Section 685.10  Statewide Season for White-Tailed Deer Hunting

a)         Season:  One-half hour before sunrise on Saturday of the State designated Columbus Day Holiday weekend to ½ hour after sunset on the Monday immediately following that weekend.  Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.  A hunter with an unfilled, valid Youth Deer Permit may also hunt during the first firearm deer season (the 3-day weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) immediately before Thanksgiving), and the second firearm deer season (the 4-day weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) following Thanksgiving), subject to the following restrictions:

1)         Unfilled Youth Deer Permits are not valid for hunting during the first or second firearm deer seasons on public land sites that limit the number of hunters during the firearm season via the use of a site permit quota (i.e., only public sites that allow unrestricted access may be hunted);

2)         The hunter must use only firearms allowed in Section 685.30;

3)         On private land only, archery equipment, as defined in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 670.30, may be used during the Youth Deer Season, and the first and second firearm deer seasons while hunting with a valid Youth Deer Permit; and

4)         Hunters must abide by 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.60 when hunting on Department‑owned, -managed, or -leased sites.

b)         Open Counties:  All counties except Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties, and that portion of Kane County east of State Route 47.

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)