from August 3, 2026 through January 17, 2027, subject to availability.
When are the Illinois firearm deer lotteries for nonresidents?
Lottery 2 is the first one open to nonresidents and runs May 11 to June 30, 2026. Lottery 3 runs July 13 to August 21, 2026 with no application limit. Any remaining firearm permits go over the counter from October 20, 2026, in person only.
Does the outfitter get my permit for me?
No, and be careful of anyone who says they will. You apply yourself through the Illinois DNR. What we do is tell you which permit you need for the hunt you booked, remind you before the deadline, and answer the questions the application does not.
Do I need to draw before I book a hunt?
No. Book the hunt, then apply. The over the counter windows exist precisely so a hunter who did not draw can still hunt, and for archery there is a long over the counter period.
What about nonresident landowners?
Nonresident landowner eligibility applications have to be approved by September 1, 2026. That is an earlier deadline than most people expect, and it is a hard one.