duck zone · Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Central Zone
Illinois, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Central Zone
Central Zone is a duck zone in Illinois, United States, set by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It covers about 78,225 km² (30,203 mi²). Towns inside it include Springfield, Peoria, Champaign, Bloomington, Decatur and Normal.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Illinois Department of Natural Resources's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for waterfowl.
- Unit code
- Central
- Area
- 78,225 km²
- Area (miles)
- 30,203 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,341 km² of public or protected land inside it, 2% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Department of Natural Resources | 592 | under 1% |
| Private owners (names not shown) | 124 | under 1% |
| Rock Island | 68 | under 1% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 50 | under 1% |
| Camp Ellis Grounds | 36 | under 1% |
| Peoria Park District | 28 | under 1% |
| Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge | 27 | under 1% |
| CHAUTAUQUA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 27 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 465 | under 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Illinois Department of Natural Resources's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| American black duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| American coot | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| American wigeon | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Barrow's goldeneye | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Black scoter | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Blue-winged teal | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Bufflehead | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Canvasback | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Cinnamon teal | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Common goldeneye | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Common merganser | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Gadwall | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Greater scaup | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Green-winged teal | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Harlequin duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Hooded merganser | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| King eider | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Lesser scaup | Oct 31, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Long-tailed duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Mallard | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Northern pintail | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Northern shoveler | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Red-breasted merganser | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Redhead | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Ring-necked duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Ruddy duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Surf scoter | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| White-winged scoter | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Wood duck | Oct 31, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Greater scaup | Nov 15, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| Lesser scaup | Nov 15, 2026 to Dec 13, 2026 | shotgun source |
| American black duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| American coot | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| American wigeon | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Barrow's goldeneye | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Black scoter | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Blue-winged teal | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Bufflehead | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Canvasback | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Cinnamon teal | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Common goldeneye | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Common merganser | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Gadwall | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Greater scaup | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Green-winged teal | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Harlequin duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Hooded merganser | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| King eider | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Lesser scaup | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Long-tailed duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Mallard | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Northern pintail | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Northern shoveler | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Red-breasted merganser | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Redhead | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Ring-necked duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Ruddy duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Surf scoter | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| White-winged scoter | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
| Wood duck | Dec 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | shotgun source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Official regulations: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Special CWD Deer Season counties (CWD deer season area)
- Central Zone (goose zone)
- Late-Winter Antlerless-Only Deer Season counties (late-winter deer season area)
- North Zone (spring turkey zone)
- North Zone (upland game zone)
- Fall shotgun turkey counties (fall gun turkey season area)
- Restricted Archery Zone
- South Zone (upland game zone)
- South Zone (spring turkey zone)
What HuntGrid shows for Central Zone
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Central Zone (duck zone)?
About 78,225 km² (30,203 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Illinois Department of Natural Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Central Zone?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,341 km² of public or protected land, 2% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Central Zone?
This page lists 60 seasons a person has checked against Illinois Department of Natural Resources's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to Central Zone?
In the same unit system: North Zone and South Zone.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Illinois DNR (zone definition); U.S. Census Bureau. Licence: Zone defined in the 2026-2027 Illinois Digest and the federal frameworks; geometry public domain (U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The official regulations and maps have the final word.