Illinois Turkey Season 2023 [All You Need To Know!]

Are you looking forward to the 2023 Turkey season in Illinois? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll be discussing all the details you need to know about the upcoming turkey season in Illinois. From the dates and bag limits, license details, and open zones for a successful hunt. So grab your gear and get ready for a great turkey season in Illinois!

Illinois Turkey Season 2023 Schedule

Illinois Turkey Seasons 2023Hunting Season-Start DateHunting Season-End DateNote
Spring North (shotgun and archery)
Segment 110-Apr14-Apr• Every spring season, you may only have three licenses for one tom, jake, or bearded hen.
• The turkey-hunting seasons in several regions are shown on this map.
• 1 pm to half an hour before dawn
Segment 215-Apr20-AprSame as Above
Segment 321-Apr26-AprSame as Above
Segment 427-Apr3-MaySame as Above
Segment 54-May11-MaySame as Above
Spring South (shotgun and archery)
Segment 13-Apr7-AprSame as Above
Segment 28-Apr13-AprSame as Above
Segment 314-Apr19-AprSame as Above
Segment 420-Apr26-AprSame as Above
Segment 527-Apr4-MaySame as Above
Youth Season
Youth (Spring)25-Mar26-Mar• A total of three spring permits may be used for one tom, jake, or bearded hen per permit.
• 1 permit is allowed each year. Throughout the season, the permit may be used to hunt in certain counties or IDNR locations.
• from half an hour before dawn till 1:00 pm
Youth (Spring)1-Apr2-AprSame As above
Fall Season
Fall-(shotgun)21-Oct29-Oct• One turkey of either sex is allowed per permit, with a total of two fall permits.
• From an hour before dawn until sunset
Fall-(archery)1-Oct14-Jan• A total of two fall permits & one either-sex turkey per permit.
• In counties where rifle deer shooting is permitted, the season is closed.
• from one-half hour before dawn to one-half hour after sunset

Illinois Turkey Season 2023
Illinois Turkey Season 2023: Photo Credit-© istockphoto.com/JoanWynn

Hunting Regulations

  • Permit holders are restricted to hunting and taking just one male turkey (gobbler) or one hen with a real beard per permit.
  • It is illegal to employ dogs, recorded sounds, bait, or decoys, either live or electronic, to lure turkeys during a hunt.
  • In certain counties and at some times of the year, it is illegal for anyone other than those participating in the Youth Turkey Hunt and their adult companions to use a turkey call or try to summon a turkey by producing turkey noises. Only in those counties where spring turkey hunting is permitted is this rule strictly enforced.
  • Participants may dress as they see fit, given the nature of the event and the weather (no special clothing is required).
  • It is illegal to hunt wild turkeys without a current and valid Wild Turkey Hunting Permit.
  • During the wild turkey hunting season, no one may be in possession of another hunter’s valid hunting permit.
  • Nothing about wild turkeys, not even their eggs or nests, may be bought or sold legally.
  • Before 7 a.m., it is illegal to go out on a hunt and kill a wild turkey that is perched in a tree.

You may read our article ‘Illinois Hunting Season‘ for complete details.

IL Turkey Hunting License

Illinois requires a Hunter’s Permit, Sportsman’s Permit, Youth Trapper’s Permit, or Apprentice Permit in addition to a turkey hunting license. You can’t hunt in the state without one of these permits, which prove you’re trained and know how to hunt safely and legally. You may require a turkey hunting permit even if you don’t need any of these licenses. Disabled persons, military personnel, and Native Americans hunting on tribal land may not require a license.

Resident Hunting License Fees

License TypeTitle No.Fees
Resident-(Hunting License)100$12.5
Resident-(Lifetime Hunting License)804$360
Resident-(Lifetime Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)805$765
Resident-(Senior Hunting License)105$6.5
Resident-(Senior Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)225$13.5
Resident-(Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)200$26.25
Resident-(Super Senior Hunting License)151$1.5
Resident-(Super Senior Sportsman Combo Hunting and Fishing License)226$2.75
Resident-(Veteran Hunting License (Prior Certification Required))103$6.5
Resident-(Veteran Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License-Prior Certification Required)203$13.5

Non-Resident Hunting License Fees

License TypeTitle No.Fees
Resident-(Hunting License)100$12.5
Resident-(Lifetime Hunting License)804$360
Resident-(Lifetime Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)805$765
Resident-(Senior Hunting License)105$6.5
Resident-(Senior Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)225$13.5
Resident-(Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License)200$26.25
Resident-(Super Senior Hunting License)151$1.5
Resident-(Super Senior Sportsman Combo Hunting and Fishing License)226$2.75
Resident-(Veteran Hunting License (Prior Certification Required))103$6.5
Resident-(Veteran Sportsmen's Combination Hunting/Fishing License-Prior Certification Required)203$13.5

Other Hunting License Fees

License TypeTitle No.Fees
Hunting Apprentice License105$7.5
Youth Hunting and Trapping Combo License107$7.5

IL Youth Hunting License

License TypeTitle No.Fees
Spring Turkey-Youth Shotgun/Archery SHA Lottery Application (2023 )105
Spring Turkey-Youth Shotgun/Archery Over-the-Counter (OTC) Permit (2023)107$10.5

Hunting Zones

South Zone Counties Open for Turkey Hunting

AlexanderBondClay
ClintonCrawfordEdwards
EffinghamFayetteFranklin
Gallatin-HardinHamiltonJackson
JasperJeffersonJohnson
LawrenceMadisonMarion
MassacMonroePerry
PopePulaskiRandolph
RichlandSalineSt. Clair
UnionWabashWashington
WayneWhiteWilliamson

North Zone Counties Open for Turkey Hunting

AdamsBooneBrown
BureauCalhounCarroll
CassChampaignChristian
ClarkColesCumberland
DeKalbDeWittDouglas
EdgarFordFulton
GreeneGrundyHancock
HendersonHenryIroquois
JerseyJoDaviessKane
KankakeeKendallKnox
LakeLaSalleLee
LivingstonLoganMacon
MacoupinMarshall-PutnamMason
McDonoughMcHenryMcLean
MenardMercerMontgomery
MorganMoultrieOgle
PeoriaPiattPike
Rock IslandSangamonSchuyler
ScottShelbyStark
StephensonTazewellVermilion
WarrenWhitesideWill
WinnebagoWoodford

Contacts

Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for further details.

Address

One Natural Resources Way

Springfield, IL 62702

Phone

217-782-6302

Report a Harvest

The following automated check-in system must be used by successful hunters to report their harvest by 10 p.m. on the same day the turkey was taken:

By Telephone:

1-866-452-4325 (1-866-IL-CHECK)

By Online:

https://www.exploremoreil.com/wildlife/harvest (Find Here)

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