Announcements
Apply now for a Deer Firearm/Muzzleloader Permit!
Rabbits & Squirrels
Season Dates & Limits
| SPECIES | DATES | HOURS | DAILY LIMIT | POSSESSION LIMIT | ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrels (Fox and Gray) | 1 Aug 2022 - 15 Feb 2023; Closed 18-20 Nov and 1-4 Dec 2022 in counties open for firearm deer hunting | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset | 5 | 10 | Some public land sites have more restrictive dates, check site-specific regulations before hunting. On the 2nd day of the hunting season, you may possess no more than twice the daily bag limit |
| Rabbits (Cottontail and Swamp) | 5 Nov 2022 - 15 Feb 2023 | Sunrise to Sunset | 4 | 10 | Some public land sites have more restrictive dates, check site-specific regulations before hunting. On the 2nd day of the hunting season, you may possess no more than twice the daily bag limit |
Licenses & Permits
Licenses & Stamps
- Residents and non-residents will need the following two credentials to hunt rabbits and/or squirrels:
- Hunting license (unless exempt: see Hunting Licenses: Exceptions)
- State Habitat Stamp
- See Licenses/Stamps to find what licenses and stamps you qualify for
- See the Statewide Hunting Regulations for full details on licenses and stamps
- Find your current permits/licenses online
- Correct, replace or reprint permits/licenses online
Permits & Lotteries
- Rabbits
- Use the License Finder to determine what permits you qualify for
- Use the Directory or Hunt Planner to determine what type of permit you need for a given hunting site
- Most IDNR sites do not require a site-specific lottery permit
- Some IDNR sites require a free upland game lottery permit, apply online
- Application dates: 1-31 August annually
- Available to: residents only
- Squirrels
- Does not require separate permit
- Use Hunt Planner to find sites open to squirrel hunting
Season Specific Regulations
Rabbit Season
Species
- Cottontail rabbits
- Swamp rabbits
Can use
- IDNR sites
- Shotgun
- Must use shotgun of gauge 10 or larger (e.g., 12 or 20 gauge)
- Barrel length shall not be less than 18 inches, and the overall length shall not be less than 26 inches
- Must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Any shotgun having a capacity of more than 3 shells must be fitted with a one-piece plug that is irremovable without dismantling the shotgun or otherwise altered to render it incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined
- Note: some IDNR sites require non-toxic shot, such as steel
- Archery
- Vertical compound bow, traditional bows (recurve or longbow) or crossbow
- See the deer or turkey section for details on bow, arrow and arrow point specifications
- Handgun
- Varies by site. Check site rules using the Site Directory or Hunt Planner
- Falconry
- Varies by site, check site rules using the Site Directory or Hunt Planner
- Must abide by blaze orange/pink clothing regulations
- Shotgun
- Private land
- Can use any shotgun, rimfire rifle, muzzleloading rifle, handgun, air rifle, archery or falconry methods allowable under statewide regulations
- Statewide regulations on guns, archery and falconry can be found above and the digest of Statewide Hunting Regulations
Clothing requirements
- IDNR sites
- When hunting rabbits a solid blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat and an upper outer garment displaying at least 400 square inches of blaze orange or blaze pink material must be worn. Camo patterned blaze clothing is not allowed
- Private land
- When hunting rabbits at least a blaze orange or blaze pink cap/hat must be worn. Camo patterned blaze clothing is not allowed
Miscellaneous
- Dogs are legal to use for the entire rabbit hunting season statewide
- Trapping rabbits is illegal
- Be sure to check regulations for the IDNR site(s) you intend to hunt, as some sites have more restrictive regulations on equipment, harvest reporting, etc. You can find site-specific regulations using the Directory or Hunt Planner
- Some IDNR sites require rabbit hunters to have a lottery-based Upland Game Permit. The upland game permit zone map can be accessed below
- See the Statewide Hunting Regulations for full details of rabbit hunting requirements
- Pertinent Administrative Rules: 510, 530
Upland Game Zones Map
Map applies to rabbit hunting on IDNR sites via a lottery-based upland game permit. Map does not apply to any other lands that allow rabbit hunting.
Squirrel Season
Species
- Gray squirrel
- Fox squirrel
Can use
- IDNR sites
- Shotgun
- Must use shotgun of gauge 10 or larger (e.g., 12 or 20 gauge)
- Barrel length shall not be less than 18 inches, and the overall length shall not be less than 26 inches
- Must not be capable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Any shotgun having a capacity of more than 3 shells must be fitted with a one-piece plug that is irremovable without dismantling the shotgun or otherwise altered to render it incapable of holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined
- Note: some IDNR sites require non-toxic shot, such as steel
- Archery
- Vertical compound bow, traditional bows (recurve or longbow) or crossbow
- See the deer or turkey section for details on bow, arrow and arrow point specifications
- Rifle
- Varies by site. Check site rules using the Site Directory or Hunt Planner
- Some sites allow muzzleloader, .22 caliber or smaller rimfire rifle and/or .25 caliber or smaller air rifle
- Handgun
- Varies by site. Check site rules using the Site Directory or Hunt Planner
- Falconry
- Varies by site, check site rules using the Site Directory or Hunt Planner
- Must abide by blaze orange/pink clothing regulations
- Shotgun
- Private land
- Can use any shotgun, rimfire rifle, muzzleloading rifle, handgun, air rifle, archery or falconry methods allowable under statewide regulations
- Statewide regulations on guns, archery and falconry can be found above and the digest of Statewide Hunting Regulations
Clothing requirements
- No clothing requirements to hunt squirrels on public or private lands, unless simultaneously hunting other species that require blaze orange/pink clothing
Miscellaneous
- Dogs are legal to use the entire squirrel hunting season statewide
- Trapping squirrels is illegal
- Be sure to check regulations for the IDNR site(s) you intend to hunt, as some sites have more restrictive regulations on equipment, harvest reporting, etc. You can find site-specific regulations using the Directory or Hunt Planner
- See the Statewide Hunting Regulations for full details of squirrel hunting requirements
- Pertinent Administrative Rules: 510, 690
Management & Ecology
- Rabbits are managed by the Grassland Wildlife Management Program and squirrels are managed by the Forest Wildlife Management Program in the IDNR Division of Wildlife
- Rabbit ID and Ecology
- Squirrel ID and Ecology
Harvest Data and Surveys
- Illinois Public Hunting Areas Report: 2021-2022 Wildlife Harvest
- Harvest data (2015-2019)
- Harvest data & reports (prior to 2015; PDFs)
- Hunter surveys