Illinois Pheasant Season 2026
Illinois's pheasant season opens Saturday, November 7, 2026, and runs to January 8, 2027 in the North Zone and January 15, 2027 in the South Zone. The 2025 outlook, released October 3, 2025, has birds down 6.9% on last year.
The 2025 Illinois pheasant outlook
The 2025 outlook from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has birds down 6.9% on last year, with a survey index of 0.5 pheasants per stop.
During 2025, observers recorded an average of 0.5 pheasants per stop (a 6.9% decrease from 2024). Ring-necked pheasants were recorded at 23.2% of the stops (percent occurrence was a 6.5% decrease from 2024).Upland bird route survey, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
- Against last year
- a 6.9% decrease from 2024
- Survey index
- 0.5 pheasants per stop
Last season’s harvest
Preliminary estimates indicate that 9,013 hunters harvested 22,844 wild pheasants in Illinois, compared to 2023-24 totals of 8,753 hunters and 30,106 wild birds harvested.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 2024-25 harvest, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
Illinois pheasant season dates and bag limit
Illinois's pheasant season opens Saturday, November 7, 2026, and runs to January 8, 2027 in the North Zone and January 15, 2027 in the South Zone. The daily limit is 2 roosters and 6 in possession. Only roosters may be taken.
- North ZoneNov 7Season in the North Zone, Nov 7 to Jan 8
- South ZoneNov 7Season in the South Zone, Nov 7 to Jan 15
- North Zone
- Nov 7 to Jan 8
- South Zone
- Nov 7 to Jan 15
- Daily limit
- 2 roosters a day
- Possession
- 6 in possession
- Which birds
- Roosters only
- Shooting hours
- Sunrise to sunset (statewide season); controlled pheasant hunting areas 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thanksgiving Day 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program (IDNR operated areas)Nov 4 to Jan 15fee permit hunts of released birds on 11 IDNR sites; each site has its own dates and closed days
- Pheasant (roosters only), North ZoneNov 7 to Jan 8north zone; statewide wild-bird season
- Pheasant (roosters only), South ZoneNov 7 to Jan 15
Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations, read October 8, 2026.
Public land and walk-in access in Illinois
- Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) upland game hunting
“The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) leases upland game and rabbit hunting property from private landowners throughout Illinois and makes them available for controlled, public access.”
Illinois pheasant stocking
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources releases pheasants. Release sites: 11 IDNR controlled pheasant hunting areas listed for 2026-27 (Des Plaines, Eldon Hazlet, Green River, Iroquois County, Jim Edgar Panther Creek, Johnson Sauk Trail, Kankakee River, Moraine View, Sand Ridge, Silver Springs, Wayne Fitzgerrell).
These application-based hunts allow a controlled number of hunters to pursue released, captive-raised pheasants on state and public/private partnership sites.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
What it takes to hunt pheasants in Illinois
- Residents
- Hunting license ($12.00 resident in the 2024-2025 digest) plus State Habitat Stamp ($5.00); Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permit $34 per hunt date on IDNR controlled areas (habitat stamp not required there for pheasants)
- Nonresidents
- Nonresident hunting license ($57.00, or $35.00 for 5 days, in the 2024-2025 digest) plus State Habitat Stamp ($5.00); Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permit $39 per hunt date
- Stamp or permit
- State Habitat Stamp $5.00 (2024-2025 digest)
Every Illinois license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Illinois hunting license page.
Illinois pheasant questions
Pheasant season in other states
Illinois read October 8, 2026 from Illinois Department of Natural Resources, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.