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Illinois

Hunting

Hunting

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 -
16 Jan 2023

&

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.