| ||||
Public Act 102-0314 | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
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 2.25 as follows:
| ||||
(520 ILCS 5/2.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
| ||||
Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer | ||||
except (i) with
a shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle or | ||||
(ii) as provided by
administrative rule,
with a bow and arrow, | ||||
during the open season of not more than 14 days which will
be | ||||
set annually by the Director between the dates of
November 1st | ||||
and December 31st, both inclusive, or a special 3-day, | ||||
youth-only season between the dates of September 1 and October | ||||
31.
For the purposes of this Section, legal handguns include | ||||
any centerfire
handguns of .30
caliber or larger with a | ||||
minimum barrel length of 4 inches. The only legal
ammunition
| ||||
for a centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or | ||||
larger with a
capability of at least
500 foot pounds of energy | ||||
at the muzzle. Full metal jacket bullets may not be
used to
| ||||
harvest deer.
| ||||
The Department shall make administrative rules concerning | ||||
management
restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and | ||||
arrow season.
|
It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except | ||
with a bow and
arrow during the open season for bow and arrow | ||
set annually by the Director
between the dates of September | ||
1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
| ||
It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except | ||
with (i) a
muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow during the | ||
open season for
muzzleloading rifles set annually by the | ||
Director.
| ||
The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting | ||
forth the
prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and | ||
possession limits and
those counties of the State where open | ||
seasons are established, to be
published in accordance with | ||
Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
| ||
The Department may establish separate harvest periods for | ||
the purpose of
managing or eradicating disease that has been | ||
found in the deer herd. This
season shall be restricted to gun | ||
or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department
shall publicly | ||
announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
| ||
shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting , permit | ||
requirements,
application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons, | ||
and reporting requirements .
| ||
The Department is authorized to establish a separate | ||
harvest period at
specific sites within the State for the | ||
purpose of harvesting
surplus deer that cannot be taken during | ||
the regular season provided for
the taking of deer. This | ||
season shall be restricted to gun or bow and
arrow hunting only |
and shall be established during the period of September 1st
to | ||
February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publicly | ||
announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and | ||
shooting hours, and the counties and sites open to hunting. | ||
The Department shall publish suitable
prescribed rules and | ||
regulations established by administrative rule pertaining
to | ||
management restrictions applicable to this special harvest | ||
program. The Department shall allow unused gun deer permits | ||
that are left over from a regular season for the taking of deer | ||
to be rolled over and used during any separate harvest period | ||
held within 6 months of the season for which those tags were | ||
issued at no additional cost to the permit holder subject to | ||
the management restrictions applicable to the special harvest | ||
program.
| ||
Beginning July 1, 2019, and on an annual basis thereafter, | ||
the Department shall provide a report to the General Assembly | ||
providing information regarding deer management programs | ||
established by the Code or by administrative rule that | ||
includes: (1) the number of surplus deer taken during each | ||
separate harvest season; (2) the number of deer found to have a | ||
communicable disease or other abnormality; and (3) what | ||
happens to the deer taken during each separate harvest season.
| ||
(Source: P.A. 101-66, eff. 7-12-19.)
|