Illinois

Illinois is synonymous with giant record-book whitetails, anchored by the world-famous "Golden Triangle" between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers (Pike, Adams, Brown, and Calhoun counties). Rich glacial soils and intensive agricultural corn and soybean farming cultivate incredible body sizes and massive antler mass.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) conducts annual lottery drawings for nonresident archery and firearm permits. The six-week archery season spans the peak of the November rut, where bowhunters in tree stands intercept heavy-beamed bucks traveling tight terrain funnels. Firearm hunters participate in traditional split shotgun/muzzleloader/straight-wall cartridge seasons in late November and December.

The hardwood ridges of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois and timbered bluffs bordering the Mississippi River offer premier spring turkey hunting.

IDNR divides spring hunting into northern and southern zones with five separate seasonal time slots. Hunters who master tree-calling and soft yelping can draw mature limb-hangers into close range across deep hollows and oak-covered ridges.