Illinois · Dove · 2026–27 Edition
Illinois Dove Season 2026–27: Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning & White-winged Dove · Segment 1 | Statewide | Sep 1 – Nov 14 |
| Mourning & White-winged Dove · Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 26 – Jan 9 |
| Eurasian Collared-dove, Ringed Turtle Dove & Pigeon | Statewide | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
02 — Bag limits
| Mourning & White-winged — Daily | 15 |
|---|---|
| Mourning & White-winged — Possession | 45 |
| Eurasian collared-dove, ringed turtle dove & pigeon | No limit, year-round — but during dove season you may not remain in the field taking them after reaching your mourning/white-winged daily bag |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 06:25 — 19:27
Rule: Sunrise to sunset — Illinois does not grant dove hunters the half hour before sunrise that its squirrel and crow seasons get, and that most other states allow for doves. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Illinois sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in Illinois need an Illinois hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
Illinois hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Illinois — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in Illinois?
The 2026–27 opener is September 1, 2026. Most states open Sep 1 under the federal migratory bird framework.
When does dove season end in Illinois?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 9, 2027. Split segments and late seasons vary — see the table above.
Do I need a Duck Stamp to hunt doves?
No. Doves are migratory game birds but the federal Duck Stamp is only required for waterfowl (ducks, geese, brant, swans). Dove hunters need only their state hunting license and HIP registration.
How many doves can you shoot in Illinois per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Mourning & White-winged — Daily — 15. Mourning & White-winged — Possession — 45. Eurasian collared-dove, ringed turtle dove & pigeon — No limit, year-round — but during dove season you may not remain in the field taking them after reaching your mourning/white-winged daily bag. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting doves in Illinois?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:25 to 19:27. The rule is: Sunrise to sunset — Illinois does not grant dove hunters the half hour before sunrise that its squirrel and crow seasons get, and that most other states allow for doves. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Illinois sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in Illinois without a license?
Illinois owners residing on, or bona fide tenants of, farmland — plus their children, parents, and siblings who live there too — may hunt any legal game on that land without a license. Deer and turkey run through a separate free Resident Landowner/Tenant Permit Program requiring 40 contiguous acres (20 in CWD counties).
Verified · Illinois Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-11
Publisher's note. Dates, limits and hours from the 2026-2027 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, 'Upland and Small Game Season Dates and Limits' table. Illinois is one of the few states that starts dove shooting at sunrise rather than half an hour before it — the digest prints 'Sunrise to Sunset' for dove while listing '½ hour before sunrise' for squirrel and crow on the same page, so the difference is deliberate. Eurasian collared-dove, ringed turtle dove and pigeon lost their protected status as non-native species and may be taken year-round with no limit; that row is marked yearRound below so the opener and closing date describe the mourning-dove season. One rule that catches hunters out: during dove season you may not stay in the field to keep shooting collared-doves after reaching the mourning/white-winged daily bag.