Springfield, IL – Illinois turkey hunters set a new state record this spring with a harvest of 18,189 wild turkeys during the 2025 season, surpassing the previous high of 17,208 set just last year.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the season included a record-breaking youth turkey hunt, which accounted for 2,099 birds — topping the previous youth record of 2,010 from 2024. The top counties for turkey harvest in 2025 were Jo Daviess (628), Jefferson (518), Pike (468), Marion (428), and Pope (425).
The 2025 spring turkey season ran from April 7 through May 8 in the south zone and April 14 through May 15 in the north zone. The youth hunting season occurred statewide on March 29-30 and April 5-6. This year also saw a boost in permit sales, with 89,687 permits issued compared to 86,083 last year.
Turkey hunting was open in 100 of the state’s 102 counties. Several counties saw notable increases over last year’s totals, including Pike County, which jumped from 381 turkeys in 2024 to 468 this year, and Macoupin County, which saw an increase from 283 to 350.
The 2025 spring season continues a trend of growing participation and success in Illinois’ turkey hunting community. The increase in harvested turkeys reflects ongoing habitat management and conservation efforts spearheaded by the IDNR, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
More information on turkey hunting regulations, conservation programs, and IDNR services can be found at dnr.illinois.gov.
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