Illinois Hunters Harvest 257 Wild Turkeys
Preliminary state totals from the nine-day 2026 fall firearm season show a slight increase over the prior year's harvest.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hunting
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Illinois hunters harvested 257 wild turkeys during the 2026 fall firearm season, according to preliminary figures from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. That is up from 255 birds harvested during the 2025 season.
Why it matters
The harvest totals offer a measure of turkey hunting activity across Illinois and help wildlife managers track the state's turkey population year to year. Hunter participation, reflected in permit sales, also rose compared with 2025.
The 2026 statewide harvest included 138 female birds, 116 male birds and three of unknown sex, with Jo Daviess County leading all counties at 21 turkeys. Permit sales rose to 1,911 from 1,763 a year earlier, though the 2026 totals remain preliminary.
The players
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife, fisheries and public lands, and it compiles the annual turkey harvest data.
The details
Hunters in Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike counties combined to harvest 11 turkeys in both 2025 and 2026, with individual county totals shifting in both directions. Pike County fell to three birds from eight, while Brown County rose to four from two.
Timeline
Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, 2026: The nine-day fall firearm turkey season ran statewide.
2025 fall firearm season: Hunters took 255 wild turkeys statewide, the prior-year benchmark.
Season Trajectory
The 2026 harvest of 257 birds edges up from 255 in 2025, extending a roughly flat pattern in the statewide turkey take. Rising permit sales suggest steady hunter interest even as the harvest itself has held near the same level.
Illinois hunters considering a future spring or fall turkey season can use these harvest numbers to gauge where birds have been taken in recent years. Counties with stable or rising harvests may offer more consistent opportunities for hunters planning trips.
The takeaway
Turkey harvest totals are a useful snapshot of hunting activity, but they reflect one season and should be read alongside permit and county data. Hunters planning a trip can check current season dates and county results before heading out.
Further reading
For more on seasons and regulations, explore Hunting coverage across the state.
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