Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
WATERFOWL SEASON DATES AND LIMITS | ||||||
SPECIES | ZONE | DATES (inclusive) | HOURS | DAILY LIMIT | POSSESSION LIMIT | ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS |
Teal (early season) | Statewide | 10-25 Sep 2022 | Sunrise to Sunset | 6 | 18 | Blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and cinnamon teal are the only legal duck species during this season. Daily and possession limits are for all teal species combined (in the aggregate). |
Rail (Sora and Virginia only) | Statewide |
10 Sep - 18 Nov 2022 | 25 | 75 | Daily and possession limits are for both rail species combined (in the aggregate). | |
Snipe (Wilson’s snipe) | Statewide |
10 Sep - 25 Dec 2022 | 8 | 24 | ||
Ducks (but see Scaup below) | North |
22 Oct - 20 Dec 2022 | 6 | 18 | Basic daily limit is 6 ducks of any species. However, daily limit can consist of no more than the following: 4 mallards (of which no more than 2 can be hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 Scaup for the first 45 days in each zone, 1 Scaup for the last 15 days in each zone, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail and 1 mottled duck. Possession limit for ducks is three times the daily limit by species and sex. | |
Central |
29 Oct - 27 Dec 2022 | |||||
South Central |
12 Nov 2022 - 10 Jan 2023 | |||||
South |
3 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
Mergansers | Same as ducks | Same as ducks | 5 | 15 | Mergansers do not count toward your daily limit of ducks, but only 2 can be hooded mergansers. Merganser possession limit is no more than three times their daily limit, including max of 6 hooded mergansers. | |
Coots | Same as ducks | Same as ducks | 15 | 45 | ||
1⁄2 hour before sunrise to sunset | ||||||
Scaup (Bluebills) | North |
22 Oct - 5 Dec 2022 | 2/day First 45 days 1/day Last 15 days | First 45 days 6 Last 15 Days 3 | FWS regulations require 45 days with 2/day bag limit, 15 days with 1/day bag limit. Dates will be different in each zone. | |
Central |
29 Oct - 12 Dec 2022 & 13 Dec - 27 Dec 2022 | |||||
South Central |
12 Nov - 26 Dec 2022 & 27 Dec 2022 - 10 Jan 2023 | |||||
South |
3 Dec 2022 - & 17 Jan - 31 Jan 2023 |
WATERFOWL SEASON DATES AND LIMITS | ||||||
SPECIES | ZONE | DATES (inclusive) | HOURS | DAILY LIMIT | POSSESSION LIMIT | ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS |
Canada Geese (early season) | North and Central South Central and South |
1-15 Sep 2022 | 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to sunset | 5 2 | 15 6 | |
Canada Geese | North |
22 Oct 2022 - 19 Jan 2023 | 3 | 9 | ||
Central |
29 Oct 2022 - 6 Nov 2022 & 12 Nov 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
South Central |
12 Nov 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
South |
3 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
Light Geese (Snow/Blue/Ross’ Geese) | North |
22 Oct 2022 - 19 Jan 2023 | 20 | Unlimited | Daily bag limit is for both species combined (in the aggregate). | |
Central |
29 Oct 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
South Central |
12 Nov 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
South |
3 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
Brant | Same as light geese | Same as light geese | 1 | 3 | ||
White-fronted Geese(Specklebellies) | North |
24 Oct 2022 - 19 Jan 2023 | 2 | 6 | ||
Central |
5 Nov 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
South Central | 13 Nov 2021 - 31 Jan 2022 | |||||
South |
12 Nov 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | |||||
Conservation Order Light Geese(Snow/Blue/Ross’ Geese) | North |
3 Dec 2022 - 31 Jan 2023 | 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset | Unlimited | Unlimited | The following apply to the Conservation Order only: 1) unplugged shotguns may be used and there is no limit to the number of shells that may be placed in a shotgun, 2) electronic calling devices may be used, 3) federal duck stamp not required, 4) Illinois duck stamp and hunting license is required. |
Central, South Central, South |
20 Jan - 30 Apr 2023 | |||||
Youth Waterfowl | North |
15-16 Oct 2022 | 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to sunset | Same as during regular duck, goose, and coot seasons | Same as during regular duck, goose, and coot seasons | The following apply to the Youth season only: 1) youth hunters must be 17 years of age or younger and have a hunting license and HIP registration/certification unless hunting on property they reside; 2) No stamps are required for youth under age 16; 3) Federal waterfowl stamps are required for all hunters age 16 and older; 4) hunters aged 18 years and older may not hunt waterfowl and/or coots during |
Central |
22-23 Oct 2022 | |||||
South Central |
5-6 Nov 2022 | |||||
South |
26-27 Nov 2022 | Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, even if hunting with a Youth License. |