10/22/2026
November 14 at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. Apply for permits below!
Lots of exciting opportunities for youth hunters!
Youth between the ages of 10 and 17 can apply now for upcoming youth wingshooting clinics and pheasant hunts scheduled at multiple Illinois state sites this fall, including:
➡️ Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area in Will County on Saturday, Oct. 24.
➡️Edward R Madigan State Park in Logan County on Saturday, Oct. 24.
➡️Johnson Sauk Trail State Recreation Area in Henry County on Saturday, Oct. 24.
➡️Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in DeWitt County on Saturday, Oct. 31.
➡️Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area in Clinton County on Saturday, Oct. 31.
➡️Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Tazewell County on Saturday, Oct. 31.
➡️Iroquois County State Wildlife Area in Iroquois County on Saturday, Nov. 7.
➡️Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area in Cass County on Saturday, Nov. 7.
➡️ Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area in Franklin County on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Young hunters (defined as being between 10–17 years old) will participate in a clinic in the morning taught by INDR/NSCA certified wingshooting instructors. Participants will practice safe sh***un handling and operation while advancing their wingshooting skills. A pheasant hunt will take place in the afternoon. To participate, young hunters must be permitted through the Illinois DNR Controlled Pheasant Hunting “Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunts” application process for the desired site, have a valid hunting license, and must have successfully completed an approved hunter safety course. These clinic/pheasant hunts do not satisfy Illinois hunter safety education certification requirements. Youth permittees for these events must participate in the morning wingshooting clinic.
Apply for permits at: https://dnr2.illinois.gov/PheasantHunt/ApplyYFCFS.aspx