Illinois Archery Deer Season 2025–2026

The Illinois Archery Deer Season began on October 1. For counties that do not have a firearm season, including Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Kane County east of Illinois Route 47, the archery season will run continuously from October 1 through January 18. In counties with firearm deer season and west of Illinois Route 47 in Kane County, the archery season will be divided into three periods: from October 1 to November 20, November 24 to December 3, and December 8 through January 18.

The harvest limits allow one deer per archer and a maximum of two antlered deer per year across all seasons (youth, archery, muzzleloader, and firearm), except during the special Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) season. Deer seasons are counted within the same 12-month period starting from July 1. Hunters should check Hunt Illinois for site-specific regulations, as some public sites may have rules that are more restrictive than state or county regulations.

In Illinois, tree stands are the leading cause of hunting-related accidents, so the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) strongly recommends that hunters review safe tree stand practices before heading out. For additional guidance, hunters can consult the 2025-2026 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations and view the annual deer harvest report.

For more information about the archery deer season, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at 217-782-6302 or email [email protected].