IDNR Revises South Zone Waterfowl Season Dates (Springfield, IL) – Illinois waterfowl hunters in the state’s South Zone will see changes to season dates beginning in 2026, following revisions announced by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
IDNR said the updated season structure for the South Zone, which will be in effect from 2026 through 2030, reflects feedback gathered from waterfowl hunters during the public input process.
Under the revised plan, the South Zone waterfowl season will open in mid-November and run for 23 days, followed by a 12-day break, commonly referred to as a “split.” The season will then resume in mid-December and continue for an additional 37 days.
IDNR officials said the revised split is intended to better align with family schedules and school holidays, addressing concerns from hunters who said the previous structure limited opportunities for families and youth to hunt together during holiday breaks.
In addition to the schedule changes, IDNR will introduce a youth hunt day at the end of the South Zone season in late January. The youth hunt will be offered as a pilot program to evaluate participation and interest.
The revised dates coincide with a broader change to Illinois’ waterfowl zoning. Beginning in 2026, the state will operate under a three-zone structure, with the South and South-Central zones combined into a single South Zone. Illinois previously used four waterfowl hunting zones.
Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations, states are required to establish waterfowl zone boundaries for five-year periods. As a result, the updated zone lines and season dates will remain in place through the 2030 waterfowl season.
Maps showing the new waterfowl zone boundaries and season dates for each zone for the 2026–2030 seasons are available on the IDNR website. Information for the upcoming 2025–2026 hunting season, including current zone lines and dates, can be found in IDNR’s hunting and trapping digest or through the Hunt Illinois website.
The announcement comes as IDNR marks its 100th year of conservation and service to Illinois residents. Established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, the agency today oversees nearly 400 sites statewide, including state parks, wildlife areas, historic sites, and a wide range of natural resource programs.
IDNR Revises South Zone Waterfowl Season Dates
