Illinois Bird Hunting

Seasons Span November 2 – January 15, 2027

State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.

Official License Fees (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)

• Resident Base Hunting License: $12.00
• Resident Senior Hunting License (Ages 65–74): $6.00
• Resident Super Senior License (Ages 75+): $1.00
• Resident Sportsman’s Combination (Hunt/Fish): $25.50
• Youth Hunting/Trapping License (Under 18): $7.00
• Nonresident Base Hunting License: $57.00
• Nonresident 5-Day Hunting License: $35.00
• State Habitat Stamp (Required for 18+): $5.50

Season Dates, Daily Bag Limits & Possession Limits

Ring-necked Pheasant (Roosters Only)

• Season Dates:
  • North Zone: First Saturday in November – January 8
  • South Zone: First Saturday in November – January 15
• Daily Bag Limit: 2 roosters
• Possession Limit: 6 roosters

Northern Bobwhite Quail

• Season Dates:
  • North Zone: First Saturday in November – January 8
  • South Zone: First Saturday in November – January 15
• Daily Bag Limit: 8 birds
• Possession Limit: 20 birds

Hungarian (Gray) Partridge

• Season Dates:
  • North Zone: First Saturday in November – January 8
  • South Zone: First Saturday in November – January 15
• Daily Bag Limit: 2 birds
• Possession Limit: 6 birds

American Woodcock

• Season Dates: Mid-September – Mid-November (45-day federal framework)
• Daily Bag Limit: 3 birds
• Possession Limit: 9 birds

Weather Assessment & Bird Hunting Outlook

According to annual field surveys conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), mild winter conditions across central and southern Illinois helped bolster overwinter survival for bobwhite quail and ring-necked pheasants. Spring nesting and early summer brood-rearing periods saw localized precipitation that temporarily impacted low-lying nesting cover, but subsequent warm and dry summer weather provided strong insect production and good chick survival in undisturbed native grass and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) stands. While overall upland populations remain heavily dependent on localized habitat quality, core agricultural edge habitats and public State Fish and Wildlife Areas with active prairie management offer solid prospects for northern bobwhite and wild pheasant hunters.

This summary provides a concise overview, but hunters should verify all details with official IDNR sources to ensure compliance.

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  Days Afield | Pheasant Hunting

  Bird Hunting Amid Spun Tales

  Every year in Kansas we hear funny stories about birds and hunting. Maybe it was the full moon, the start of the whitetail rut or the dismal bird forecasts that contributed to tales of the extra nutty variety this season. We hunt from a small town that resides in a county with a population just…

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  Pheasant Hunting | Upland Birds

  Pheasant Defying Drought….. For Now

  There has been a lot of news about the terribly dry conditions across the bulk of the country this year. This news sparked many early negative predictions for the upland populations. If you read much about the lifecycle of upland birds though, most don’t require much water when they are young. So unlike harsh winters…

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  Pheasant Hunting | Recipe

  Grilled Pheasant + Mojo Sauce

  This spatchcocked, grilled pheasant is probably one of the more satisfying meals I have made with wild game to date. The crispy skin is full of flavor from a homemade dry rub, the meat is tender and juicy, and the citrus-garlic Mojo sauce is so delicious. Cuban Mojo Sauce This Mojo sauce has it all:…

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  Days Afield | Pheasant Hunting

  Making Kansas Memories

  Opening day in Kansas occupies a sacred  place for me since this is the territory  where my upland obsession really took hold years ago. The bulk of the state has a dismal bird forecast like much of the rest of the Midwest this year. There are some bright spots which have been deemed the north…

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  Days Afield | Pheasant Hunting | Quail Hunting

  Inroads

  We’ve been coming to this area of the grain belt for over 20 years. It took the locals at least seven of those to warm beyond a passing nod or the requisite finger waive to oncoming trucks. We now know many by name though most likely still recognize us only as familiar faces. Every year…

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  Pheasant Hunting

  The Top 3 Wild Pheasant Hunting Tips

  There are tons of variables involved when pheasant hunting: weather, dogs, number of hunters, blockers, terrain, time of day….. the list is almost endless. But regardless of these elements, there are 3 things you can always use that will improve your success against the wily wild rooster. The bird hunters’ opening day is also most…