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.
Rules checked against Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Illinois
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
1 ruleDeer 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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
Rifle and Handgun
4 rulesDeer 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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
Full metal jacket bullets are prohibited for deer.
"Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer."
520 ILCS 5/2.25 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
Shotgun
5 rulesDeer 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) · verified Aug 2026
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) · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
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) · verified Aug 2026
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.)
"Only U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved non-toxic shot may be possessed for doves on the following areas: Anderson Lake State Conservation Area Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area ..."
17 Ill. Adm. Code 730.20(b)(2) (dove sites); 530.80(g), 530.95(g), 530.110(a)(4) (pheasant/upland sites) · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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.)
"Only U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved non-toxic shot may be possessed for doves on the following areas: Anderson Lake State Conservation Area Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area ..." |
17 Ill. Adm. Code 730.20(b)(2) (dove sites); 530.80(g), 530.95(g), 530.110(a)(4) (pheasant/upland sites) | Oct 2026 |
Handgun
1 ruleDeer 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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 rulesDeer 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) · verified Aug 2026
Deer muzzleloader barrels must be at least 16 inches long.
17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30(a)(2) · verified Aug 2026
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) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
All Weapons
2 rulesDuring 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) · verified Aug 2026
Simply possessing a suppressor in Illinois is a Class 3 felony, so hunting with one is not possible. There is no hunting or sporting exception and no exception for a federally registered suppressor, so neither the $0 federal tax nor ATF's 2026 non-enforcement changes anything here.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when he knowingly: ... (6) 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) and 24-1(b) · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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
|
Simply possessing a suppressor in Illinois is a Class 3 felony, so hunting with one is not possible. There is no hunting or sporting exception and no exception for a federally registered suppressor, so neither the $0 federal tax nor ATF's 2026 non-enforcement changes anything here.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of weapons when he knowingly: ... (6) 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) and 24-1(b) | Oct 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Illinois on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations are the final word.