Illinois Hunting and Fishing Resources

Official Illinois hunting and fishing tools in one place. ExploreMore IL licensing, the Deer and Turkey Virtual Check Station, the Hunt-Trap Digest, and the Windshield Card and Hunter Fact Sheet system that governs public hunting ground across the state, all linked straight to the Illinois DNR. Nothing here is copied or cached, so what you open is always the current version the IDNR publishes.

Visit Illinois DNR

Straight to Illinois DNR

Illinois DNR Home Hunt and Trap Fishing Conservation and Wildlife DNR A to Z Contact

Licenses, Permits and Stamps

Illinois sells licenses through ExploreMore IL, on its own domain, but publishes every fee schedule on the IDNR site.

Buy Licenses and Permits (ExploreMore IL)

Official Illinois online license and permit sales.

exploremoreil.com

Find a License Vendor

Locate an in-person license and permit agent.

exploremoreil.com

License and Permit Fees

Every license and permit fee, by category.

Resident Licenses, Permits and Fees

What Illinois residents need and what it costs.

Non-Resident Licenses, Permits and Fees

Out-of-state license types and pricing.

Youth Permits and Fees

Permits and pricing for young hunters.

Senior Licenses and Fees

Reduced-fee licenses for senior residents.

Apprentice License

Try hunting under supervision before certifying.

Trapping Licenses and Fees

Trapping license requirements and pricing.

Habitat and Waterfowl Stamps

Stamps required alongside certain licenses.

Replace a Lost or Damaged Permit

How to get a replacement permit reissued.

Harvest Reporting

Illinois runs a Virtual Check Station for deer and turkey, online or at 1-866-ILCHECK.

Harvest Reporting

The Deer and Turkey Virtual Check Station, plus reporting deadlines.

Harvest Information Program (HIP)

Required HIP registration for migratory bird hunters.

Available Deer and Turkey Permits by County

What is still available, county by county.

A field journal, not a check-in tool

The Virtual Check Station is what Illinois requires of you. huntNotes is the personal record alongside it, with sits, sightings, weather, and waypoints saved season over season on your phone. Free to download.

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Regulations and Season Dates

The Hunt-Trap Digest is the core document, backed by the administrative rules.

Hunt-Trap Digest

The hub for Illinois hunting and trapping regulations.

Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations (PDF)

The full regulations booklet. Re-grab the current season link each preseason.

PDF

Season Dates Rules of Thumb (PDF)

How Illinois sets season dates year to year.

PDF

Hunting Devices and Ammunition

Legal weapons, ammunition, and equipment by season.

Administrative Rules

The rules behind the regulations.

Report a Violation (Target Illinois Poachers)

Report poaching and other violations to IDNR.

Claim a Road Kill Deer

The process for legally claiming a road-killed deer.

Maps and Public Land

The Windshield Card and Hunter Fact Sheet system is how Illinois manages access to public hunting ground. Start here before you scout.

Hunter Fact Sheets

Site-by-site detail for public hunting areas: boundaries, species, and rules.

Interactive map

Windshield Card Tool

Generate the card required to hunt many Illinois public sites.

Windshield Card Sites

Which sites use the card, and for which species.

Public Hunting Areas Reports

Harvest and usage reports for public hunting areas.

Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP)

Access to enrolled private land, free to permit holders.

Land Access Permission Card (PDF)

Printable landowner permission card for private ground.

PDF

Species and Hunt Types

The Illinois DNR page for each species and hunt type.

Controlled Pheasant Hunting

Draw-based pheasant hunts on state sites.

Licensed Hunting Preserves

Private preserves licensed by the state.

Furbearer Management

How Illinois manages furbearer populations.

Fishing

The IDNR fishing and boating hubs. Regulations, where to fish, and stocking sit beneath them.

Fishing Hub

Illinois DNR fishing landing page.

Boating and Fishing

Boat registration, access, and water safety.

Getting Started, Safety and Education

Where new Illinois hunters begin, plus certification and education programs.

Getting Started Hunting

The IDNR walkthrough for brand new hunters.

Safety Education

Hunter safety certification and course schedules.

Trapper Education

Required certification for Illinois trappers.

Law Enforcement and Safety

Conservation police and enforcement information.

Disabled Outdoor Opportunities

Accessible hunts, permits, and accommodations.

For Educators

Classroom and youth outdoor education resources.

Illinois DNR Contact and Social

IDNR Main Office

217-782-6302

One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702

Permits and Reservations

217-782-7305

Deer, turkey, pheasant, goose, and duck permits.

Fishing Licenses

217-782-2965

Online License Support

1-888-6-PERMIT

Phone support for online license purchases.

Virtual Check Station

1-866-ILCHECK

Report a deer or turkey harvest by phone.

Contact IDNR

DNR Offices

Regional and site offices around the state.

Attribution

All season dates, regulations, licensing, and public land information linked on this page are published and maintained by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. huntNotes is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Illinois DNR. Always confirm current regulations directly with the Illinois DNR before heading afield.