The 3 Animals You Can Hunt Year-Round in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, there are only three animals you can hunt year-round in Illinois. Discover which furbearers can be hunted pretty much any time you want.

Of course, a hunting license and species permit are still required and hunting is closed during the weekends of firearm deer season except for those with unfilled firearm permits.

Hunters must obtain a hunting license and species-specific permit no matter the season or whether or not you are a resident of Illinois.

Nearly any weapon including bows, rifles, shotguns, and even handguns can be used depending on whether you're on public or private property and dogs can be used on private property.

The 3 Animals You Can Hunt Year-Round in Illinois

COYOTE

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According to Hunt Illinois, Coyotes can be hunted at anytime on public or private lands and between November 10 and March 15, they can be hunted 24 hours a day.

Outside of those dates mentioned above, hunting time is restricted to 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Of course, a hunting license and species permit are still required and hunting is closed during the weekends of firearm deer season except for those with unfilled firearm permits.

There’s no limit to the number of coyotes you can bag.

STRIPED SKUNK

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Open season on the smelly, sneaky, nocturnal striped skunk. You can even use your dog to hunt them. However, if you're going to use dogs, they may not go onto private property without the property owner’s permission.

Stock up on tomato juice in case they get sprayed. To my knowledge, tomato juice was the only thing that got the skunk stink of my childhood dog.

The striped skunk may be hunted 24 hours a day between November 10 and March 15, outside of those dates, 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

There is no limit to the number of skunks you can claim each year.

WOODCHUCK (AKA Groundhog)

This animal isn't available to hunt for the entire year but it is available to hunt for most of it. From the beginning of June to the end of March, you can hunt woodchucks.

There’s no limit to the number of woodchucks you can bag.

For more detailed information, visit HuntIllinois.org.