HB1941 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 04403 CMG 14421 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB1941

Introduced 2/17/2021, by Rep. Tony McCombie

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.11

from Ch. 61, par. 2.11

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall create a pilot program during the annual 2-weekend, youth-only spring wild turkey hunting season to allow for youth wild turkey hunting permits that are valid statewide, excluding those counties or portions of counties closed to firearm turkey hunting. Provides that the Department shall adopt rules to implement the pilot program. Provides that nothing shall be construed to prohibit the Department from issuing Special Hunt Area Permits for the youth-only wild turkey hunting season or establishing, through administrative rule, additional requirements pertaining to the youth-only wild turkey hunting season on Department-owned or Department-managed sites, including site-specific quotas or drawings. Provides that the provision becomes inoperative on January 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section 2.11 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.11) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.11)

Sec. 2.11. Wild turkey hunting permits. Before any person may lawfully hunt wild turkey, he shall first obtain a "Wild Turkey Hunting Permit" in accordance with the prescribed regulations set forth in an administrative rule of the Department. The fee for a Resident Wild Turkey Hunting Permit shall not exceed $15.

Upon submitting suitable evidence of legal residence in any other state, non-residents shall be charged a fee not to exceed $125 for wild turkey hunting permits.

The Department may by administrative rule allocate and issue non-resident Wild Turkey Permits and establish fees for such permits.

The Department shall create a pilot program during the annual 2-weekend, youth-only spring wild turkey hunting season to allow for youth wild turkey hunting permits that are valid statewide, excluding those counties or portions of counties closed to firearm turkey hunting. The Department shall adopt rules to implement the pilot program. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the Department from issuing Special Hunt Area Permits for the youth-only spring wild turkey hunting season or establishing, through administrative rule, additional requirements pertaining to the youth-only spring wild turkey hunting season on Department-owned or Department-managed sites, including site-specific quotas or drawings. The provisions of this paragraph are inoperative on and after January 1, 2024.

It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey except by use of a bow and arrow or a shotgun of not larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4, and no person while attempting to so take wild turkey may have in his possession any other gun.

It shall be unlawful to take, or attempt to take wild turkey except during the time from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset or during such lesser period of time as may be specified by administrative rule, during those days for which an open season is established.

It shall be unlawful for any person to take, or attempt to take, wild turkey by use of dogs, horses, automobiles, aircraft or other vehicles, or conveyances, or by the use or aid of bait or baiting of any kind. For the purposes of this Section, "bait" means any material, whether liquid or solid, including food, salt, minerals, and other products, except pure water, that can be ingested, placed, or scattered in such a manner as to attract or lure wild turkeys. "Baiting" means the placement or scattering of bait to attract wild turkeys. An area is considered as baited during the presence of and for 10 consecutive days following the removal of the bait.

It is unlawful for any person to take in Illinois or have in his or her possession more than one wild turkey per valid permit.

For the purposes of calculating acreage under this Section, the Department shall, after determining the total acreage of the applicable tract or tracts of land, round remaining fractional portions of an acre greater than or equal to half of an acre up to the next whole acre.

For the purposes of taking wild turkey, nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent the manipulation, including mowing or cutting, of standing crops as a normal agricultural or soil stabilization practice, food plots, or normal agricultural practices, including planting, harvesting, and maintenance such as cultivating. Such manipulation for the purpose of taking wild turkey may be further modified by administrative rule.

(Source: P.A. 98-180, eff. 8-5-13; 99-869, eff. 1-1-17.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.