Section 710.20  Statewide Turkey Permit Requirements

 

a)         All turkey hunters must have a current, valid Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Permit.  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident turkey permit.  All hunters, except those exempted by Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.1] are also required to obtain a hunting license before hunting wild turkey.  Fees for spring turkey permits are as follows:

 

1)         Permits issued via lottery by Permit Office:

Illinois Resident lottery permit − $15

Nonresident lottery permit − $125

 

2)         Over-the-Counter (OTC) Permits sold by license vendors pursuant to subsection (g); all prices include vendor's issuing fee:

Illinois Resident OTC Permit – $15.50

Nonresident OTC Permit − $125.50

 

b)         Permits are issued for a specific county or area and are valid only in the county or area designated on the permit.  Applications for wild turkey permits shall be completed and submitted by visiting one of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' DNR license vendors, by applying on-line at www.dnr.illinois.gov or by writing to:

 

Department of Natural Resources – Spring Turkey

One Natural Resources Way

P.O. Box 19446

Springfield, Illinois  62794-9446

 

c)         Applicants must supply all information necessary to complete the application.  Incomplete applications will be rejected and fees returned.  Each applicant must submit payment for his/her individual application at the time of application.  Permits are allocated via computerized lottery drawings held in Springfield, Illinois.  Permits are not transferable.  For the purpose of this Section, transfer means the modification or changing, by the Department or any other person, individual or group, of the name or the location on an issued permit to another person or location.

 

d)         Applications from Illinois residents will be accepted through December 1 for the First Lottery Drawing.  Applicants for the First Lottery Drawing that have applied for or already are in possession of a valid landowner permit are not eligible to apply for the First Lottery Drawing.  Applications received in the permit office after December 1 will be included in the next computerized drawing.  Applicants rejected in this drawing will receive preference in the next year's drawing for spring season permits subject to guidelines outlined in subsection (h).  Only one application may be submitted per applicant for the First Lottery Drawing.

 

e)         Permits not issued during the First Lottery Drawing will be available in a Second Lottery Drawing.  Applications for this drawing will be accepted through the first working day after January 10.  Applications received after this date will be included in the next drawing.  All hunters are eligible to apply for permits remaining for this Second Lottery Drawing, but hunters who have not already been awarded a permit will receive preference in the Second Lottery Drawing.  Only one application may be submitted per applicant for the Second Lottery Drawing. 

 

f)         Permits not issued during the first two lottery drawings will be available in the Third Lottery Drawing.  Applications for this Third Lottery Drawing will be accepted through the first working day after February 8.  Applications received after this date will be rejected and fees refunded.  Applicants may submit up to three applications for the Third Lottery Drawing.  No applicant may receive more than three permits in total for spring turkey hunting, including lottery drawn, OTC, youth and landowner permits.

 

g)         Permits remaining after the Third Lottery Drawing will be available OTC from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) beginning the second Tuesday in March on a first-come, first-served basis.  Permits will be sold until quotas are exhausted, or until the close of the specific turkey season segment (i.e., of seasons 1 through 5) in the Zone (north vs. south) for which the permit is being requested.  Hunters may purchase one or more permits during this period, subject to availability, except that no one may exceed the limit of three permits in total for spring turkey hunting, including lottery drawn, OTC, youth and landowner permits.

 

h)         The following criteria must be met to obtain preference in the first computerized drawing:

 

1)         The applicant must apply using the official agency application.

 

2)         The applicant must be a resident of the State, be eligible to receive a spring turkey permit, and not had turkey hunting privileges revoked.

 

3)         The applicant must apply for the same county and season choices which he/she listed on the previous year's application.  Preference will not be granted for special hunt areas as listed in Section 710.25 or for permit areas listed in Section 710.50(c).

 

i)          A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department.

 

j)          The periods for accepting applications for the lotteries may be extended if applications are not available to the public by November 1.  A news release will announce the extension of the application periods.

 

k)         It shall be unlawful to:

 

1)         Submit applications before the second computerized lottery drawing for more than one permit for the same person.

 

2)         Submit applications before the third computerized lottery drawing for more than two permits for the same person.

 

3)         Apply for or receive more than three permits for the spring turkey season. The three-permit total includes lottery drawn, OTC, youth and landowner permits.

 

4)         Provide false and/or deceptive information on a permit application form.  In addition to criminal charges, individuals found guilty of violating this Section shall have their applications rejected, permit revoked, and fees forfeited.  Rejection, revocation and forfeiture is subject to the notice and hearing requirements set out in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2530.

 

l)          Refunds and Cancellations

 

1)         A refund shall be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted, or for an application that has been submitted, under the following circumstances:

 

A)        The State managed or owned site for which the permit was issued was closed due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration or any other emergency circumstance that resulted in the Department closing access to the hunting site, park or area.  Issued permits shall be cancelled by the Department.  This subsection (l) shall include, but is not limited to, closure of State parks, fish and wildlife areas, and recreation areas by the Department as a response to the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations regarding COVID-19 or Department closures reflecting those proclamations or orders;

 

B)        The applicant for a permit was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit in the lottery for which the applicant applied; or

 

C)        Upon the request of the permit holder, a permit was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor or the applicant.  The permit that was issued in error and the request for a refund must be delivered to the Department before the last day of the season listed on the permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received by the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois or postmarked before the last day of the season listed on the permit; or

 

D)        Upon the return of an issued permit to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the issued permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received by the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (l)(1)(D) if the permit is returned or postmarked after the first day of the season listed on the permit.

 

2)         A permit shall be cancelled if a refund is approved pursuant to subsection (l)(1)(A), (C) or (D).  Once a permit has been cancelled, the cancelled permit shall not count towards the total number of permits that an applicant may obtain for the Spring Turkey Hunting Season.

 

3)         Upon the request of a permit holder, a refund may be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted under the following circumstances:

 

A)        A medical condition or death of the permit holder that prevented the permit holder from hunting.  A death certificate or medical documentation showing that the permit holder was unable to or advised not to hunt may be required by the Department before any refund is issued.  Requests must be made within 90 days after the start of the season that the permit was issued for and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refunds shall be issued under this subsection if the request or permit is delivered to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois or postmarked 90 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

 

B)        The permit holder was unable to travel or use the permit that was issued to him or her due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration that resulted in a danger to the health or safety of the permit holder had they attempted to use the issued permit.  Requests must be made within 60 days after the start of the season for which the permit was issued and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (l)(3)(B) if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked 60 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit. 

 

C)        A permit holder choosing not to, or being unable to, use the issued spring turkey hunting permit due to the COVID-19 Gubernatorial Proclamations.  Requests for refunds on the basis of the COVID-19 disaster period must include the unused issued permit.  The request for refund must be submitted to, and the unused permit that was issued for a spring turkey hunting season during the COVID-19 disaster period must be returned to, the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois or postmarked on or before December 1, 2020.  No refund shall be issued on this basis if the request and issued unused permit is received or postmarked after December 1, 2020.

 

D)        A permit that was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor, or the applicant, if the permit is returned to the Department before the last day of the season for which the permit was issued.

 

m)        Group Hunt Application Requirements

 

1)         Up to six individuals may apply to hunt as a group during the First and Second Lottery Drawings.  Group hunt applications will not be accepted for the Third Lottery as all applications in that lottery will be processed individually.

 

2)         Each individual must sign his or her own paper application.

 

3)         Groups must identify a group leader, and all applicants must list the same group leader in their submitted application.  For online applications, the group leader customer ID number must be included on all group members' applications.

 

4)         Groups must list the same county or special hunt area of choice and complete, in an identical fashion, all options regarding hunting locations and the season choices.  This does not include the personal identification information of the applicant or type of permit.

 

5)         In order to receive preference for the group hunt, all members must have the same county of choice.  If any member does not designate the group's county of choice, the entire group will not receive preference.

 

6)         Applicants applying as a group will be rejected if any member does not list the identical information as all other members of the applicant group, other than the applicant's personal identification information.

 

7)         Group applications will be accepted for the First Lottery Drawing. Only one application per hunter will be accepted. All members of the group must be Illinois residents.

 

8)         Group applications will be accepted for the Second Lottery Drawing. Only one application per hunter will be accepted.

 

9)         Since applicants that have not been awarded a permit are given preference for permits allocated in the Second Lottery Drawing, groups containing both applicants that have not been awarded a permit and applicants that have been awarded a permit will not receive preference in the Second Lottery Drawing.

 

10)        Providing false information on an application is a violation of 520 ILCS 5/2.38.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 14137, effective August 20, 2020)

 

Section 710.21  Turkey Permit Requirements − Special Hunts (Renumbered)

 

(Source:  Renumbered to Section 710.25 at 18 Ill. Reg. 1156, effective January 18, 1994)

 

Section 710.22  Turkey Permit Requirements − Landowner/Tenant Permits

 

Requirements and procedures for obtaining landowner/tenant permits are provided in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 528.

 

(Source:  Amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 8727, effective June 28, 2017)

 

Section 710.25  Turkey Permit Requirements – Special Hunts

 

a)         Special hunt sites are defined as those sites that are owned or controlled by agencies/entities other than the Department, or sites at which the Department only controls a portion of the property designated for turkey hunting, which issue turkey hunting permits through the statewide lottery process.  The Permit Office issues turkey hunting permits through a computerized drawing for sites listed below, in addition to the Department-owned or -managed sites listed in Section 710.50(c).

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (check-in and check-out required at Visitor Information Center, windshield card required, area closed ˝ hour after sunset to 1˝ hours before sunrise, scouting allowed after noon including the afternoon of the day prior to the permitted hunting season)

 

Joliet Army Training Area (Will County) (check-in and check-out required at central check station; an additional turkey permit must be purchased from the Joliet Army Training Area)

 

Lake Shelbyville Project – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Moultrie County

 

Lake Shelbyville Project – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Shelby County

 

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (an additional site hunting pass required; check-in, check-out and reporting of harvest required)

 

b)         Each applicant must enclose a separate fee (check or money order) payable to the Department of Natural Resources, or the application will be returned. Applicants should not send cash with their applications.  The Department will not be responsible for cash sent through the mail.

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 3705, effective February 16, 2011)

 

Section 710.28  Turkey Permit Requirement − Heritage Youth Turkey Hunt (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 24 Ill. Reg. 17778, effective November 27, 2000)

 

Section 710.30  Turkey Hunting Regulations

 

a)         It is unlawful: 

 

1)         to use live or electronic turkey decoys, recorded calls, dogs, or bait (an area is considered as baited during the presence of and for 10 consecutive days following the removal of the bait);

 

2)         to take any wild turkey except a hen with a visible beard or a gobbler (male);

 

3)         to take, or attempt to take, more than three wild turkeys during the spring season, one must have a valid permit for each turkey that is taken;

 

4)         to use any weapon except a shotgun or bow and arrow. #4 shot is the largest size shot that may be legally used or possessed while turkey hunting;

 

5)         to hunt except from ˝ hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. during each day of the season;

 

6)         for any person having taken the legal limit of wild turkeys to further participate with a weapon in any hunting party for the purpose of taking additional wild turkeys;

 

7)         for any person to possess while in the field during wild turkey season any turkey permit issued to another person (permits are non-transferable);

 

8)         to transport or leave a wild turkey without first attaching the temporary harvest tag to the leg in the manner prescribed on the permit. Immediately upon kill and before the turkey is moved, transported or field dressed, the hunter must properly attach the temporary harvest tag to the leg. Successful hunters must register their harvest by 10:00 p.m. on the same calendar day as the turkey was taken by calling the toll-free telephone check-in system at 1-866-ILCHECK or by accessing the on-line check-in system at www.dnr.illinois.gov. Hunters must provide all information requested by the check-in system, and will be provided with a confirmation number to verify that they checked in their harvest. The confirmation number must be written by the hunter on the leg tag. The leg tag must remain attached to the leg of the turkey until it is at the legal residence of the person who legally took or possessed the turkey and the turkey has been checked in. The turkey must remain whole (or field dressed) until it has been checked in;

 

9)         for any person to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7:00 a.m.;

 

10)       for any person to hunt wild turkeys without possessing a Wild Turkey Hunting Permit which shall include the hunter's signature recorded on the permit and carried on the person while hunting, except that a person without a weapon may accompany a turkey hunter as a caller or observer;

 

11)       for any person to use a turkey call that imitates sounds made by a turkey or to attempt to call a turkey by making these sounds while in the field in the Southern Zone from March 15 through the day before the 1^st turkey season and in the Northern Zone from March 22 through the day before the 1^st turkey season. This prohibition only applies in counties open to spring turkey hunting. This prohibition does not apply to participants in the Youth Turkey Hunt with a valid permit, or their accompanying adult, during that season as prescribed by Section 710.70.

 

b)         Archers may use:

 

1)         Longbows, recurve bows or compound bows with minimum pull of 30 pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length is 20 inches.

 

2)         Crossbows and bolts as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 670.30.

 

c)         Broadheads must be used. Broadheads may have fixed or expandable cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum ⅞ inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed cutting surfaces must be metal or flint-, chert-, or obsidian knapped; broadheads with expandable cutting surfaces must be metal. All other bows and arrows, including electronic arrow tracking systems using radio telemetry, are illegal.

 

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18760, effective November 2, 2022)

 

Section 710.40  Other Regulations (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 7 Ill. Reg. 4208, effective March 25, 1983)

 

Section 710.50  Regulations at Various Department-Owned, -Leased or -Managed Sites

 

a)         Hunters who intend to hunt Department sites and who have a physical disability that requires special accommodations are encouraged to contact the site superintendent at least 10 days before the date they wish to hunt. The site superintendent will make reasonable accommodations necessary to allow the disabled person to participate in the hunting experience at the site. Disabled hunters who require an aide or assistant with them during the hunt are responsible for providing the aide or assistant and notifying the site superintendent that an assistant will be present, and whether the assistant will also be hunting.

 

b)         Hunters must sign in/sign out at all sites that are followed by a (1). Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by a (2).

 

c)         Statewide regulations shall apply for the following sites: 

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (2)

 

Anderson Lake State Conservation Area (1)

 

Argyle Lake State Park (2)

 

Big Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area (2)

 

Cache River State Natural Area (1)

 

Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Cave-In-Rock State Park – Kaegi Tract (2)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area (2)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

Dug Hill State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Cedar Draper Bluff Hunting Area (1)

 

Flag Pond State Natural Area

 

Fort de Chartres State Historic Site (muzzleloading shotgun or archery only; no in-line muzzleloading shotguns or muzzleloaders with scopes allowed) (1)

 

Giant City State Park (1)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − Alexander County (Hunting Area and Public Hunting Area only) (1)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) − Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Units (all hunters must obtain a free site permit)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (no hunting east of and within 50 yards of the defined Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area's main north-south road, within 100 yards of any house or building, or south of the Dry Lake access road; a hunter with a P-2 handicapped certification, accompanied by a non-hunting attendant, may hunt at the site's designated handicapped hunting spot within this closed area; the hunting spot will be allocated on a first come-first served basis or via a drawing, if needed, held at the site office) (1)

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge, Gardner Division

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area (Pools 25 and 26)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, and 24

 

Nauvoo State Park (Max Rowe Unit only) (2)

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (except South Subunit) (1)

 

Pere Marquette State Park (designated area only) (2)

 

Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area (1)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Rend Lake Project Lands and Corps of Engineers Managed Land

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sanganois State Conservation Area (2)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (2)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area (1)

 

Trail of Tears State Forest (1)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area − Firing Line Unit and Controlled Hunting Area only (1)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Cecil White Unit) (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Spunky Bottoms Unit) (2)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Habitat Area (2)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

d)         Statewide regulations shall apply except that all hunting is allowed by site‑specific permit only. The Department of Natural Resources allocates permits for these areas through the lottery process set forth in Section 710.20. This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.

 

Apple River Canyon State Park − Thompson and Salem Units (2)

 

Beaver Dam State Park (2)

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Big River State Forest (2)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area (2)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − East Fork Management Unit (2)

 

Castle Rock State Park (2)

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (1)

 

Chauncey Marsh (2)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (2)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Dixon Springs State Park (1)

 

Eagle Creek State Park (first two seasons only) (2)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (2)

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (2)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Ferne Clyffe Hunting Area (1)

 

Fort Massac State Park (1)

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (2)

 

French Bluff State Natural Area (2)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Hamilton County State Conservation Area (2)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (2)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (2)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (2)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County)

 

Iroquois County State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park (2)

 

Jubilee College State Park (1)

 

Kankakee River State Park (hunting hours are from ˝ hour before sunrise until 12:00 noon) (1)

 

Kickapoo State Park (2)

 

Kishwaukee River State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Lowden Miller State Forest (2)

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area (site is open to hunting Monday through Thursday only; hunting hours are from ˝ hour before sunrise until 8:30 a.m. with potential additional hunting hours being posted by the site; unauthorized personnel may not be on the site outside of the posted check station operating hours; hunters may only enter the site from designated parking lots) (1)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Matthiessen State Park (South of Vermilion River Area) (1)

 

Mautino State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (2)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

Mississippi Palisades State Park (closed during the fifth season) (2)

 

Momence Wetlands (1)

 

Moraine View State Park (no hunting on weekends during 4^th and 5^th season) (2)

 

Morrison Rockwood State Park (closed during the fifth season) (1)

 

Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Paul C. Burrus State Habitat Area (2)

 

Pere Marquette State Park (Piasa, Quotoga, Potawatomi Camp Areas) (no hunting allowed on weekends) (2)

 

Pyramid State Park (each unit requires site-specific permit) – Captain Unit (2), Denmark Unit (2), East Conant Unit (2), Galum Unit (2) and Park Unit (2)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Ramsey Lake State Park (2)

 

Randolph County State Conservation Area (a handicapped hunter with a P-2 handicapped certification, accompanied by a non-hunting attendant, wanting to hunt at one of the site's two designated handicapped hunting spots is not required to have a site-specific permit; these hunting spots will be allocated on a first come-first served basis or via a drawing, if needed, held at the site office) (1)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area – Dutch Creek Unit (2)

 

Red Hills State Park (2)

 

Rockton Bog State Natural Area (2)

 

Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (2)

 

Sandy Ford State Natural Area

 

Sangamon County State Conservation Area

 

Sanganois State Conservation Area (Squirrel Timber Unit) (2)

 

Sangchris Lake State Park

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (must have valid permit for Lake Shelbyville Project Lands – Moultrie County) (2)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (2)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (Buckhorn Unit) (2)

 

Spoon River State Forest (2)

 

Starved Rock State Park (1)

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Park (2)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Vesely Land and Water Reserve (2)

 

Washington County State Conservation Area (1)

 

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Scripps Unit) (2)

 

Weldon Springs State Park − Piatt County Unit (2)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (2)

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Wolf Creek State Park (first 2 seasons only) (2)

 

Zoeller State Natural Area (2)

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4042, effective March 1, 2024)

 

Section 710.55  Special Hunts for Disabled Hunters

 

Statewide regulations shall apply except that all hunting is allowed by site-specific permit only.  The Department of Natural Resources allocates permits for these areas through the lottery process set forth in Section 710.20, except as noted.  Permits are only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.  Disabled hunters must possess a Class P2A disability card in order to be eligible for the drawing.

 

            Dixon Springs State Park

 

            Eldon Hazlet State Park

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Mississippi Palisades State Park (portion of site quota designated for disabled hunters; closed during the 5^th season)

 

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 3705, effective February 16, 2011)

 

Section 710.60  Releasing or Stocking of Turkeys

 

No person, except employees of the Department shall release any turkeys in this State at any time.  Game Breeding and Shooting Preserve Areas licensed pursuant to Section 3.27 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.27] may release turkeys for the purpose of put-and-take hunting only.  This Section encompasses all of the various subspecies of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), which includes the native wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), the domestic barnyard turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) and all crosses between any two subspecies.

 

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 17075, effective October 22, 2003)

 

Section 710.70  Spring Youth Turkey Hunt

 

a)         Season:  The two consecutive weekends immediately prior to the regular season in the Southern Zone.  The Northern Zone and Southern Zone are open concurrently for all 4 days.

 

b)         Open Counties:  All counties listed in Section 710.10 are open to the Spring Youth Turkey Hunt.

 

c)         Eligibility:  The Spring Youth Turkey Hunt is open only to hunters who have not reached the age of 18 prior to the opening date of the youth season.  Hunters must have an apprentice or youth hunting license, or they must have completed a State‑approved Hunter Education course and have a hunting license, unless exempt.  In addition, hunters must have a Habitat Stamp, unless exempt.

 

d)         Permit Requirements − Spring Youth Turkey Hunt

 

1)         All youth hunters must have a current, valid Youth Turkey Hunt Permit ($10).  Hunters are eligible to purchase only one Youth Turkey Hunt Permit.  Hunting without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.9).

 

2)         For a county permit:  Youth Turkey Hunt Permits valid for counties open to youth turkey hunting will be available for sale over-the-counter (OTC) from agents beginning the first Tuesday in March through the last day of the Youth Turkey Season.

 

3)         For a Special Hunt Area permit:  Youth hunters may apply online (www.exploremoreil.com) for a site-specific permit valid for one of the Special Hunt Areas.  The application period begins the third Tuesday in January and ends the third Monday in February.  Permits will be allocated via a lottery drawing in which Illinois residents will be given preference.

 

4)         The applicants must not have had their hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State or any other state.

 

5)         A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail, there will be no charge.  Monies derived from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

 

6)         The Youth Turkey Hunt Permit shall be valid only for the dates and counties/Special Hunt Area listed on the permit. 

 

7)         A permit issued for the Youth Turkey Hunt will count toward the maximum number of permits (Section 710.20(k)(3)) an individual can receive for the Spring Wild Turkey Season.

 

e)         Youth Turkey Hunting Regulations

 

1)         Each hunter participating in the Illinois Youth Turkey Hunt while using an Apprentice Hunter License or Youth Hunting License must be accompanied by a non-hunting, validly-licensed (Illinois hunting license) adult who is 21 years of age or older.

 

2)         All other hunters (using other types of hunting licenses or license-exempt) participating in the Youth Turkey Hunt must each be accompanied by a non-hunting supervisor (parent, guardian or responsible adult).  If the youth is hunting with a firearm, a nonresident supervisor must have a valid Illinois hunting license.

 

3)         The non-hunting supervisor must remain with the hunting youth so as to have the youth under immediate control.  Each supervisor may only accompany a single youth at any given time during the hunt.  The supervising adult shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party and shall be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.

 

4)         All regulations prescribed by Section 710.30 apply during the Youth Turkey Hunt.

 

f)         The following sites will be open to holders of a valid Youth Turkey Hunt Permit for the county in which the site is located.  Persons wishing to hunt one of the listed sites should contact that site prior to hunting for information about site regulations and restrictions.  Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by a (2).

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Apple River Canyon State Park − Thompson and Salem Units (2)

 

Argyle Lake State Park

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area (Whiteside County)

 

Big Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area (2)

 

Big River State Forest (2)

 

Cache River State Natural Area

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – East Fork Management Unit (2)

 

Cave-In-Rock State Park – Kaegi Tract (2)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Public Hunting Area

 

Crawford County State Fish Wildlife Area

 

Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area (2)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area

 

Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Cedar Draper State Habitat Area

 

Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (2)

 

Giant City State Park

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (2)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area − Alexander County (Controlled Hunting Area and Public Hunting Area only)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Lake Shelbyville Project Land (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed) – Moultrie County

 

Lake Shelbyville Project Land (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed) – Shelby County

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Mississippi River Area Pools 21, 22, 24, 25 and 26

 

Moraine View State Park (2)

 

Mt. Vernon Game Propagation Center (1)

 

Nauvoo State Park (Max Rowe Unit Only) (2)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Paul C. Burrus Habitat Area (2)

 

Pere Marquette State Park (open area east of Graham Hollow Road only) (2)

 

Pyramid State Park − East Conant and Park Units (2)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Rauchfuss Hill State Recreation Area (1)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Rend Lake Corps of Engineers-managed land in Jefferson and

Franklin Counties

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (2)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (2)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (Buckhorn Unit) (2)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area

 

Spoon River State Forest (2)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Trail of Tears State Forest

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line and Controlled Hunting Area only)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Cecil White Unit) (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Scripps Unit) (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Spunky Bottoms Unit) (2)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (2)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (2)

 

g)         Statewide regulations shall apply except that all hunting is allowed by site‑specific permit only.  The Department of Natural Resources allocates permits for these areas through the lottery process set forth in Section 710.70(d).  This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area (2)

 

Castle Rock State Park (2)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (2)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (Closed Portion)

 

Dixon Springs State Park

 

Edward Madigan State Park – James Helfrich Propagation Center (designated areas only)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (2)

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (2)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Ferne Clyffe Hunting Area

 

Fort Massac State Park (2)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (2)

 

Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area (Jugtown Unit)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (2)

 

Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Kankakee River State Park

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (2)

 

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Momence Wetlands

 

Ramsey Lake State Park (2)

 

Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest

 

Sangchris Lake State Park

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Park (2)

 

Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area

 

Weldon Springs − Piatt County Unit (2)

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4042, effective March 1, 2024)