SPRINGFIELD – Illinois turkey hunters harvested a preliminary record total of 18,189 wild turkeys during the 2025 spring turkey season. This year’s total compares with the previous record total of 17,208 turkeys harvested in 2024.
The top five counties for harvest in 2025 were Jo Daviess, 628; Jefferson, 518; Pike, 468; Marion, 428; and Pope, 425.
Local county numbers include: Fulton- 2025: 304 and 2024: 287 Hancock- 2025: 329 and 2024: 290 Henderson-2025:143 and 2024: 153 Knox- 2025: 197 and 2024: 234 McDonough-2025: 114 and 2024: 93 Schuyler-2025: 233 and 2024: 217 Warren- 2025: 79 and 2024: 64 The 2025 total includes the record youth spring turkey season harvest of 2,099 birds, which compares with the previous record of 2,010 birds set in 2024. This year 89,687 permits were sold compared to 86,083 last year.
Spring turkey hunting was open in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties. The 2025 regular season dates were April 7 through May 8 in the south zone and April 14 through May 15 in the north zone. The 2025 youth spring turkey season was March 29-30 and April 5-6 statewide.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is celebrating 100 years of conservation and service to the people of Illinois throughout 2025, established July 1, 1925, as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes.
