When does deer season start in Illinois?

No current deer opener is listed for Illinois yet. Check Illinois DNR for the latest published dates.

When is Illinois's firearm deer season?

Illinois does not have a firearm deer row in the current data set yet. Check Illinois DNR for firearm, rifle, or general deer season details.

When does spring turkey open in Illinois?

April 6, 2026 is the first listed spring turkey opener for Illinois; the listed window is Apr 6-10, 2026.

Do I need a license to hunt in Illinois?

Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Illinois hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Illinois DNR.

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Illinois Turkey Season 2026

Illinois turkey season dates start with Apr 6-10, 2026. The table below keeps every listed turkey row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

Illinois's listed 2026 spring turkey season runs Apr 6-10, 2026.

Spring - 1st Season Wild Turkey opens Apr 6, 2026 and closes Apr 10, 2026.

Spring - 2nd Season Wild Turkey opens Apr 11, 2026 and closes Apr 16, 2026.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Illinois DNR.

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: Illinois DNR

Turkey

20 listed rows

Wild Turkey

1st Season

Closed

—

Apr 6-10, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 1st Season

Closed

—

Apr 6-10, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 2nd Season

Closed

—

Apr 11-16, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

2nd Season

Closed

—

Apr 11-16, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

1st Season

Closed

—

Apr 13-17, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 1st Season

Closed

—

Apr 13-17, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

3rd Season

Closed

—

Apr 17-22, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 3rd Season

Closed

—

Apr 17-22, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

2nd Season

Closed

—

Apr 18-23, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 2nd Season

Closed

—

Apr 18-23, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 4th Season

Closed

—

Apr 23-29, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

4th Season

Closed

—

Apr 23-29, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: South Zone

Show 8 more turkey rows

Wild Turkey

3rd Season

Closed

—

Apr 24-29, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 3rd Season

Closed

—

Apr 24-29, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

5th Season

Closed

—

Apr 30-May 7, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

4th Season

Closed

—

Apr 30-May 6, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 4th Season

Closed

—

Apr 30-May 6, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 5th Season

Closed

—

Apr 30-May 7, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: South Zone

Wild Turkey

Spring - 5th Season

Closed

—

May 7-14, 2026

Spring turkey lottery permit required. OTC permits available beginning March 10, 2026 for remaining quotas.

Zone: North Zone

Wild Turkey

5th Season

Closed

—

May 7-14, 2026

Spring Turkey

Zone: North Zone

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