Illinois
Department of Natural Resources
Statewide Deer Hunting Information
The following are excerpts from "Digest of
Hunting & Trapping Regulations 2002-2003",
please check the
2003-04 Hunting Digest for any changes.)
Illinois DEER HUNTING REGULATIONS
In addition to statewide regulations, the following regulations
apply to all deer hunters:
Nonresident Requirements
Nonresident deer hunters must purchase a nonresident hunting
license in addition to their valid deer permit and State Habitat
Stamp. Nonresident hunters may purchase either the annual
license ($50.75) or the 5-day license ($28.75) depending on the
amount of time they will be hunting.
Illinois Deer Permit, Tagging and
Transportation Requirements
It is unlawful to:
• hunt deer without a permit from the Department.
• hunt deer UNLESS the permit is
properly signed and is in the hunter's possession while hunting.
• take an antlered deer with an antlerless-only
permit, or an antlerless deer with an antlered-only deer permit.
NOTE: An antlered deer is defined as a deer having at
least one antler of a length of three inches or more. An
antlerless deer is defined as a deer without antlers or a deer
having
antlers less than three inches long.
• have in your possession, while in the field
during deer season, any deer permit issued to another person.
• hunt deer in a county or area other than
specified on the permit.
• move, transport or field dress a deer upon
kill before attaching and properly sealing the temporary harvest
tag portion of the permit. The temporary harvest tag should be
attached around the base of the antler of antlered deer and
attached to the leg of antlerless deer. NOTE: Deer must
be tagged immediately upon kill.
• deliver a deer head/antlers to a taxidermist
for processing without the temporary harvest
tag portion of the permit. The temporary harvest tag must be
kept with the head/antlers while at the taxidermist.
• deliver a deer/parts of deer to a meat
processor without the plastic leg tag which is affixed at the
check station. This plastic leg tag must remain attached to the
leg of the deer until it is processed, then must remain with the
processed deer until it is at the legal residence of the person
who legally took or possessed the deer.
• deliver a deer/parts of deer to a tanner for
processing without supplying the tanner with
their deer permit number to verify lawful acquisition. In the
absence of a permit number, the tanner may rely on the written
certification of the person from whom the deer was received that
the specimen was legally taken or obtained. NOTE:
Additional deer hunting regulations are available upon receipt
of permit.
White Deer Protected
It is unlawful to take any all-white white-tailed
deer at any time.
Sidearms and Rifle Regulations
It is unlawful to:
• have in possession any other firearm or handgun when hunting
deer with a shot-gun, muzzleloader or bow and arrow. However,
more than one firearm may be possessed by a deer hunter provided
it is a lawful gun for that particular season.
• possess any rifle in the field during gun
deer season except muzzleloading rifles used by deer hunters
only. NOTE: The lawful possession of rifles to take
furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer shall not be
prohibited during the muzzleloading rifle-only deer season (Dec.
13-15, 2002) and handgun deer season (Jan. 17-19, 2003).
Hunting Deer with Dogs, Horses, Vehicles,
Boats and Aircraft
It is unlawful to use a dog, horse, automobile,
aircraft, boat or other vehicle to take deer with a firearm or
bow and arrow.
Hunting Deer Over Salt or Bait
It is unlawful to take deer by using salt or other
kind of bait. NOTE: An area is considered as baited
during the presence of and for 10 consecutive days following the
removal of bait.
Deer Bag Limit
It is unlawful to kill more than one deer per
permit during the bow season or one deer per permit during the
gun seasons. No hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of
permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than 2 antlered
deer during a year, including the archery, muzzleloading, and
firearm seasons. For the purpose of this bag limit, deer seasons
are considered to be in the same year if their opening dates are
within the same 12-month period that begins July 1. In addition,
no hunter may harvest more than 2 deer in the Restricted Archery
Zone during the archery deer season.
Gun and Bow Requirements during Non-Hunting
Hours
It is unlawful to carry a loaded gun or a bow with
a nocked arrow in the field except during
legal hunting hours. NOTE: For rules on transporting guns
and bow and arrow devices in
vehicles, refer to "2002-03 Hunting Digest" page 8.
Driving Deer on State-Controlled Properties
It is unlawful to drive deer, or participate in a
deer drive, on all Department-owned or -managed properties
during all gun seasons (firearm, muzzleloader, and handgun).
FIREARM DEER HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION
Legal Firearms
Shotguns, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 gauge
nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3
consecutive slugs and muzzleloaders (as described in "2002-03
Hunting Digest" under the Muzzleloading Rifle Deer Hunting
Season Information, page 11).
Buckshot and birdshot are illegal.
Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements
It is unlawful to hunt deer with any firearm when
not wearing a solid blaze orange cap or hat and an upper outer
garment displaying at least 400 square inches of solid blaze
orange material.
Check Station Requirements
By law, firearm deer hunters must take their deer either whole
or field-dressed to the check station in the county in which it
was killed, or the closest check station, on the same day it was
taken. Firearm deer hunters may not quarter their deer prior to
checking it in. Daily check station hours shall be 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. The location of deer check stations will be provided on the
information sheet provided with the permit. If a hunter is not
able to locate a harvested deer in sufficient time to enable
checking the deer by 8:00 p.m., the hunter must take the deer to
the appropriate check station upon its opening (8:00 a.m.) the
following morning, or immediately upon retrieving it if that
occurs later than the opening of the check station. If this
situation
occurs on a Sunday (e.g., the check station will not be open on
Monday), the hunter must
contact the appropriate regional IDNR Law Enforcement Office by
10:00 a.m. Monday morning for instructions on checking in the
deer.
Permit Applications
Everyone who applied for a firearm deer hunting permit last year
will receive an application in the mail. To receive application
forms for a firearm deer hunting permit, please contact your
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Regional Office or call
the Permit Office in Springfield at 217/782-7305.
Permit Application Periods
First Lottery - Residents: The first lottery period for
residents of Illinois to apply for regular
firearm or muzzleloading deer permits typically occurs during
the month of April each year. Hunters may apply only for firearm
season permits or special muzzleloader season
permits during the lottery – they cannot apply for both seasons
at this time. Only one
either-sex and one bonus antlerless-only permit can be applied
for during this lottery.
Permits are issued using a computerized lottery, and successful
applicants receive their
permits in July.
Second Lottery - Nonresidents/Residents:
Individuals who were rejected for a deer permit during the first
lottery, who are applying for their first permit, or who are
non-residents may apply for firearm or muzzle-loader deer
permits through August 14th. Applicants may apply for one
either-sex deer permit and one bonus antlerless-only deer permit
to be allocated from
permits remaining after the first lottery. Illinois residents
have preference over nonresidents in this lottery.
Random Daily Drawing: Residents and
nonresidents may apply beginning September 1 for additional
firearm or muzzleloader permits left over from the county
quotas. Last date to apply is November 7. Hunters are
encouraged to apply early, because drawings are conducted from
the pool of permits received each day.
Permit Limit
No hunter may receive, or attempt to receive, more than one
either-sex permit and one antlerless-only prior to the Random
Daily Drawing in September. Permits remaining
after the lotteries are issued by the random daily drawing until
the county permit quotas
are exhausted.
MUZZLELOADING RIFLE DEER HUNTING SEASON
INFORMATION
Legal Muzzleloading Rifles
A legal muzzleloading rifle is a single or double barreled
muzzleloading firearm of at
least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel
of at least 16 inches in length. A muzzleloading firearm is
defined as a blackpowder firearm that is incapable of being
loaded from the breech end. Percussion cap, wheellock,
matchlock, or flint type ignition systems may be used. Shotgun
primers are legal percussion caps. Minimum bullet or ball size
is .44 caliber. A wad or sleeve (sabot) is not considered part
of the bullet or ball. Only black powder or a "black powder
substitute" such as Pyrodex may be used. Modern smokeless
powders (nitrocellu-lose-based) do not qualify as a "black
powder substitute." Non-expanding, military-style full metal
jacket bullets cannot be used to harvest white-tailed deer; only
soft point or expanding bullets (including copper/copper alloy
rounds designed for hunting) are legal ammunition.
Definition of an unloaded muzzleloading
firearm: removal of percussion cap; or removal of prime powder
from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way down;
or removal of prime powder from flash-pan and wheel unwound; or
removal of prime powder with match not lit.
Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements
It is unlawful to hunt deer with any firearm when not wearing a
solid blaze orange cap or hat and an upper outer garment
displaying at least 400 square inches of solid blaze orange
material.
Check Station Requirements
By law, hunters must check their deer at the county deer check
station within 48 hours. However, hunters who use their
muzzleloading permit during the second weekend of the firearm
deer season are required to follow check station requirements
established for the firearm deer season. The location and hours
of deer check stations will be provided on the information sheet
received with the permit.
Permit Applications
Everyone who applied for a muzzleloading rifle deer hunting
permit last year will receive an application in the mail. To
receive application forms for a muzzleloading rifle deer hunting
permit, please contact your Illinois Department of Natural
Resources Regional Office or call the Permit Office in
Springfield at 217/782-7305.
Permit Application Periods
The application periods for muzzleloading rifle deer permits are
the same as for the firearm deer permits.
Permit Limit
No hunter may receive, or attempt to receive, more than one
either-sex permit and one antlerless-only prior to the Random
Daily Drawing in September. Permits remaining after the
lotteries are issued by the random daily drawing until the
county permit quotas are filled.
ARCHERY DEER HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION
Archery Deer Hunting Restricted Zone
A special deer hunting restricted archery zone remains in
effect, consisting of Champaign, DeWitt, Macon, Moultrie, and
Piatt counties. In this zone, only antlered deer may be
harvested during the period October 1, 2002 through October 31,
2002. An antlered deer is defined as having at least one antler
that is three inches or more in length. After October 31,
antlered or antlerless deer may be taken. No hunter may harvest
more than two deer in the 5-county Restricted Archery Zone
during the archery season.
Legal Archery Equipment
A long, recurve, or compound bow with a minimum pull of 40
pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length
is 20 inches, and broadheads must be used. Broadheads may have
fixed or expandable blades, but they must be barbless and have a
minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with
fixed blades must be metal or flint-, chert-, or
obsidian-knapped; broadheads with expandable blades must be
metal. A crossbow, or any mechanical device capable of
maintaining a drawn or partially drawn position on a bow without
the hunter exerting full string tension, is illegal. Permanently
handicapped persons, as defined by law (520 ILCS 5/2.33), may
apply to the IDNR's Office of Law Enforcement for an exemption
to allow the use of a crossbow. A physician's certification is
required.
Blaze Orange Clothing Requirements
On those Department-owned or -managed sites that allow archery
deer hunting during the gun deer season, archers must comply
with the same blaze orange requirements as the gun deer hunters.
During the muzzleloader-only deer season and the youth deer
hunting season, archery deer hunters must comply with the
requirements to wear blaze orange in counties open to
muzzleloading deer hunting and youth hunting.
Check Station Requirements
It is unlawful to harvest a deer by bow and arrow
without checking it in within 48 hours to a county archery check
station. The location and hours of deer check stations will be
provided on the information sheet included with the permit.
During the archery season, it is permissible to quarter the deer
carcass prior to checking it in, so long as all parts of the
carcass (except the entrails removed during field dressing) are
transported together, and the carcass is tagged in the
appropriate location. However, it is illegal to possess or
transport a deer carcass, prior to checking it in, without
evidence of sex naturally attached. If the carcass is quartered,
evidence of sex only needs to be attached to one quarter or
another major part of the carcass. Evidence of sex is:
1. For a buck: head with antlers attached to carcass, or
attached testicle, scrotum, or penis.
2. For a doe: head attached to carcass, or attached udder
(mammary) or vulva.
Resident Permit Applications and Limits
Resident combination archery deer permits can be purchased from
your local hunting license vendor. There is no limit to the
number of resident combination Archery Deer permits that an
individual may purchase. Application forms for a single
either-sex archery deer permit are also available at license
vendors. Each hunter is limited to one of the either-sex permits
issued from the Springfield Permit Office per season.
Nonresident Permits and Limits
The new nonresident archery deer permit fee will be $226.00
plus a processing fee. This permit includes an either-sex and an
antlerless-only permit. Nonresident deer hunters must also
purchase a nonresident hunting license in addition to their
permit and Habitat Stamp.
Nonresident archery deer hunters are limited
to one archery deer permit for the 2002 hunting season. These
permits are not available at hunting license vendors. A limited
number of nonresident archery deer permits will be available via
telephone using a credit card (at 1-888-6-PERMIT
(1-888-673-7648)). Habitat stamps and hunting licenses are also
available to the caller, who should have their Hunter Safety
Certificate number on hand if born after January 1, 1980.
Applicants must also supply their Social Security and drivers
license numbers. Any permits remaining unsold as of September 3,
2002 will be available from seven Illinois Department of Natural
Resources offices until sold out. These offices are located in
Sterling, Spring Grove, Champaign, Alton, Benton, Springfield,
and Chicago.
HANDGUN DEER HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION
Opening Counties to Hunting
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will announce in
October the counties that will be open to handgun deer hunting.
Counties cannot be opened to handgun deer hunting until it is
determined that a surplus number of deer exist in a given
county.
Legal Handgun Equipment and Restrictions
Centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum
barrel length of 4 inches, and single-shot muzzleloading
handguns (black-powder handguns that are incapable of being
loaded from the breech end) of .50 caliber or larger capable of
producing at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle
according to published ballistic tables from the manufacturer.
Semi-automatic handguns, or handguns altered to allow for
shoulder firing, are not permitted. Centerfire handgun
ammunition must be .30 caliber or larger, with a case length not
to exceed 1.4 inches, and available as a factory load with the
published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a
capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.
Single-shot muzzleloading handguns must use a projectile of .44
caliber or larger with sufficient black powder or "blackpowder
substitute" (such as Pyrodex) to produce at least 500 foot
pounds of energy at the muzzle. Modern smokeless powders (nitrocellu-lose-based)
do not qualify as a "black powder substitute." Non-expanding
military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to
harvest white-tailed deer; only soft-point or expanding bullets
(including copper/copper alloy rounds designed for hunting) are
legal ammunition.
It is unlawful to use or possess
any other firearm or ammunition than listed above while hunting
deer with a handgun during the hand-gun deer season.
Permit Applications
Everyone who applied for a handgun deer permit last year will
receive an application in the mail. To receive application forms
for a handgun deer hunting permit, please contact your Illinois
Department of Natural Resources Regional Office or call the
Permit Office in Springfield at 217/782-7305.
Permit Requirements and Application Periods
Resident hunters who will be at least 18 years of age by the
opening date of the hand-gun season may apply mid-October
through November 14 for a single antlerless-only handgun deer
permit to be allocated by lottery. There are no subsequent
drawing periods for the handgun season.
Check Station Requirements
It is unlawful to harvest a deer by handgun without checking it
in within 48 hours to a county archery check station. The
location and hours of deer check stations will be provided on
the information sheet provided with the permit.
YOUTH DEER HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION
Antlerless only youth deer hunt, Oct. 12-13, 2002. $10 fee.
Youths must be less than 16 years old by October 13, 2002. Youth
must be accompanied by adult. Application dates and open
counties will be publicly announced.
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