Public Act 103-0456
 
HB3677 EnrolledLRB103 28194 RLC 54573 b

    AN ACT concerning fishing and hunting.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Fish and Aquatic Life Code is amended by
changing Sections 20-45 and 20-105 as follows:
 
    (515 ILCS 5/20-45)  (from Ch. 56, par. 20-45)
    Sec. 20-45. License fees for residents. Fees for licenses
for residents of the State of Illinois shall be as follows:
        (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for
    sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
    spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, the fee is
    $14.50 for individuals 16 to 64 years old, one-half of the
    current fishing license fee for individuals age 65 or
    older, and, commencing with the 2012 license year,
    one-half of the current fishing license fee for resident
    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
    the United States as an active duty member of the United
    States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the
    Reserves of the United States Armed Forces. Veterans must
    provide to the Department acceptable verification of their
    service. The Department shall establish by administrative
    rule the procedure by which such verification of service
    shall be made to the Department for the purpose of issuing
    fishing licenses to resident veterans at a reduced fee.
        (a-3) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
    for sport fishing devices as defined in Section 10-95 or
    spearing devices as defined in Section 10-110, residents
    of this State may obtain a 3-year fishing license. The fee
    for a 3-year fishing license is 3 times the annual fee. For
    residents age 65 or older, the fee is one half of the fee
    charged for a 3-year fishing license. For resident
    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
    the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
    for a 3-year fishing license. Veterans must provide to the
    Department, per administrative rule, verification of their
    service. The Department shall establish what constitutes
    suitable verification of service for the purpose of
    issuing 3-year fishing licenses to resident veterans at a
    reduced fee.
        (a-5) The fee for all sport fishing licenses shall be
    $1 for an annual license and 3 times the annual fee for a
    3-year license for residents over 75 years of age.
        (b) All residents before using any commercial fishing
    device shall obtain a commercial fishing license, the fee
    for which shall be $60 and a resident fishing license, the
    fee for which is $14.50. Each and every commercial device
    used shall be licensed by a resident commercial fisherman
    as follows:
            (1) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
        thereof, of seine the fee is $18. For each minnow
        seine, minnow trap, or net for commercial purposes the
        fee is $20.
            (2) For each device to fish with a 100 hook trot
        line device, basket trap, hoop net, or dip net the fee
        is $3.
            (3) When used in the waters of Lake Michigan, for
        the first 2000 lineal feet, or fraction thereof, of
        gill net the fee is $10; and for each 1000 additional
        lineal feet, or fraction thereof, the fee is $10.
        These fees shall apply to all gill nets in use in the
        water or on drying reels on the shore.
            (4) For each 100 lineal yards, or fraction
        thereof, of gill net or trammel net the fee is $18.
        (c) Residents of this the State of Illinois may obtain
    a sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
    residents holding a license as described in subsection (a)
    of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as
    residents holding a license to hunt all species as
    described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No
    sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to any
    individual who would be ineligible for either the fishing
    or hunting license separately. The sportsmen's combination
    license fee shall be $25.50. For residents age 65 or
    older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
    sportsmen's combination license. For resident veterans of
    the United States Armed Forces after returning from
    service abroad or mobilization by the President of the
    United States as an active duty member of the United
    States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the
    Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee,
    commencing with the 2012 license year, is one-half of the
    fee charged for a sportsmen's combination license.
    Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
    verification of their service. The Department shall
    establish by administrative rule the procedure by which
    such verification of service shall be made to the
    Department for the purpose of issuing sportsmen's
    combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
    fee.
        (c-5) Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year
    sportsmen's combination license that shall entitle the
    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
    residents holding a license as described in subsection
    (a-3) and to the same hunting privileges as residents
    holding a license to hunt all species as described in
    Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. A 3-year sportsmen's
    combination license shall not be issued to any individual
    who would be ineligible for either the fishing or hunting
    license separately. The 3-year sportsmen's combination
    license fee shall be 3 times the annual fee. For residents
    age 65 or older, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for
    a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. For resident
    veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning
    from service abroad or mobilization by the President of
    the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
    for a 3-year sportsmen's combination license. Veterans
    must provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
    verification of their service. The Department shall
    establish what constitutes suitable verification of
    service for the purpose of issuing 3-year sportsmen's
    combination licenses to resident veterans at a reduced
    fee.
        (d) For 24 hours of fishing by sport fishing devices
    as defined in Section 10-95 or by spearing devices as
    defined in Section 10-110 the fee is $5. This license does
    not exempt the licensee from the requirement for a salmon
    or inland trout stamp. The licenses provided for by this
    subsection are not required for residents of the State of
    Illinois who have obtained the license provided for in
    subsection (a) or (a-3) of this Section.
        (e) All residents before using any commercial mussel
    device shall obtain a commercial mussel license, the fee
    for which shall be $50.
        (f) Residents of this State, upon establishing
    residency as required by the Department, may obtain a
    lifetime hunting or fishing license or lifetime
    sportsmen's combination license which shall entitle the
    holder to the same non-commercial fishing privileges as
    residents holding a license as described in paragraph (a)
    of this Section and to the same hunting privileges as
    residents holding a license to hunt all species as
    described in Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code. No lifetime
    sportsmen's combination license shall be issued to or
    retained by any individual who would be ineligible for
    either the fishing or hunting license separately, either
    upon issuance, or in any year a violation would subject an
    individual to have either or both fishing or hunting
    privileges rescinded. The lifetime hunting and fishing
    license fees shall be as follows:
            (1) Lifetime fishing: 30 x the current fishing
        license fee.
            (2) Lifetime hunting: 30 x the current hunting
        license fee.
            (3) Lifetime sportsmen's combination license: 30 x
        the current sportsmen's combination license fee.
    Lifetime licenses shall not be refundable. A $10 fee shall
be charged for reissuing any lifetime license. The Department
may establish rules and regulations for the issuance and use
of lifetime licenses and may suspend or revoke any lifetime
license issued under this Section for violations of those
rules or regulations or other provisions under this Code or ,
the Wildlife Code, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any fish or
aquatic life protected by this Code or the taking, possessing,
killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or
importing any fauna protected by the Wildlife Code when any
part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois.
Individuals under 16 years of age who possess a lifetime
hunting or sportsmen's combination license shall have in their
possession, while in the field, a certificate of competency as
required under Section 3.2 of the Wildlife Code. Any lifetime
license issued under this Section shall not exempt individuals
from obtaining additional stamps or permits required under the
provisions of this Code or the Wildlife Code. Individuals
required to purchase additional stamps shall sign the stamps
and have them in their possession while fishing or hunting
with a lifetime license. All fees received from the issuance
of lifetime licenses shall be deposited in the Fish and
Wildlife Endowment Fund.
    Except for licenses issued under subsection (e) of this
Section, all licenses provided for in this Section shall
expire on March 31 of each year, except that the license
provided for in subsection (d) of this Section shall expire 24
hours after the effective date and time listed on the face of
the license. Licenses issued under subsection (a-3) or (c-5)
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
which the license is issued.
    The Department shall by administrative rule provide for
the automatic renewal of a fishing license upon the request of
the applicant.
    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
license provided for in subsection (a), (a-3), or (d) of this
Section shall be fined according to the provisions of Section
20-35 of this Code.
    All individuals required to have and failing to have the
licenses provided for in subsections (b) and (e) of this
Section shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    (g) For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
verification" means official documentation from the Department
of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,
deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
abroad.
    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
duty service in territories and possessions of the United
States.
(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;
revised 7-26-22.)
 
    (515 ILCS 5/20-105)  (from Ch. 56, par. 20-105)
    Sec. 20-105. Revocation and suspension; refusal to issue.
    (a) Whenever a license or permit is issued to any person
under this Code and its holder is found guilty of any
misrepresentation in obtaining the license or permit or of a
violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a
violation of any of the provisions of this Code, including
administrative rules, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any aquatic
life protected by this Code when any part of the United States
Code violation occurred in Illinois, the license or permit may
be revoked by the Department and the Department may refuse to
issue any permit or license to that person and may suspend the
person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or
license for a period of time not to exceed 5 years following
the revocation. Department revocation procedure shall be
established by administrative rule.
    (b) Whenever any person who has not been issued a license
or a permit under the provisions of this Code is found guilty
of a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or
a violation of the provisions of this Code, including
administrative rules, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any aquatic
life protected by this Code when any part of the United States
Code violation occurred in Illinois, the Department may refuse
to issue any permit or license to that person, and suspend that
person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or
license for a period of time not to exceed 5 years.
    (c) Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any
of the provisions of this Code, including administrative
rules, during the 5 years following the revocation of his or
her license or permit under subsection (a) or during the time
he is suspended under subsection (b), shall be guilty of a
Class A misdemeanor as provided in Section 20-35. The
penalties for a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code
of 2012 shall be as provided in that Section.
    (d) A person whose license or permit to engage in any
activity regulated by this Code has been suspended or revoked
may not, during the period of the suspension or revocation or
until obtaining such a license or permit, (i) be in the company
of any person engaging in the activity covered by the
suspension or revocation or (ii) serve as a guide, outfitter,
or facilitator for a person who is engaged or prepared to
engage in the activity covered by the suspension or
revocation.
    (e) No person may be issued or obtain a license or permit
or engage in any activity regulated by this Code during the
time that the person's privilege to engage in the same or
similar activities is suspended or revoked by another state,
by a federal agency, or by a province of Canada.
    (f) Any person whose license, stamps, permits, or any
other privilege issued by the Department has been suspended or
revoked shall immediately return proof of such privileges to
the Department. The Department, or any law enforcement entity,
is authorized to take possession of any proof of privileges.
Any person failing to comply with this subsection by
possessing a suspended or revoked license, stamp, or permit
issued by the Department after having received written notice
from the Department or any other State agency or department of
such suspension or revocation is guilty of a Class A
misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
    Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
Sections 3.2, 3.4, and 3.36 as follows:
 
    (520 ILCS 5/3.2)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)
    Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction.
Before the Department or any county, city, village, township,
incorporated town clerk or his duly designated agent or any
other person authorized or designated by the Department to
issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any
person, the person shall file his application with the
Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a
form provided by the Department and further give definite
proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk
designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish
the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the
names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or his
duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and
stamps only within the territorial area for which he was
elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized
to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other
business establishment. Each application shall be executed and
sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the
applicant and place of residence.
    No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or
after January 1, 1980 unless he presents the person authorized
to issue the license evidence that he has held a hunting
license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a
prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this
Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime
Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under
Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not
be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult
age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency
as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their
possession while hunting.
    The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize
personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors
to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in
firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow
and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout
the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall
receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural
Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association
or organization in establishing courses if the organization
has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the
handling of firearms or bow and arrow.
    The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any
person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the
handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The
persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and
upon the successful completion shall issue to the person
instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of
firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be
made for any course of instruction except for materials or
ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall
furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety
education programs to be distributed free of charge to
applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and
authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of
firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee
charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
    The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a
resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older,
and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans
of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service
abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States
as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the
Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States
Armed Forces, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a
hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of
Illinois. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable
verification of their service. The Department shall establish
by administrative rule the procedure by which such
verification of service shall be made to the Department for
the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a
reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species
shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents
shall be charged $57 for a hunting license.
    Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting
license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3
times the annual fee. For residents age 65 or older and
resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after
returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President
of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged
for a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described
in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must
provide to the Department, per administrative rule,
verification of their service. The Department shall establish
what constitutes suitable verification of service for the
purpose of issuing resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses
at a reduced fee.
    Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license
for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the
State and shall be charged a fee of $35.
    A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a
nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding
and hunting preserve area only, established under Section
3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and
payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license.
The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date
each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area
licenses expire.
    Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp,
regardless of his residence or other condition, shall pay a
fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State
Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over
75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the
Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the
person or affixed to his license or permit in a space
designated by the Department for that purpose.
    Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of
his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and
shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall
be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as
provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life
Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to his
license or permit in a space designated by the Department for
that purpose.
    Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require
the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person
in any one license year.
    The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer
Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.
    The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting
licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession
of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may
consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used
as the Department may order.
    All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall
expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses
shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in
which the license is issued.
    Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued
under the provisions of this Act shall have it in his
possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the
officers and authorized employees of the Department, any
sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a
demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department
owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters
deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's
Identification Card at the check station upon entering the
hunting areas.
    For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable
verification" means official documentation from the Department
of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing
mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a
DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military
Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a
letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the
Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command
covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel
records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other
documentation that the Department, by administrative rule,
deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service
abroad.
    For the purposes of this Section, the term "service
abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United
States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active
duty service in territories and possessions of the United
States.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-780, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
    (520 ILCS 5/3.4)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.4)
    Sec. 3.4. Trapping licenses. Before a trapping license
shall be issued to any person, such person shall make
application to the Department or any county, city, village,
township or incorporated town clerk or his or her duly
designated agent upon an application form provided by the
Department. This application shall be executed and sworn to
and shall set forth the name and description of the applicant
and his or her place of residence.
    Residents of this State may obtain a one-year trapping
license.
    The fee for a one-year trapping license for a resident of
this State shall be $10.00.
    Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year trapping
license. The fee for a 3-year trapping license for a resident
of this State shall be 3 times the annual fee for a one-year
trapping license.
    The Department may provide for a one-year non-resident
trapping license provided that any non-resident shall be
charged a fee of $175, and if the state in which the applicant
resides does not provide for trapping mammals by Illinois
residents, then the fee shall be $250.
    Every person trapping mammals shall make a report properly
sworn to, to the Department, upon blanks supplied by the
Department for such purpose, of all hides of mammals taken,
sold, shipped or dealt in, during the open seasons for mammals
together with the names and addresses of the parties to whom
the same were sold or shipped. Such report shall be made to the
Department within 15 days after the close of the trapping
season. Failure to report or filing false reports shall
subject the person to the penalties provided in Section 3.5.
Further, the Department may refuse to issue a trapping license
for the following year to any person who has failed to file
such a report.
    One-year All trapping licenses shall expire on March 31 of
each year. Three-year trapping licenses shall expire on March
31 of the second year after the year in which the trapping
license is issued.
(Source: P.A. 100-123, eff. 1-1-18.)
 
    (520 ILCS 5/3.36)  (from Ch. 61, par. 3.36)
    Sec. 3.36. Revocation and suspension.
    (a) Whenever a license or permit is issued to any person
under this Act, and the holder thereof is found guilty of any
misrepresentation in obtaining such license or permit or of a
violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a
violation of any of the provisions of this Act, including
administrative rules, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any wildlife
protected by this Code when any part of the United States Code
violation occurred in Illinois, his license or permit may be
revoked by the Department, and the Department may refuse to
issue any permit or license to such person and may suspend the
person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or
license for a period of time not to exceed 5 years following
such revocation.
    Department revocation procedures shall be established by
Administrative rule.
    (b) Whenever any person who has not been issued a license
or a permit under the provisions of this Code is found guilty
of a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or
a violation of the provisions of this Code, including
administrative rules, or a violation of the United States Code
that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting,
transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any wildlife
protected by this Code when any part of the United States Code
violation occurred in Illinois, the Department may refuse to
issue any permit or license to that person, and suspend that
person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or
license for a period of time not to exceed 5 years.
    (c) Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any
of the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules,
during such period when his license or permit is revoked or
denied by virtue of this Section or during the time he is
suspended under subsection (b), shall be guilty of a Class A
misdemeanor. The penalties for a violation of Section 48-3 of
the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be as provided in that Section.
    (d) Licenses and permits authorized to be issued under the
provisions of this Act shall be prepared by the Department and
be in such form as prescribed by the Department. The
information required on each license shall be completed
thereon by the issuing agent or his sub-agent at the time of
issuance and each license shall be signed by the licensee, or
initialed by the designated purchaser and then signed
immediately upon receipt by the licensee, and countersigned by
the issuing agent or his sub-agent at the time of issuance. All
such licenses shall be supplied by the Department, subject to
such rules and regulations as the Department may prescribe.
Any license not properly prepared, obtained and signed as
required by this Act shall be void.
    (e) A person whose license or permit to engage in any
activity regulated by this Code has been suspended or revoked
may not, during the period of the suspension or revocation or
until obtaining such a license or permit, (i) be in the company
of any person engaging in the activity covered by the
suspension or revocation or (ii) serve as a guide, outfitter,
or facilitator for a person who is engaged or prepared to
engage in the activity covered by the suspension or
revocation.
    (f) No person may be issued or obtain a license or permit
or engage in any activity regulated by this Code during the
time that the person's privilege to engage in the same or
similar activities is suspended or revoked by another state,
by a federal agency, or by a province of Canada.
    (g) Any person whose license, stamps, permits, or any
other privilege issued by the Department has been suspended or
revoked shall immediately return proof of such privileges to
the Department. The Department, or any law enforcement entity,
is authorized to take possession of any proof of privileges.
Any person failing to comply with this subsection by
possessing a suspended or revoked license, stamp, or permit
issued by the Department after having received written notice
from the Department or any other State agency or department of
such suspension or revocation is guilty of a Class A
misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2024