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Deer Hunting Seasons

Deer Firearm and Muzzleloader Hunting Information

​2022 SEASON DATES

  • First Firearm Deer Season: November 18, 19 & 20, 2022
  • Second Firearm Deer Season: December 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2022
  • Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season: December 9, 10 & 11, 2022 - Hunters may also use a muzzleloader permit with a muzzleloading rifle during Second Firearm Season December 1 - 4, 2022

2022 Deer Harvest Reporting and Information Sheets

FIREARM/MUZZLELOADER DEER HUNTING INFORMATION SHEET

ARCHERY DEER HUNTING INFORMATION SHEET

FIREARM DEER HUNTING INFORMATION SHEET FOR CWD COUNTIES

Testing of deer for Chronic Wasting Disease by IDNR personnel will occur (so long as funding is available) during the Firearm Deer Season dates Nov. 18 - 20, 2022 and Dec. 1 - 4, 2022.

LOTTERY APPLICATION PERIODS

*Landowner permit applicants, please refer to note at bottom of page if you also plan to apply in the Lottery Drawings

1st Lottery: March 8, 2022 - April 30, 2022

2nd Lottery: May 11, 2022 - June 30, 2022

  • Illinois residents who did not apply/were not successful in the 1st Lottery Drawing
  • Nonresidents
  • Firearm - Limit 1 application (online or paper application)
  • Muzzleloader - Limit 1 application (online or paper application)
  • Click here to submit an online application (nonresident application available May 11, 2022)
  • Click here to print and mail a paper application (nonresident application available May 11, 2022)
  • Group Hunt applications are accepted in the 2nd Lottery

3rd Lottery: July 11, 2022 - August 19, 2022

  • Illinois residents and nonresidents
  • No application limit for Firearm or Muzzleloader
  • Click here to submit an online application
  • Click here to print and mail a paper application
  • Group Hunt applications are NOT accepted in the 3rd Lottery
  • County-specific Firearm and Muzzleloader permits remaining after the 3rd Lottery Drawing will be available for sale only over the counter at License Vendors beginning October 18, 2022, on a first-come, first-served basis

* Individuals who have received a Landowner permit, or who have submitted application for a Landowner permit that is still pending, may not apply for additional permits in the First or Second Lottery Firearm Deer Drawing, but may apply in the Third Lottery Firearm Drawing. Landowners who receive permits in the First or Second Lottery Firearm Deer Drawing are not eligible for Landowner Firearm Deer permits. These individuals, however, are eligible to apply for additional permits in the First or Second Lottery Muzzleloader Deer Drawing.​​

LANDOWNER APPLICANTS: The application deadline date for 2022 Resident and Nonresident Landowner Fall Turkey and Deer applications is September 1, 2022. Landowner applications received after September 1, 2022, will not be processed for 2022. Click here to print a Landowner Application.

Deer Archery Hunting Information

2022-2023 DEER ARCHERY HUNTING SEASON DATES:

  • In Cook, DuPage and Lake counties, and that portion of Kane County east of State Rte 47: October 1, 2022, through January 15, 2023
  • In all other counties and that portion of Kane County west of State Rte 47: October 1, 2022, through January 15, 2023. EXCEPTION: Archery deer hunting is CLOSED during Firearm Seasons Nov. 18–20 & Dec. 1–4, 2022.

2022-2023 DEER ARCHERY INFORMATION SHEET

INFORMATION SHEET COMING SOON

NON-RESIDENTS

DATES TO PURCHASE OR APPLY FOR ARCHERY DEER PERMITS

  • Between June 1 - June 30, 2022: Combination Deer Archery Permit (1 either-sex and 1 antlerless-only permit). Online application only.

  • Between August 2, 2022 - January 15, 2023: Combination Deer Archery permit OR a Single Deer Archery Antlerless-Only Permit. Purchase over the counter at a License Vendor.

Non-Resident applicants may apply for and receive a maximum of one Nonresident Combination Archery Deer permit during a license year. (Receiving Nonresident Landowner Archery Deer permits does not preclude the recipient from also applying for and receiving the regular Nonresident Combination Archery Deer permit.)

Non-Residents may not purchase a Combination Archery Deer permit after September 30 if they have previously purchased any Single Antlerless-Only Archery Deer permit for the current deer season.

ILLINOIS RESIDENTS

DATES TO PURCHASE OR APPLY FOR ARCHERY DEER PERMITS

  • Between August 1, 2022 - September 1, 2022 - Single Deer Archery Either-Sex Permit. Must complete and mail a paper application.
  • Between August 2, 2022 - January 15, 2023 - Combination Deer Archery Permit or a Single Deer Archery Antlerless-Only Permit. Purchase over the counter at a License Vendor only.

Youth Firearm Deer Season Information

2022 YOUTH FIREARM DEER SEASON: October 8 - 10, 2022

2022 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunting Information Sheet - Coming Soon
List of public land sites open to hunt the 2022 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Season - Coming Soon

  • Hunters may only purchase one Youth Firearm Deer permit (available for purchase over the counter at License Vendors August 2, 2022 - October 10, 2022).
  • The Youth Firearm Deer Season is only open to hunters who have not reached their 18th birthday prior to the opening date of the season.
  • The $10.50 Youth Firearm Either-Sex Deer Permit is available to eligible resident and nonresident youths. The statewide-issued permit is valid on private land, with landowner permission, or on public land sites open to the Youth Firearm Deer Season.
  • A hunter with an unfilled, valid Youth Deer Permit may also hunt during the first firearm deer season November 18 - 20, 2022, subject to restrictions outlined in Administrative Rule 17-685.
  • In addition to their permit, all eligible youth hunters must have a current, valid hunting license (see Other Requirements below).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to a 2022 Youth Firearm Deer Permit, all eligible youth hunters must have a current, valid Hunting License (may be a Youth Hunting & Trapping license, an Apprentice Hunting License, or a Regular Hunting License), unless exempt. Purchase online or over the counter at a License Vendor.

Deer Check Stations

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