Illinois · Pheasant · 2026–27 Edition
Illinois Pheasant Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular season — North Zone | North of the Rt. 36 / Rt. 29 / Rt. 9 line (Indiana state line–Springfield–Pekin–Dallas City–Mississippi River) | Nov 7 – Jan 8 |
| Regular season — South Zone | South of that line | Nov 7 – Jan 15 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily — both zones (roosters only) | 2 rooster pheasants; hen pheasants illegal to harvest or possess except on Department-controlled Pheasant Hunting Areas |
|---|---|
| Possession — both zones | twice the daily limit (4) through the 2nd day of the season, then 6 from the 3rd day onward |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (November 7, 2026) 06:33 — 16:47
Rule: Sunrise to sunset, statewide, both zones — per the official 2026-2027 Digest season-dates table. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Illinois sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Pheasant hunters in Illinois need an Illinois hunting license — a $5.00 State Habitat Stamp (resident and nonresident) in addition to a hunting license for hunters 18+ — exempt for pre-1993 lifetime license holders, legally disabled veterans, hunters 75+ (Super Senior Habitat Stamp, free), and hunters pursuing hand-reared pheasants on Department-controlled Pheasant Hunting Areas
Illinois hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Illinois — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does pheasant season open in Illinois?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is November 7, 2026. See the table above for each segment and zone.
When does pheasant season end in Illinois?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 15, 2027. Individual segments and zones can close earlier — see the table above.
Can I shoot hen pheasants in Illinois?
See the bag limit table above — most states restrict the daily bag to roosters only, but rules vary and this is worth double-checking against Illinois Department of Natural Resources before you hunt.
How many pheasants can you shoot in Illinois per day?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — both zones (roosters only) — 2 rooster pheasants; hen pheasants illegal to harvest or possess except on Department-controlled Pheasant Hunting Areas. Possession — both zones — twice the daily limit (4) through the 2nd day of the season, then 6 from the 3rd day onward. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting pheasant in Illinois?
On opening day (November 7, 2026) legal light runs 06:33 to 16:47. The rule is: Sunrise to sunset, statewide, both zones — per the official 2026-2027 Digest season-dates table. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Illinois sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt pheasant 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 2026-08-15
Publisher's note. Read directly from the official 2026-2027 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations PDF (current download linked from dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/hunttrapdigest.html), 'Upland and Small Game Season Dates and Limits' table (p. 36): Pheasant (roosters only) — North Zone 7 Nov 2026 to 8 Jan 2027, South Zone 7 Nov 2026 to 15 Jan 2027, hours Sunrise to Sunset, daily limit 2, possession limit 6 (capped at twice the daily limit, i.e. 4, until the 3rd day of the season). The North/South zone line is defined in the digest as U.S. Route 36 from the Indiana state line to Springfield, Illinois Route 29 from Springfield to Pekin, and Illinois Route 9 from Pekin to Dallas City, then due west to the Mississippi River — this is a true statewide season split into two zones by closing date, not a wild-range restriction; hen pheasants are illegal to harvest/possess statewide except at controlled hunting sites. Separately, IDNR runs a fee-based Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program (pen-raised birds released on managed IDNR and partner sites, permits allocated by lottery then first-come first-served, State Habitat Stamp not required there) described at dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/controlledpheasanthunting — that program runs on its own site-specific schedule and is separate from the general wild season captured here. No dedicated youth-only pheasant day was found anywhere in the digest (Illinois has a youth firearm deer season, but pheasant youth hunting is folded into the controlled-hunt program's youth provisions, not a statewide wild-season youth day).