Whereas upland searching alternatives within the Prairie State are restricted, they provide an opportunity to expertise remaining chicken populations.
Let me be sincere: I grew up in Wisconsin. Most of my early experiences in Illinois concerned highschool subject journeys to look at musicals in Chicago or experience curler coasters at Six Flags. However the extra I edit tales about upland chicken searching, the extra I notice Illinois is extra than simply cornfields, tolls, and The Bean.
Nonetheless, searching wild birds on public land there’s powerful. Solely 4.1 p.c of the state is public land, and chicken numbers are low. In response to the 2023-2024 Public Areas Looking Report, Illinois hunters hunted throughout 401,595 acres and efficiently killed 6,020 pheasants—excluding stocked pheasants—and 408 quail. In response to that knowledge, there’s about one wild pheasant per 67 acres and one wild quail per 108 acres. For comparability, that very same report reveals 60,000 pheasants harvested in 1990.
To place this in perspective, researchers from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Analysis Institute suggest halting quail searching in South Texas when densities fall beneath one chicken per 10–20 acres.
Illinois isn’t Texas, however that distinction paints a bleak image.
So what might be completed? In “Midwestern Bobwhite Quail Conservation: The Time for Motion is Now,” upland chicken biologists Frank Loncarich and Kyle Hedges put an optimistic spin on this outlook.
“Proper now, the chance to preserve bobwhite quail on the nationwide stage is at an all-time excessive,” they wrote. “Restoring native grasslands, particularly on non-public lands, will assist preserve this iconic recreation chicken throughout the jap United States.” They urge non-public landowners to discover habitat applications provided by Pheasants Eternally, Quail Eternally, state businesses, and the federal authorities.
Moderately than viewing Illinois’s wild chicken shortage as a failure, possibly we must always see it as a name to motion—to revive native prairies and midwestern upland birds.
Ohio Upland Chicken And Small Recreation Season Dates And Limits
You possibly can view the Illinois Division of Pure Sources’ (IDNR or DNR) upland searching laws right here.
South Zone: Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan 15, 2025
2/6Until the third day of the huntingseason, you might not possess greater than twice the every day restrict.Doves(mourning andwhite-winged)StatewideSep. 1 – Nov. 14 2024 and Dec. 26, 2024 – Jan 9, 202515/45Protections for the Eurasian-collareddove and ringed turtle dove havebeen eliminated, as they’re nonnative, invasive species. They are often harvested year-round with no limits, however throughout dove season, hunters could not stay within the subject for taking Eurasian-collared doves or ringed turtle doves after they attain theirdaily restrict for mourning/white-winged doves.Bobwhite QuailSee North Zone and South Zone map in searching regulationsNorth Zone: Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan. 8, 2025
South Zone: Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan 15, 2025
8/20Until the third day of the huntingseason, you might not possess greater than twice the every day restrict.HungarianPartridgeSee North Zone and South Zone map in searching regulationsNorth Zone: Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan. 8, 2025
South Zone: Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan 15, 2025
2/6Until the third day of the huntingseason, you might not possess morethan twice the every day restrict.Rabbits(cottontail and swamp)StatewideNov. 2, 2024 – Feb. 15, 20254/10Until the third day of the huntingseason, you might not possess greater than twice the every day restrict.American WoodcockStatewideOct. 19, 2024 – Dec. 2, 20243/9Squirrels(grey and fox)Statewide1 Aug. 1, 2024 – Feb. 15, 20255/10Closed Nov 22-24 and 5-8 Dec 2024in counties open for firearm deerhunting. Bag limits are for each speciescombined.CrowStatewideOct. 28, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025No restrict
These dates had been final up to date on July 2, 2025 and should not replicate any modifications since that date. For probably the most up-to-date info go to the Illinois DNR web site.
A searching license and habitat stamp are required for upland searching in Illinois. Relying on which lands you propose to hunt, you would possibly want a free upland recreation allow. Moreover, some IDNR properties require using unhazardous shot. Be sure you learn the principles for the properties you propose to hunt.
Ringed-neck Pheasant Rules In Illinois
Illinois provides wild and managed pheasant hunts. Relying on the place you propose to pheasant hunt, an upland chicken searching allow could also be required. The allow software is free, and it opens August 1 and closes August 31. Word {that a} charge is charged to use for a managed pheasant hunt. Hunters who’re awarded a managed hunt allow could hunt captive-raised birds on state lands and personal lands with an IDNR partnership. Extra particulars about permits and a listing of the upland allow websites accessible are within the laws booklet.
It’s unlawful to shoot a pheasant on the bottom except it has been crippled.
Within the North Zone, pheasant searching opens on November 2, 2024 and closes January 8, 2025. Pheasant searching opens within the South Zone on November 2, 2024 and closes January 15, 2025. As much as two roosters could also be taken per day. Throughout the first two days of the season, the possession restrict is 4. After that, the possession restrict is six.
Bobwhite Quail Rules In Illinois
Identical to pheasant hunts, bobwhite searching on choose lands with public entry could require an upland chicken searching allow. IDNR doesn’t provide any managed quail hunts. In the event you plan to shoot quail whereas on a managed pheasant hunt, a state habitat stamp is required.
Word that it’s unlawful to shoot bobwhite on the bottom except it has been crippled.
Within the North Zone, quail searching opens on November 2, 2024 and closes January 8, 2025. Within the South Zone, it opens on November 2, 2024 and closes January 15, 2025. As much as eight quail could also be taken per day. Throughout the first two days of the season, the possession restrict is 16. Starting on the third day of the season, the possession restrict is 20.
Squirrel And Rabbit Looking Rules
Japanese cottontails, swamp rabbits, grey squirrels, and fox squirrels can all be hunted in Illinois. They could be hunted with as much as 4 canines. Whilst you can hunt rabbits in the course of the gun deer season, you can’t hunt squirrels in counties in the course of the energetic gun deer season. For rabbits solely, you can’t possess greater than twice the every day restrict for the primary three days of the searching season.
Rabbits might be hunted statewide from November 2, 2024 by means of February 15, 2025. Squirrels have a fair longer season which takes place from August 1, 2024 by means of February 15, 2025.
The Decline Of Looking Alternatives In Illinois
The IDNR searching laws booklet could be very simple about causes for the decline of upland searching alternatives within the state.
“Adjustments in habitat are the first causes and features a lower within the amount and high quality of habitat,” it says. “There may be much less appropriate habitat due to modifications within the panorama together with fewer fencerows, pastures, hayfields, small grains (wheat, oats, and so on). Second, the present habitat high quality has decreased due to launched grasses like fescue and brome which can be too thick for upland recreation.”
Along with the shortage of high-quality upland chicken habitat, entry to searching land can be restricted. Upland recreation searching permits are issued by means of a draw system, permitting profitable candidates to hunt in designated habitat areas and choose websites. Nevertheless, every applicant could obtain just one allow per yr.
Study To Hunt In Illinois
The Illinois Division of Pure Sources provides instructional lessons geared in the direction of adults trying to be taught extra about searching. Every workshop is free, and college students will find out about deer, turkey, small recreation, upland recreation, waterfowl, and furbearers.
To be taught extra, go to www.learntohuntil.com.
Illinois Upland Chicken Looking License Charges
Beneath is a listing of the resident and non-resident searching license charges for upland hunters in Illinois.
These charges had been final up to date on July 2, 2025 and should not replicate any modifications since that date. For probably the most up-to-date info go to the Illinois DNR web site.
Does Illinois Require Blaze Orange for Upland Looking?
Sure, Illinois requires upland hunters to put on stable blaze orange whereas searching pheasant, quail, partridge, woodcock, and rabbits on IDNR lands. Moreover, on non-IDNR lands, a stable blaze orange or pink hat should be worn when searching upland birds (besides doves) and rabbits.
The state’s searching laws require a blaze orange or pink hat to be worn along with an outer layer displaying no less than 400 sq. inches of the colour. Please notice that blaze orange or pink clothes with camouflage patterns overlaid on them don’t rely in the direction of the stable blaze orange clothes necessities.
Mission Upland all the time encourages hunters to put on blaze orange whereas within the subject.
Looking Canine Coaching Necessities In Illinois
Canine coaching is allowed on DNR lands in Illinois. Nevertheless, handlers should receive a canine coaching space allow first by calling 217-785-8129. Equally, if reside birds are getting used for coaching functions, a wild recreation breeder’s allow should be obtained by calling 217-785-3423.
Residents can maintain aggressive sporting canine occasions on IDNR lands so long as a allow is obtained first. IDNR requires that folk submit their purposes to host occasions no less than 4 weeks upfront.
Illinois’ canine coaching laws and tips can all be discovered on the IDNR web site.
Illinois Chicken Conservation Organizations
Pheasants Eternally and Quail Eternally Illinois
Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
Delta Waterfowl
Geese Limitless
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Illinois Chapter
The Nature Conservancy – Illinois
Learn Extra
Foraging For Wild Onions
Upland Issues – Writer Mark Parman and Artist Jay Dowd
Late Season Pheasant Looking Suggestions
The Unrealized Alternative of Woodcock Looking within the Central Midwest
