Illinois Duck Season
2026–2027
Season dates by zone, bag limits, youth days, and license requirements — verified against the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
- Earliest opener
- Oct 24
- Latest close
- Jan 24
- Daily bag
- 6 ducks
- Possession
- 18 ducks
North Duck Zone
South Duck Zone
Species limits apply
3× daily bag
North Duck Zone opens in
31 days
Start your Illinois log — free. MarshHQ counts every species against these limits as you log, and shows legal shooting light for the spot you’re hunting.
Email only. No card. The log stays free.
Season dates by zone
Duck season, by zone. Always confirm shooting hours with IDNR.
Central Duck Zone
60 days
- Oct 31 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of the state south of the North Duck Zone line to a line extending west from the Indiana border along I-70 to Illinois Route 4, south to Illinois Route 161, west to Illinois Route 158, south and west to Illinois Route 159, south to Illinois Route 3, south to St. Leo's Road, south to Modoc Road, west to Modoc Ferry Road, southwest to Levee Road, southeast to County Route 12, south to the Modoc Ferry Route and southwest across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.
North Duck Zone
60 days
- Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2026
- Oct 31 – Dec 27, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
That portion of the state north of a line extending west from the Indiana border along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois Route 50, south along IL-50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, west to Illinois Route 53, north to New River Road, northwest to Interstate 55, south to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, west to Illinois Route 47, north to I-80, west to I-39, south to Illinois Route 18, west to Illinois Route 29, south to Illinois Route 17, west to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi to the Iowa border.
South Duck Zone
23 days
- Nov 14 – Dec 6, 2026
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
The remainder of the state (everything south of the Central Duck Zone line). Under the 2026-2030 configuration this single zone absorbs the former South Central zone.
South Duck Zone
37 days
- Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 24, 2027
Full boundary ↓Hide ↑
The remainder of the state (everything south of the Central Duck Zone line). Under the 2026-2030 configuration this single zone absorbs the former South Central zone.
Other waterfowl seasonsEarly teal, Early Canada goose, Canada goose (regular), White-fronted goose, Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Early teal
Statewide
- Sep 5 – Sep 13, 2026
Early Canada goose
Statewide
- Sep 1 – Sep 15, 2026
Canada goose (regular)
Central Duck Zone
- Oct 31 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
North Duck Zone
- Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2026
- Oct 31, 2026 – Jan 26, 2027
Canada goose (regular)
South Duck Zone
- Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
Central Duck Zone
- Oct 31 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
White-fronted goose
North Duck Zone
- Oct 31, 2026 – Jan 26, 2027
White-fronted goose
South Duck Zone
- Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
Central Duck Zone
- Oct 31 – Dec 13, 2026
- Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
North Duck Zone
- Oct 31, 2026 – Jan 26, 2027
Light goose (snow, blue, Ross’s)
South Duck Zone
- Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
Youth & special days
Youth waterfowl
- North Duck Zone:
- Oct 17 – Oct 18, 2026
- Central Duck Zone:
- Oct 24 – Oct 25, 2026
- South Duck Zone:
- Nov 7, 2026 · Jan 30, 2027
Bag limits
Daily limit is 6 ducks total. Within those, no more than:
Light geese: 20 daily.
Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession.
Scaup: 2 for the first 45 days, then 1 for the last 15 days daily, 6 in possession.
What you need to hunt ducks in Illinois
Illinois State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp — Required for hunters age 18 and older.
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp — Required for hunters age 16 and older.
Nontoxic shot — Lead shot is prohibited for waterfowl nationwide.
License and permit names and exemptions are set by the state and can change without notice, and fees aren’t listed here for the same reason. MarshHQ is not responsible for errors or out-of-date information — confirm current requirements directly with IDNR (opens in a new tab) before you hunt.
Where to hunt in Illinois
Public conservation areas with managed or open waterfowl hunting. Each links to IDNR’s own page for that area — access rules, blind draws, and closures change, so check before you go.
- Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Fulton County
- Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Fulton and Peoria counties
- Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Whiteside County
- Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (opens in a new tab)
- Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Fulton County
- Embarras River State Natural Area (opens in a new tab)
- Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Richland and Wayne counties
- Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) (opens in a new tab)Alexander County
- Larry D Closson State Habitat Area (opens in a new tab)Douglas County
- Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Marshall and Peoria counties
- Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)
- Moraine Hills State Park (opens in a new tab)McHenry County
- Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Fulton County
- Snakeden Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)Knox County
- Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)
- Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (opens in a new tab)
Disclaimer: Bag limits and season dates are for reference only and may not reflect the most current regulations. Always verify with USFWS and your state wildlife agency before hunting. Dates and limits above reflect the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’s published 2026–2027 waterfowl regulations as checked on 2026-07-20. Confirm with the official source before you hunt: huntillinois.org (opens in a new tab)
Not affiliated with any state wildlife agency.