Section 530.20  Statewide Cock Pheasant, Hungarian Partridge, Bobwhite Quail, and Cottontail and Swamp Rabbit Regulations

a)         Zones:  South zone consists of all lands south of the line that follows U.S. Route 36 from the Indiana State line to Springfield, all lands west of the line that follows Route 29 from Springfield to Pekin and all lands south of the line that follows Route 9 from Pekin to Dallas City, then due west to the Mississippi River; north zone is the remainder of the State.

b)         Season dates:

1)         North (all species except rabbits) – first Saturday in November through the following January 8.

South (all species except rabbits) – first Saturday in November through the following January 15.

Rabbits statewide – the first Saturday in November through the following February 15.

2)         Hunting outside the set season dates is a petty offense.

c)         Hunting hours:  Sunrise until sunset.  Hunting prior to sunrise or after sunset is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.2).  Hunting before ½ hour prior to sunrise or after ½ hour after sunset is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum $500 fine and a maximum $5,000 fine in addition to other statutory penalties (see 520 ILCS 5/2.33(y)).

d)         Daily limit:

1)         Cock Pheasant – 2 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.6)

Bobwhite Quail – 8 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.7

Hungarian Partridge – 2 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.13)

Rabbit – 4 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.27)

2)         Exceeding the daily limit is a petty offense.

e)         Possession limit (after the second day of the hunting season):

1)         Cock Pheasant – 6 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.6)

Bobwhite Quail – 20 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.7)

Hungarian Partridge – 6 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.13)

Rabbit – 10 (see 520 ILCS 5/2.27)  

2)         Exceeding the possession limit is a petty offense.

f)         Cock pheasant may be hunted only; hen pheasants are illegal to take or possess, except as specified on controlled hunting areas operated pursuant to Sections 1.13 or 3.27 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/1.13 or 3.27] or at sites listed in Section 530.105 and as provided for on designated sites in Section 530.110, and by falconry methods as described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1590, Falconry and the Captive Propagation of Raptors.  Illegal taking of hen pheasants is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.6).

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 15149, effective October 18, 2016)