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Season dates
Illinois deer season dates, 2026 to 27.
Archery from October 1, first firearm November 20 to 22, second firearm December 3 to 6, muzzleloader December 11 to 13. And which of our hunts fits each block.
01 · Straight answer
When are the Illinois deer seasons in 2026?
Archery runs October 1 to November 19, November 23 to December 2, and December 7, 2026 to January 17, 2027. First firearm season is November 20 to 22. Second firearm season is December 3 to 6. Muzzleloader is December 11 to 13.
The archery season is split because the firearm seasons cut into it, not because archery closes. If you are hunting with a bow, you have a genuinely long window and a lot of freedom about when to use it.
These come from the Illinois DNR and the state adjusts them. Verify before you buy a plane ticket.
02 · 2026 to 27 seasons
Season dates and the hunt that fits.
| Season | 2026 – 27 dates | Our hunt |
|---|---|---|
| Archery, first block | October 1 – November 19 | Whitetail Archery and November Rut |
| First firearm | November 20, 21, 22 | First Shotgun Season |
| Archery, second block | November 23 – December 2 | Archery Extended |
| Second firearm | December 3, 4, 5, 6 | Archery and Shotgun |
| Archery, third block | December 7, 2026 – January 17, 2027 | Whitetail Archery |
| Muzzleloader | December 11, 12, 13 | Muzzleloader Season |
| Spring turkey | Set separately by the state, call us | Spring Turkey |
| Coyote | Winter, after deer season closes | Coyote Hunt |
03 · Picking a week
Which block to pick if you only get one.
If you want the highest odds of seeing a mature deer move in daylight, take the first firearm season. November 20 to 22 sits directly on the back of the rut, the ground has not been shot at yet, and a shotgun extends your range past what a bow gives you.
If you want the best hunting rather than the best odds, take the six day rut archery hunt. It covers the peak instead of gambling three days on it, and all day sits in that window are where the biggest deer on this ground get killed.
If you want value, take late archery in December. Deer are back on a hard food pattern, our plots are planted for exactly that, and it is the quietest the county gets.
04 · Questions
Season date questions.
When is Illinois archery deer season in 2026?
October 1 through November 19, then November 23 through December 2, then December 7, 2026 through January 17, 2027. The gaps are the firearm seasons.
When is Illinois firearm deer season in 2026?
First firearm season is November 20, 21 and 22. Second firearm season is December 3, 4, 5 and 6.
When is Illinois muzzleloader season in 2026?
December 11, 12 and 13.
What is the best week to hunt the Illinois rut?
Roughly the first three weeks of November, with the peak moving a few days year to year. If you can only pick one block, the week before first firearm season is the one people fight over. Our six day rut hunt exists to cover the movement in that window rather than betting on three days of it.
When is Illinois spring turkey season?
Illinois sets spring turkey seasons and permit deadlines separately from deer and they move year to year. Call us at 309-337-8396 for the current dates rather than trusting a number on a web page, or check the Illinois DNR.