Illinois duck season 2026-27: dates and free maps
Season dates
Youth waterfowl, North zone: Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 18, 2026
North zone, first split: Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
Youth waterfowl, Central zone: Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
Central zone, first split: Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, December 13, 2026
North zone, second split: Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, December 27, 2026
Youth waterfowl, South zone (first day): Saturday, November 7, 2026
South zone, first split: Saturday, November 14 to Sunday, December 6, 2026
Central zone, second split: Saturday, December 19, 2026 to Sunday, January 3, 2027
South zone, second split: Saturday, December 19, 2026 to Sunday, January 24, 2027
Youth waterfowl, South zone (second day): Saturday, January 30, 2027
Checked on the agency's site November 6, 2026. Licenses, units, bag limits and shooting hours differ, and dates can vary by unit: the regulations are what count, so read them before you go.
Federal migratory bird rules apply on top of state rules: check what your state requires for the federal duck stamp and HIP registration, and your state's shooting hours and bag limits.
Marshes, river bottoms and refuge boundaries are hard to read in the dark, and public and closed areas sit side by side. Download the maps for your marsh ahead of time and Cartahaven shows your GPS position on them offline, so you can find your spot before shooting light and stay out of closed zones.
Free public land maps in Illinois
Before you go
Cartahaven is not affiliated with or endorsed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Season dates come from the agency pages linked above.