Illinois Hunting Resources

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Quick Menu

1. Regulations, seasons, and licenses

2. Public hunting areas (maps + site rules)

3. Harvest & species reports (2024+)

4. Veterans & disabled hunter resources

5. Hunter safety / new hunter help

6. Shooting ranges (public + directories)

7. Local gun shops (Illinois)

8. Outfitters & guide services (Illinois)

9. Illinois small businesses (calls, apparel, gear)

10. Buckeye Hunter Hub (Free Map, Free Membership, Social Platform)

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1) Regulations, seasons, and licenses

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• Illinois DNR — Hunting & Trapping Digest (current): https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/hunttrapdigest.html

• Illinois DNR — License fees / hunting licenses: https://dnr.illinois.gov/lpr/huntinglicensesfees.html

• Illinois DNR — Online services hub (permits, applications, etc.): https://dnr.illinois.gov/online.html

• ExploreMore IL (IDNR license purchasing portal): https://exploremoreil.com/

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2) Public hunting areas (maps + site rules)

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• Illinois DNR — Public Hunting Areas (reports + tools): https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/publichuntingareas.html

• Illinois DNR — Hunter Fact Sheets (property rules + what’s allowed at each site): https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/factsheets.html

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3) Harvest & species reports (2024+)

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• Illinois Deer Harvest Report (2024–2025 PDF): https://ngrrec-hunt-illinois-wordpress-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/02095436/2024-2025-Illinois-Deer-Harvest-Report.pdf

• Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report: 2024–2025 Wildlife Harvest (PDF): https://v3-wp.huntillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IPHAR2024-2025.pdf

• 2024 Illinois Spring Turkey Season Summary (PDF): https://v3-wp.huntillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024IllinoisSpringTurkeySummary.pdf

• Hunt Illinois — Turkey (reports by year): https://huntillinois.org/turkey

• Hunt Illinois — Waterfowl (aerial surveys include 2024 dates): https://huntillinois.org/waterfowl

• Example 2024–25 Southern IL Aerial Waterfowl Survey (PDF): https://ngrrec-hunt-illinois-wordpress-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/05171023/SI03Dec2024.pdf

• Illinois DNR — Harvest reporting (check-in link + phone): https://dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/harvestreporting.html

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4) Veterans & disabled hunter resources

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• Illinois DNR — Military fee exemptions / waivers: https://dnr.illinois.gov/lpr/militaryfeeexemptions.html

• Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs — Fishing & hunting permits info (disabled vet exemption details): https://veterans.illinois.gov/services-benefits/permits.html

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5) Hunter safety / new hunter help

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• Illinois DNR — Hunter Safety (course options): https://dnr.illinois.gov/safety/huntersafety.html

• Hunt Illinois — Learn to Hunt (programs + safety ed links): https://huntillinois.org/learn-to-hunt

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6) Shooting ranges (public + directories)

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• Illinois DNR — Archery/Trapshooting sites list: https://dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/archery.html

• Illinois DNR — World Shooting & Recreational Complex (Sparta, IL): https://dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/wsrc.html

• NSSF “Where To Shoot” range directory: https://www.wheretoshoot.org/

• ISRA Range (Bonfield, IL): https://isra.org/the-range/

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7) Local gun shops (Illinois)

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• GAT Guns (East Dundee, IL): https://gatguns.com/

• Maxon Shooters (Des Plaines, IL): https://www.maxonshooters.com/

• Midwest Guns (Lyons, IL): https://www.midwestguns.com/

• Shore Galleries (Lincolnwood, IL): https://www.shoregalleries.com/

• The Range at 355 (Bolingbrook, IL): https://www.range355.com/

• Guncology (Lockport, IL): https://guncology.us/

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8) Outfitters & guide services (Illinois)

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• Boneyard Outfitters (Southern IL deer & turkey): https://boneyardoutfitters.com/

• HyBrass Hunting Club (Southern IL duck & snow goose): https://hunthybrass.com/

• South Fork Outfitting (Western IL trophy whitetail): https://southforkhunts.com/

• Sangamon River Outfitters (Central IL whitetail/turkey/waterfowl): https://www.sangamonriveroutfitters.com/

• Hadley Creek Outfitters (guided deer hunts): https://www.hadleycreek.com/

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9) Illinois small businesses (calls, apparel, gear)

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• RTD Turkey Calls (Grafton, IL) — website: https://www.rtdturkeycalls.com/

• RTD Turkey Calls — Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/p/RTD-Turkey-Calls-100054544535576/

• Tribe Outdoors Co. (Central Illinois outdoor apparel): https://www.tribeoutdoorsco.com/

• DJ Illinois River Valley Calls (Pekin, IL) — Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djcallcompany/

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10) Buckeye Hunter Hub (Free Map, Free Membership, Social Platform)

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• Buckeye Hunter Hub (Free Membership): https://www.buckeyehunterhub.com/

• Buckeye Hunter Hub Free Hunting Map: https://www.buckeyehunterhub.com/bhh-map

• Buckeye Hunter Hub Groups (Social Platform): https://www.buckeyehunterhub.com/groups

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