Lottery & Season Dates – Illinois Learn to Hunt

Scattered personal hunting gear scattered on a wood surface, including a field notebook, spiral bound notebook, compass, watch, camera, and tin cup.

Lottery & Season Dates

Can’t remember by season dates? Missed a lottery? We’ve been there. Use the tools below to keep on top of important deadlines and plan your season.

Digital Calendars

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers simplified, enhanced seasons and lotteries calendar you can integrate into your personal digital calendar or view online.

Outdoor Illinois App

Outdoor Illinois — from the Illinois Conservation Foundation — reflects the IDNR Hunting and Fishing Digest and lets you set reminders for season schedules and application deadlines.

Note: You cannot use the app to buy, access, or store your hunting license.

Dates for Manual Calendar Entry

Prefer a paper calendar or entering dates by hand? Use these resources.

Hunt Illinois species pages, or the current Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, for a list of species-specific season and lottery dates.
The IDNR has simplified its season and lottery calendars, allowing you to view dates and add them to your calendar or list.

Plan Ahead with IDNR “Rules of Thumb”

Scheduling far in advance? IDNR’s Rules of Thumb outline how season dates are typically set each year. They are guidelines, not guarantees, but are useful for early planning until the official dates are announced.