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IDNR revises waterfowl zone

Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM

By Steve Anderson

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has announced the revision of the South Zone waterfowl season hunting dates. They are based on the input received from hunters across the zone area, which includes Lawrence County.

Under the revised plan in 2026, the South Zone season will commence in mid-November, run for 23 days, then have a 12-day break or "split". The season will then restart in mid-December and run for an additional 37 days. The revised plan will accommodate hunters' concerns about families and youth having the opportunity to hunt over holiday breaks. 

In addition. the INDR will host a youth hunt day at the end of the South Zone season in late January as a pilot program.

Season dates and zone lines for the 2025-26 hunting season can be found at the IDNR's current hunting and trapping digest or on the Hunt Illinois website.