Hunting in Illinois: 9 Animals to Hunt in the Winter

Winter in Illinois marks peak hunting season in the Midwestern state with game ranging from deer to turkey, squirrel to beaver. Seasons for each animal vary depending on the hunter’s weapon of choice.

Here are nine animals to hunt in the winter in Illinois:

1. Rabbit
From the beginning of November to the middle of February rabbit is open game across the state from sunrise to sunset with a maximum of four kills per day.

2. Cock Pheasant, Hungarian Partridge and Quail
These birds are in season from November 1 to February 8 in the north zone and until February 15 in the south, according to Hunting Season HQ. Two each of pheasant and partridge and eight quail may be killed.

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3. Squirrel
From the beginning of August to the middle of February hunters can bag up to five squirrels a day except throughout off-limit days during firearm deer season in counties with firearm deer hunting, reports Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

4. Woodchuck
There’s no limit to the number of woodchucks, or groundhogs, a hunter can kill between June 1 and March 31 with the same blackout dates as squirrel.

5. Deer
This season varies depending on the hunting weapon, but only one deer is permitted per hunter per day no matter what, according to Harpole's Heartland Lodge. A firearm permit is good for the weekend before Thanksgiving and after. Hunters with muzzleloaders have the weekend after Thanksgiving and the weekend following. Antlerless deer are available for the first weekend in January. Archery seasons vary by county.

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6. Turkey
Archery season for turkey runs October 1 to January 18 minus any days during firearm deer season. Most of turkey season takes place during the spring and fall.

7. Dove
December 26 to January 9 is dove season in Illinois. The limit is 15 per day and there are plenty available as Illinois is rated second for dove harvest of the states east of the Mississippi.

8. Raccoon and Opossum
Early to mid November marks the beginning of raccoon and opossum season which runs through the middle of February, depending on what area of the state hunting is transpiring.

9. Coyote and Skunk
These two species are available to hunt year round in Illinois, except during firearm deer hunting in counties that participate.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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• Hunting in Illinois: 5 Animals to Hunt in the Summer

• Hunting in California: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Fall