Illinois · License · 2026 Edition
Illinois Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $12.50 for residents and $57.75 for nonresidents. The cheapest short-term option for nonresidents is the Nonresident Hunting License (5-day) at $35.75.
Illinois requires a separate State Habitat Stamp (in addition to the hunting license) for almost every hunter, and it — like the deer, spring turkey and waterfowl permits — is priced the same for residents and nonresidents; only the base license itself carries a residency premium. Deer and turkey permits are quota-based: most are sold through lottery applications first, with leftovers sold over the counter (OTC) once the lottery closes — the OTC price is shown below since that's what most hunters end up paying.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting License | $12.50 | |
| Resident Senior Hunting License | $6.50 | |
| Resident Super Senior Hunting License | $1.50 | Age 75+. |
| Resident Veteran Hunting License | $6.50 | Prior military certification required. |
| Resident Lifetime Hunting License | $360.50 | |
| Hunting Apprentice License | $7.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. For hunters without hunter education certification yet; must hunt with a licensed mentor. |
| Youth Hunting and Trapping Combo License | $7.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. |
| State Habitat Stamp | $5.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. Required for almost all hunters 18+ in addition to the hunting license; exempt if 75+, disabled veteran, former POW, or a pre-1993 lifetime license holder. |
| Nonresident Hunting License | $57.75 | |
| Nonresident Hunting License (5-day) | $35.75 |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery Permit (Either Sex & Antlerless, OTC) | $26 | |
| Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Either Sex, OTC) | $25.50 | |
| Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Antlerless Only, OTC) | $18 | |
| Youth Deer Season Statewide Firearm Permit (Either Sex) | $10.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. |
| Nonresident Deer Combo Archery Permit (Either Sex & Antlerless, OTC) | $411 | |
| Nonresident Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Either Sex, OTC) | $300.50 | |
| Nonresident Deer OTC Antlerless-Only Permit | $25.50 | Requires already holding an Either-Sex permit; $100.50 if not. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Turkey Lottery Permit | $19 | Apply Oct–Feb; leftover permits sold over the counter from March 10 while supplies last. |
| Nonresident Spring Turkey Lottery Permit | $129 |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp (Electronic) | $15.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. |
| Federal Migratory Waterfowl Stamp | $25.50 | Same price for residents and nonresidents. Also purchasable at US Post Offices or select DNR offices. |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. Illinois duck season dates →
05 — Hunter education
Illinois requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, unless they can show proof of a prior Illinois hunting license. Youth and Apprentice license holders are exempt while they complete certification.
Illinois hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
06 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through ExploreMoreIL, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in Illinois — WMAs by county & access rules →
Illinois hunting licenses are valid April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 (sales for the new license year open March 1). Deer and turkey permits follow their own lottery/OTC sale windows within that year.
FAQ
Can I hunt 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).
How much is a hunting license in Illinois?
A resident annual Illinois hunting license costs $12.50, and the nonresident annual license costs $57.75. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Illinois Department of Natural Resources and were read from their own license document on Aug 6, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Illinois?
$57.75 for the annual nonresident license. The cheapest short-term option is the Nonresident Hunting License (5-day) at $35.75. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Illinois?
Deer Archery Permit (Either Sex & Antlerless, OTC) — $26. Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Either Sex, OTC) — $25.50. Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Antlerless Only, OTC) — $18. Youth Deer Season Statewide Firearm Permit (Either Sex) — $10.50. Nonresident Deer Combo Archery Permit (Either Sex & Antlerless, OTC) — $411. Nonresident Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader County Permit (Either Sex, OTC) — $300.50. Nonresident Deer OTC Antlerless-Only Permit — $25.50. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Illinois?
Illinois requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through ExploreMoreIL, the state's official portal. Illinois hunting licenses are valid April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 (sales for the new license year open March 1). Deer and turkey permits follow their own lottery/OTC sale windows within that year.
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy an Illinois hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, unless they can show proof of a prior Illinois hunting license. Youth and Apprentice license holders are exempt while they complete certification.
Verified · Illinois Department of Natural Resources · Last verified 2026-08-06
Publisher's note. Prices read from the IDNR license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-06. Review due 2027-02-15. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.