2022-2023 Waterfowl Seasons
Illinois waterfowl hunters are reminded of the season dates and bag limits for the 2022–2023 seasons.
Central Zone goes until 1/31/23 and North Zone goes until 1/19/23
The regular seasons include 60-day duck seasons in each of the state’s four waterfowl hunting zones, along with 107 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the North and Central zones (15 days in September, two days of youth hunting and 90 days of “regular” goose season), 96 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the South Central Zone, and 84 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the South Zone. Goose season lengths are shorter in the South Central and South zones to coincide with duck season dates and to match hunter preferences.
The 2022–2023 Illinois season dates are the first year of a five-year plan that was developed in 2020. This year, Illinois will open the regular duck seasons on Oct. 22 in the North Zone, Oct. 29 in the Central Zone.
The daily duck bag limit is six (6) and may include no more than four (4) mallards (two hens), three (3) wood ducks, two (2) redheads, two (2) black ducks, two (2) canvasback, one (1) pintail, and one (1) mottled duck. Scaup (bluebills) will have a bag limit of two (2) for the first 45 days of the season in each zone and one (1) for the last 15 days of the season in each zone. The daily bag limit of mergansers is five (5), only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The possession limit for ducks and mergansers is three times the daily bag limit by species and sex.
During the regular season, Canada goose limits will be three (3) with a possession limit of nine (9).
Illinois waterfowl hunters are reminded of the season dates and bag limits for the 2022–2023 seasons.
Central Zone goes until 1/31/23 and North Zone goes until 1/19/23
The regular seasons include 60-day duck seasons in each of the state’s four waterfowl hunting zones, along with 107 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the North and Central zones (15 days in September, two days of youth hunting and 90 days of “regular” goose season), 96 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the South Central Zone, and 84 days of Canada goose hunting opportunity in the South Zone. Goose season lengths are shorter in the South Central and South zones to coincide with duck season dates and to match hunter preferences.
The 2022–2023 Illinois season dates are the first year of a five-year plan that was developed in 2020. This year, Illinois will open the regular duck seasons on Oct. 22 in the North Zone, Oct. 29 in the Central Zone.
The daily duck bag limit is six (6) and may include no more than four (4) mallards (two hens), three (3) wood ducks, two (2) redheads, two (2) black ducks, two (2) canvasback, one (1) pintail, and one (1) mottled duck. Scaup (bluebills) will have a bag limit of two (2) for the first 45 days of the season in each zone and one (1) for the last 15 days of the season in each zone. The daily bag limit of mergansers is five (5), only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The possession limit for ducks and mergansers is three times the daily bag limit by species and sex.
During the regular season, Canada goose limits will be three (3) with a possession limit of nine (9).