Illinois has a robust population of turkeys and a variety of terrain, giving hunters several opportunities to test their abilities and enjoy the excitement of the hunt. Illinois has hunting opportunities for everyone, from first-time beginners to seasoned veterans.
Illinois Turkey Season
A youth spring hunt and the normal spring season are two components into which the spring season is often separated. Another option to go hunting is during the Fall shotgun season. Each season, a hunter may only get three licenses for one Tom, one Jake, or one bearded hen. It’s crucial to remember that there are limitations on creating turkey noises in the wild during certain times before pursuing season.
| Season | South Zone | North Zone |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Season | April 8 – April 12 | April 15 – April 19 |
| 2nd Season | April 13 – April 18 | April 20 – April 25 |
| 3rd Season | April 19 – April 24 | April 26 – May 1 |
| 4th Season | April 25 – May 1 | May 2 – May 8 |
| 5th Season | May 2 – May 9 | May 9 – May 16 |
| Youth Spring | 30-31 March |
| 6-7 Apr 2024 |
Bag Limit
| Season | Bag Limit | Permit Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Turkey | 1 tom, jake, or bearded hen per permit | Maximum of 3 permits |
| Fall Turkey | 1 either-sex turkey per permit | Maximum of 2 permits |
Licenses & Fees
Residents of Illinois must pay $19 in application fees for the spring turkey lottery, while nonresidents must pay $129, which covers the permit and related costs.
You must be 18 or older and have a current hunting license or exemption. Except for disabled veterans, former prisoners of war, and anyone who earned a lifetime license before January 1, 1993, they must additionally possess a state habitat stamp. This provision applies to all protected wildlife species except for migrating ducks, coots, and hand-reared birds on certain designated sites.
| License Type | Fee | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License | $12.50 | 100 |
| Resident Lifetime Hunting License | $360.00 | 804 |
| Sportsman's License (Combination Hunting/Fishing) for Resident Seniors | $13.50 | 225 |
| Sportsman's License (Combination Hunting/Fishing) for Residents | $26.25 | 200 |
| Youth Hunting and Trapping Combo License | $7.50 | 107 |
| Apprentice License | $7.50 | 105 |
| Non-Resident Hunting License | $57.75 | 101 |
| Non-Resident Hunting License (5 day) | $35.75 | 102 |
Harvesting & Reporting
Successful harvest must register it by 10 p.m. on the same day the bird was taken. Calling a toll-free number (1-866-452-4325 or 1-866-ILCHECK) or using the online check-in feature at www.exploremoreil.com are acceptable methods. To validate their hunting permits and ensure they comply with all legal requirements, hunters must supply all the necessary information upon registration. Upon completing the registration procedure, the hunter will get a confirmation number, which must be put on the turkey’s leg tag before it may be moved. Fine and other legal repercussions might arise from failing to record the harvest.
Regulations
General Regulations
- May apply online at www.exploremoreil.com or by mail from the Springfield Permit Office. Two lottery drawings—spring and fall—are held. Applicants must wait four weeks after the application deadline for Lottery Drawing results. The lottery decides which hunters get permits. Permits need a hunting license and habitat stamp.
- The laws state that shooting a wild turkey in a tree is prohibited before 7 a.m.
- Residents and nonresidents must obtain a hunting license, state habitat stamp, and permit to hunt in Illinois.
- An IDNR permit must be signed and carried when hunting wild turkeys in Illinois. Each permit allows one wild turkey harvest or possession. Before leaving the field or transferring, the leg tag must be firmly attached to its leg as stated on the permit. The leg tag must stay on until it’s checked in at the lawful abode of the person who seized or had it. Pre-checked birds cannot be butchered.
- Only 20–10 gauge shotguns are authorized for hunting.No 410 or 28-gauge shotguns. Shotgun allows just the No. 4 shot. Long, recurved, or compound bows with a minimum pull of 30 pounds within a 28-inch draw are permitted for archery. Crossbows with a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and a minimum overall length of 24 inches are allowed, but they must have functional safety and employ 14-inch fletched bolts or arrows. Archery requires broadheads that open at least 7/8 inches. Other bows and arrows, including radio-telemetry-equipped ones, are banned. In spring, hunters may have a shotgun and bow and arrow, but in fall, they cannot have any firearm when hunting with any bow and arrow. Following these rules protects hunters and animals.
- Using dogs, decoys, or recordings is illegal. Hunters cannot use nets, traps, or bait to catch wild turkeys. Bait” includes food, salt, minerals, and other items that attract wild turkeys. Baiting” is placing or spreading bait to attract wild turkeys, and an area is considered baited for 10 days after bait removal. However, mowing or cutting standing crops as a regular agricultural or soil stabilization technique, food plots, or normal agricultural procedures, including planting, harvesting, and cultivating, are authorized.
Spring Regulations
- Only male turkeys (toms and jakes) or hens with an obvious beards may be taken in the spring.
- Spring wild turkey hunting at IDNR locations is permitted 30 minutes before daybreak to 1 p.m.,
- Even when not actively hunting, hunters should wear blaze orange or blazing pink helmets or vests to boost their visibility to other hunters.
- Apply for spring permits via lotteries and over-the-counter purchases. Only resident hunters without a spring landowner property-only permit may apply for one license in the first lottery. Applications close December 1. Hunters may apply for one permit in the second lottery, but those without permits get priority. Apply till January 10. All hunters may apply for three spring season licenses in the third lottery. Applications are due the first working day following February 8. After the third lottery, permits are sold over the counter from the second Tuesday in March until quotas are exhausted or the season ends. Hunters may buy up to three licenses throughout this time if available.
- From March 15 to the day before season in the Southern Zone and March 22 to the day before the Northern Zone, it is illegal to use a turkey call. The youth season is excepted from this restriction. Hunters may utilize locator sounds that mimic owls, crows, hawks, etc. This restriction reduces the effect of pre-season.
- Illinois offers a spring juvenile turkey hunt for sportsmen under 18. Youth permits, or apprentice licenses are required. Hunters with apprentice or juvenile licenses must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 21 years old with a valid Illinois hunting license. All other hunters in the Youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting parent, guardian, or responsible adult. A nonresident supervisor must hold a license if the minor is shooting.
Fall Regulations
- When not hunting, hunters should wear blazing orange or pink caps or vests throughout the fall gun and archery seasons.
- In the fall, turkeys of either sex may be collected throughout the rifle and archery seasons, unlike in the spring when only male turkeys or hens with noticeable beards can be harvested. It is crucial to know that hunters must have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card to hunt with a firearm in the fall, and archery hunters must have an Illinois Archery Deer Permit in addition to their hunting license.
- First Lottery, Second Lottery, and Over-the-Counter Sales Period make up Illinois’ fall gun permit application procedure. Except for individuals who hold a landowner property-only permit for the fall gun season, only residents may apply for one permit in the First Lottery. Those who were refused in the first lottery, applying for their first permit, or nonresidents may apply for one permit in the Second Lottery. Nonresidents are prioritized above qualified Illinois citizens. This lottery excludes applicants who hold a fall gun season landowner property-only permit. Hunters may buy permits left over from the Second Lottery Drawing at license sellers around the state beginning on the 4th Monday following the deadline during the Over-the-Counter Sales Period. Permits will be offered until quotas are reached or until the Fall Gunseason ends. Hunters may buy one or more licenses, including landowner permits, for fall gun season.
- If available, hunters may get two wild turkey hunting licenses in the fall gun season. Permits for a certain county or territory are only valid there.
- The fall archery season has no lottery drawing, and hunters may buy permits from approved merchants. Two fall archery licenses are allowed.
FAQ
When is the Youth Spring Turkey Hunting season in Illinois?
Illinois’s youth spring turkey hunting seasons are set for March 30–31 and April 6-7.
How many permits are allowed per person for Spring Turkey hunting in Illinois?
Spring licenses, including lottery-drawn, OTC, youth, and landowner permits, are limited to three per hunter. A maximum of three permits may be granted to one applicant.
Can a person use live or electronic decoys, recorded calls, dogs, or bait while hunting turkeys in Illinois?
No, hunting turkeys in Illinois using live or artificial decoys, recorded calls, dogs, or bait is not permitted. When the bait is present, and for 10 days straight after removing it, a location is regarded as baited.
What types of turkeys can be hunted in Illinois?
The native Eastern Wild Turkey, which may be found throughout Illinois, is a popular target for hunters.
What weapons are allowed for hunting turkeys in Illinois?
In Illinois, turkey hunting is permitted with shotguns or archery gear. However, it is not permitted to use rifles.
Can nonresidents hunt for turkeys in Illinois?
Nonresidents may go turkey hunting in Illinois, but only if they have the necessary licenses and permits.
Can I hunt turkeys on public land in Illinois?
On Illinois’s public lands, turkey hunting is legal, but only if hunters have the proper licenses and abide by the laws laid out by the state’s Department of Natural Resources.
