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2026 Youth Goose Hunt
Youth interested in participating in the annual Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), can register now for the hunt, which is scheduled for January 19, 2026.
The youth goose hunt will be held at private waterfowl hunting clubs in the Canton area in Fulton County, and hunters selected to participate will be pre-assigned to hunting locations. All youth applicants will be submitted into the lottery drawing with first time applicants being given a priority over previous participants. All registrants will be contacted via their email address they provided around the first week of January.
The hunt is open to youth ages 10-17 at the time of the hunt. All applicants must possess a valid Illinois hunting or sportsman’s license, have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number, and have a 20 gauge or larger shotgun. Youth hunt participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who must possess a valid firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card. Youth participating in the hunt that are 16- and 17-years old need federal waterfowl stamps. Please review the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations prior to hunting.
For more information call Gavin Keefauver at (217) 524-9179 or Joe Robinson at (217) 785-8060.
