Illinois Hunting Laws
Illinois does not allow ordinary repeating centerfire rifles for deer. Through the 2026 season, legal centerfire long guns are limited to true single-shot rifles (one round total in chamber and magazine combined) of .30 caliber or larger — a three-round capacity takes effect January 1, 2027. Shotguns and muzzleloaders remain the traditional deer options, and suppressors are illegal to possess statewide.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Illinois
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
During gun deer season in counties open to gun deer hunting, hunters must wear a cap plus upper outer garment totaling at least 400 sq in of solid blaze orange or blaze pink.
"he or she wears, when in the field, a cap and upper outer garment of a solid blaze orange color or solid blaze pink color, with such articles of clothing displaying a minimum of 400 square inches of blaze orange or so..." |
520 ILCS 5/2.33(ff) | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Suppressor possession is a criminal offense in Illinois, so hunting with one is not possible.
"Possesses any device or attachment of any kind designed, used or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm" |
720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6) | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer centerfire rifle and handgun cartridges must be .30 caliber (bullet diameter) or larger — bottleneck or straight-wall both qualify.
"a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Bottleneck cartridges are capped at 1.4" case length. Straight-wall .30-cal+ cartridges of any case length also qualify — this cap applies only to bottleneck rounds.
"a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
The factory load must be rated for at least 500 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle.
"both of which must be available as a factory load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Full metal jacket bullets are prohibited for deer.
"Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer." |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handguns need a barrel of at least 4 inches. Revolvers are exempt from the single-shot rule; single-shot pistols must meet the same caliber/case-length/energy rules as rifles.
"The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches." |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer muzzleloaders must be single or double barrel, at least .45 caliber, firing a single projectile.
"A single or double barreled muzzleloading rifle of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least sixteen inches in length" |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(a)(2) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Deer muzzleloader barrels must be at least 16 inches long. | 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(a)(2) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer muzzleloaders may use percussion, wheellock, matchlock, flintlock, or electronic ignition.
"Only percussion (cap or primer), wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or electronic ignition may be used." |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(c)(3) | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer centerfire rifle and handgun cartridges must be .30 caliber (bullet diameter) or larger — bottleneck or straight-wall both qualify.
"a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifles must be true single-shot — one round total between chamber and magazine. This expands to a 3-round capacity starting January 1, 2027 under P.A. 104-627.
"centerfire handguns that are either a single shot or revolver and centerfire rifles that are single shot" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25, as amended by P.A. 104-58, eff. 1-1-26 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Bottleneck cartridges are capped at 1.4" case length. Straight-wall .30-cal+ cartridges of any case length also qualify — this cap applies only to bottleneck rounds.
"a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
The factory load must be rated for at least 500 ft-lb of energy at the muzzle.
"both of which must be available as a factory load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle" |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Full metal jacket bullets are prohibited for deer.
"Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer." |
520 ILCS 5/2.25 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
5 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer shotguns must be slug-only, gauge 10 through 20 (20 gauge is the smallest permitted bore).
"Shotgun, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs" |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(a)(1) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer shotguns can hold no more than 3 slugs (magazine and chamber combined).
"not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs" |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(a)(1) | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shotguns must be gauge 10 through .410 bore.
"It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey except by use of a bow and arrow or a shotgun of not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than .410 bore." |
520 ILCS 5/2.11 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
No. 4 is the largest (i.e. only permitted maximum) shot size for turkey hunting; smaller shot sizes are legal.
"#4 shot is the largest size shot that may be legally used or possessed while turkey hunting" |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 710.30(a)(4) | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game | IDNR requires nontoxic shot for dove and controlled pheasant hunting at a growing but not statewide list of IDNR-owned/-managed sites; check the specific site's regulations before hunting. (Waterfowl nontoxic shot is a separate, statewide federal requirement.) | IDNR press release — site-specific nontoxic shot requirements | Aug 2026 needs review |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Illinois on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
17 Ill. Adm. Code Part 650 — White-Tailed Deer Hunting by Use of Firearms
Illinois General Assembly / Joint Committee on Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
17 Ill. Adm. Code Part 710 — Turkey Hunting
Illinois General Assembly / Joint Committee on Administrative Rules · retrieved August 30, 2026
520 ILCS 5/2.11 — Wildlife Code, turkey hunting weapons
Illinois General Assembly · retrieved August 30, 2026
520 ILCS 5/2.25 — Wildlife Code, deer hunting weapons
Illinois General Assembly · retrieved August 30, 2026
520 ILCS 5/2.33 — Wildlife Code, blaze orange/blaze pink requirement
Illinois General Assembly · retrieved August 30, 2026
720 ILCS 5/24-1 — Criminal Code, Unlawful Use of Weapons
Illinois General Assembly · retrieved August 30, 2026
Non-toxic Shot Requirements in Effect at Additional Illinois Hunting Sites
Illinois Department of Natural Resources · retrieved August 30, 2026
Public Act 104-0627 — amending 520 ILCS 5/2.25 (effective 1/1/2027)
Illinois General Assembly · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Illinois hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Illinois Department of Natural Resources directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.