What to know about Illinois hunting season: How to get licenses, firearms allowed and more

For the second time this year, firearm deer season will resume later next week in Illinois — concluding the seven-day 2022 season.

Between Thursday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 4, properly registered hunters will have their final firearm hunting opportunity while archery season will continue through mid-January.

The previous firearm weekend resulted in more than 52,000 harvested deer in Illinois according to the state Department of Natural Resources with 327 in Sangamon County over the prior three-day period.

Where do I get my Illinois hunting license?

IDNR recommends people interested in hunting apply for a license at its online portal or at a local vendor.

The licenses are valid through March 31 and are required to hunt in Illinois. Exceptions include those actively serving the armed forces and those that are disabled. Prior to obtaining a license, those born after Jan. 1, 1980 must also complete a hunter safety education course. Hunters wishing to use firearms have to obtain a Firearm Owner Identification Card from the Illinois State Police.

Most deadlines to apply for licenses have passed for 2022, but the application for Resident Deer CWD Season Special Hunt Area permit remains open until Nov. 28. A special hunt from Dec. 29 through Jan. 1 and Jan. 13 through Jan. 15 allows hunting on private lands albeit limited to Boone, JoDaviess, LaSalle, Ogle, Carroll, Kane, Lee, Stephenson, DeKalb, Kankakee, Livingston, Will, Grundy, Kendall, McHenry, and Winnebago counties.

Licenses for the special hunt cost $17.50.

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What weapon class, caliber is acceptable?

Hunters are only allowed to bag one antlered deer per year and can do so only with the following type of firearm and caliber:

• Shotguns no larger than 10 gauge or smaller than 20 gauge
• Single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of .45 caliber or greater
• Handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a barrel length of four inches

Where are my local hunting areas?

IDNR has a map of public hunting areas on its website, which includes several spots in central Illinois. Those sites are as followed:

The Sangamon County State Conservation Area is just outside of Salisbury and has 178 total acres of hunting grounds. To use the site, hunters must present a windshield permit in addition to their deer hunting permit.

Outside of Rochester is Sangchris Lake State Park, home to 2,480 huntable acres. This location was open to archery during the first firearm weekend earlier this month and will be open to muzzleloaders this week.

What am I required to wear while hunting?

Only clothing in blaze orange or pink is acceptable attire while hunting, IDNR says, and camouflage of any shade is not allowed. This applies to those leading youth hunting expeditions as well.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter