Turkey Hunting

The Basics

Who can apply:

Any legally licensed hunter who has completed their hunter safety course (if born in 1980 or after) and who complies with all Illinois hunting laws.

• Youth (17 and under) All youth hunters must have a non-hunting supervisor

• 1st-Time Adult (someone who has not hunted turkey in the past five years)

• Adult (any qualified hunter)
   

Please see below for IRAP's application deadlines.

Please do not apply until you have received your 2023 Turkey Permit for one of IRAP's available Spring Turkey seasons.

IRAP has completed its 3rd application lottery. Please see the list of remaining counties/sites below. All sites will now be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

IRAP's FINAL deadline for Youth Season applications was Monday, March 20, 2023.

IRAP's FINAL deadline for 3rd and 4th Season applications is 5pm, Friday, March 24, 2023.

Please check with your local vendor to see if there are remaining OTC permits for the remaining available IRAP county sites below:

To find your local vendor, check the ExploreMoreIL website @

ExploreMore IL - ExploreMore IL - Agent Locator

Where: IRAP has leased 20,000 acres for turkey hunting from private landowners in 41 Illinois counties. Most of the sites are at least 40 acres, and all have been evaluated for turkey activity to provide the highest possibility for a good hunting experience.
 

When: IRAP leases turkey hunting acres for youth season and seasons 3 & 4 only.

         2023 YOUTH season (two weekends - statewide):

• March 25 & 26
• April 1 & 2
  
  2023 THIRD Season:

• April 14 - 19 (south zone)
• April 21 - April 26 (north zone)
  
  2023 FOURTH Season:

• April 20 - April 26 (south zone)
• April 27 - May 3 (north zone)

How it works:

For YOUTH season: Fill out the application linked above and send it to IRAP by Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

Lottery will be held 4 weeks before start of youth season. Successful applicants will receive confirmation from IRAP within 3 weeks of the hunting dates. Once IRAP has confirmed a site, then the youth hunter can purchase an over-the counter youth turkey permit.

For spring season 3 and 4: the applicant must first obtain a county specific turkey permit through the IDNR permit system (lottery). 

Please look at the statewide IRAP turkey site availability map (above) – only certain county sites allow youth and/or adult hunting. Once the applicant receives his or her IDNR turkey permit, they should immediately fill out the IRAP Turkey Online Application linked above.

Hunters MUST fill out a survey after each hunt. Future hunting privileges are dependent on the completion of your survey. For your convenience, an online survey is linked at the top of the page.

Additional Information

If you, the hunter, would like to have an adult mentor accompany you during your hunt, you will need to:

• include them in your IRAP application under the "Adult/Mentor" section
• have them sign a liability waiver
• make sure they do NOT hunt or carry a firearm or bow
• make sure they have a valid hunting license

Hunting sites for seasons 3 & 4 are awarded when a complete application is received from the applicant with a county specific permit number.

Successful applicants will receive a packet of information, including an IRAP parking and site permit, and a map and directions to the site, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the season applied for.

You may apply and hunt up to 3 turkey seasons/sites per year on IRAP property.

You are required to complete a survey about your hunting experience.

The hunter's and the landowner's identity are kept private from one another. We ask that the hunter not come in contact with the landowner, unless necessary.

Additional information on Illinois turkey hunting.