Bowhunting in Illinois: Archery Season and Rules

The 2026–27 deer hunting bow season in Illinois opens on 1 October 2026 and closes on 17 January 2027, but in most of the state it comes in three periods: archery closes for the two firearm seasons, then reopens. Only Cook, DuPage and Lake counties and the part of Kane County east of Route 47 have one unbroken season. Whatever county you hunt, no hunter may take more than two antlered deer a year.

Everything below comes from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) 2026-2027 digest and archery deer page.

Rules checked on 9 October 2026; this isn't legal advice and regulations change, so confirm with IDNR before you hunt.

Illinois archery deer season dates, 2026–27

The split depends on whether your county has a firearm deer season. All counties except Cook, DuPage, Lake and the part of Kane County east of State Route 47 are open to firearm and muzzleloader deer hunting.

Hunting hours for archery deer are half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and the limit is one deer per archery permit.

The Restricted Archery Zone. From 1 to 31 October, Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt counties (except Allerton Park in Piatt County) are in the Restricted Archery Zone, where "only antlered deer may be harvested ... regardless of permits in possession." After 31 October, normal archery rules apply there.

For neighbouring states' dates, see our archery season dates by state table or our guide to bowhunting in Wisconsin.

Can you hunt deer with a bow during gun season in Illinois?

Only in a narrow way. The digest says "Archery equipment use is legal on private land ONLY during firearm deer season, provided the hunter has a valid county Firearm Deer Permit. Archery hunting is not allowed using an Archery Deer Permit during the firearm deer season in counties open to firearm deer hunting."

So during the 20 to 22 November and 3 to 6 December firearm seasons, your archery tag is useless in a firearm county. If you hold an unfilled firearm deer permit for that county, you can use a bow on private land to fill it, following the firearm season's rules, including orange.

The other overlaps are friendlier. IDNR's FAQ says archery season "is still open during the youth, muzzleloader, late winter antlerless-only and the special CWD deer seasons." If you bowhunt during one of those in a county open to it, you must wear a solid blaze orange or solid blaze pink hat and upper outer garment of at least 400 square inches. You can still take an antlered deer with your either-sex archery permit then, as long as you haven't reached the two-buck limit.

Permits and the two-buck cap

To hunt deer, residents and nonresidents need a hunting licence, a State Habitat Stamp and at least one deer permit.

Nonresident archery permits are capped at 25,000, with outfitter clients given preference for the first 7,500.

The antlered limit. "No hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than two antlered deer during a year, including the youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons." An antlered deer has at least one antler 3 inches or longer. Deer taken in the special CWD season don't count toward that limit. You also can't take an antlered deer with an antlerless-only permit.

Hunter safety. Anyone born on or after 1 January 1980 must complete a hunter safety education course, or show a hunting licence from Illinois or another state from a prior year, before buying a hunting licence.

Legal archery equipment

The digest's archery deer rules:

• Bows: "A long, recurve or compound bow with a minimum pull of 30 pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw." Arrows must be at least 20 inches.
• Crossbows: "minimum draw weight of 125 pounds; minimum overall length of 24 inches; a working safety", with fletched bolts or arrows of at least 14 inches. Illinois defines "bow and arrow" to include crossbows, so they're legal in archery season. Our guide to whether crossbows are legal for hunting compares other states.
• Broadheads: required, fixed (metal, or knapped flint, chert or obsidian) or expandable (metal), with "a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened."
• Tracking: electronic tracking systems using radio-telemetry are illegal.
• No guns: you can't have a firearm while hunting deer with a bow or crossbow, apart from a concealed-carry handgun under state law.

The digest's deer section doesn't mention lighted nocks or lighted sights, so check with IDNR if you plan to use them. For choosing a bow comfortably above 30 lb, see our guide to draw weight for deer hunting.

Orange, public land and tree stands

During all firearm deer seasons in firearm counties, deer hunters must wear a solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap and an upper garment showing at least 400 square inches of solid orange or pink. Camouflage orange or pink doesn't count. On IDNR-owned or managed land, a ground blind used during a firearm deer season needs at least 400 square inches of solid orange or pink on top, visible all round.

A solid orange vest and hat that fit over your camo cover you for the overlaps; you can browse solid blaze orange vests and hats on Amazon.

On IDNR sites you can use only one tree stand or ground blind, can't use nails, screws or anything that pierces the bark, and must remove portable stands each day unless the site rules say otherwise. Many public hunting sites also require a free windshield card on your dashboard, and you report your hunting effort and harvest through it by 15 February. Our tree stand safety guide covers harnesses and climbing.

Tagging and harvest reporting

Sign your permit and carry it while hunting. Immediately after the kill, before you move or field dress the deer, attach the tag: the leg tag for antlerless deer, and both tags for antlered deer if the head will be separated. Then report the harvest by calling 1-866-452-4325 or online at exploremoreil.com by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or immediately the next day if you don't recover the deer by 10 p.m. The in-person check stations in CWD counties apply to the first and second firearm seasons, not archery.

Rules checked on 9 October 2026; not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

When is deer hunting bow season in Illinois?

For 2026–27, archery deer season runs from 1 October 2026 to 17 January 2027. In counties with a firearm season it's split into three periods: 1 October to 19 November, 23 November to 2 December, and 7 December to 17 January. Cook, DuPage, Lake and eastern Kane have one continuous season.

Can you hunt deer with a bow during gun season in Illinois?

Only with a firearm permit. During the firearm seasons in counties open to firearm deer hunting, you can't use an archery deer permit. A hunter with a valid county firearm deer permit may use legal archery equipment on private land only, under firearm season rules, including blaze orange or pink clothing.

How many bucks can you take bowhunting in Illinois?

No more than two antlered deer a year across the youth, archery, firearm and muzzleloader seasons combined, however many permits you hold. In the Restricted Archery Zone counties of Champaign, Douglas, Macon and Piatt, only antlered deer may be taken during October. Special CWD season deer don't count toward the cap.

What draw weight do you need to bow hunt in Illinois?

At least 30 pounds of pull at some point within a 28-inch draw for a longbow, recurve or compound, with arrows of 20 inches or more. Crossbows must draw at least 125 pounds, be at least 24 inches long and have a working safety. Broadheads must open to at least 7/8 inch.