Section 685.10  Statewide Season for White-Tailed Deer Hunting

 

a)         Season:  One-half hour before sunrise on Saturday of the State designated Columbus Day Holiday weekend to ½ hour after sunset on the Monday immediately following that weekend.  Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.  A hunter with an unfilled, valid Youth Deer Permit may also hunt during the first firearm deer season (the 3-day weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) immediately before Thanksgiving), and the second firearm deer season (the 4-day weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) following Thanksgiving), subject to the following restrictions:

 

1)         Unfilled Youth Deer Permits are not valid for hunting during the first or second firearm deer seasons on public land sites that limit the number of hunters during the firearm season via the use of a site permit quota (i.e., only public sites that allow unrestricted access may be hunted);

 

2)         The hunter must use only firearms allowed in Section 685.30;

 

3)         On private land only, archery equipment, as defined in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 670.30, may be used during the Youth Deer Season, and the first and second firearm deer seasons while hunting with a valid Youth Deer Permit; and

 

4)         Hunters must abide by 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.60 when hunting on Department‑owned, -managed, or -leased sites.

 

b)         Open Counties:  All counties except Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties, and that portion of Kane County east of State Route 47.

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

 

a)         All eligible youth hunters must have a current, valid "Youth Deer Hunt Permit" ($10).  The Youth Deer Season is only open to hunters who have not reached their 18^th birthday prior to the opening date of the 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.  Pursuant to the statewide youth-only deer hunting season Pilot Program created in Section 2.26 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5], the following will apply to all Youth Deer Hunt Permits beginning with the 2020 Youth Deer Season:

 

1)         Youth Deer Hunt Permits will authorize the holder to hunt in any of the open counties of the State, on property where permission to hunt has been obtained from the property owner.

 

2)         On or after January 1, 2023, the Department may analyze the effects of the Pilot Program on the Youth Deer Season, including its effects on hunter participation, hunter satisfaction, hunter distribution and deer harvest.

 

3)         If the Department finds, after thorough analysis, negative impacts to wildlife management associated with the Pilot Program, the Department may amend this Part to prohibit the statewide use of Youth Deer Hunt Permits and resume issuance of county-specific permits.

 

b)         Youth Deer Hunt Permits will be available for sale over-the counter (OTC) from agents beginning the first Tuesday in August through the last day of the Youth Deer Season.  Hunters may purchase only a single permit (either-sex).

 

c)         For the applicant to be eligible to receive a Youth Deer Season Permit ($10), applicant must not have had his or her deer hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State pursuant to Section 3.36 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.36].

 

d)         Recipients of the Youth Deer Season Hunt Permit shall record their signature on the permit and must carry it on their person while hunting.

 

e)         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.

 

f)         A $3 service fee shall 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.

 

g)         Permits issued for the Youth Deer Hunt season will not be counted in the number of gun permits a person can receive for the Firearm and Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season.

 

h)         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)        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 first day of the season listed on the permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

 

B)        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 or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (h)(1)(B) 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 (h)(1)(A) or (B).  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 hunting season for which that cancelled permit was issued.

 

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 or postmarked to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois 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 (h)(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 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.

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.30  Statewide Firearm Requirements for Hunting the Youth Deer Season

 

a)         Legal weapons to take or attempt to take deer during Youth Deer Season are prescribed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30.

 

b)         Archery deer hunters in possession of a valid archery deer permit may hunt during this season provided that, in counties open to youth deer hunting, they wear the orange garments required of gun deer hunters.  The otherwise lawful possession of firearms to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer by persons other than youth deer hunters or their supervisors shall not be prohibited during the Youth Deer Hunting Season as set in Section 685.10.

 

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18749, effective November 2, 2022)

 

Section 685.40  Statewide Deer Hunting Rules

 

a)         Bag limits: One deer per legally authorized permit.  All either-sex permits are subject to the following restrictions:  no hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than 2 antlered deer during a year, including the youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons.  For purposes of this Section, deer seasons are considered to be in the same year if their opening dates fall within the same 12-month period that begins on July 1.

 

b)         Supervision of Youth Hunters

 

1)         Each hunter participating in the Youth Deer Hunting Season while using an Apprentice Hunter License or a Youth Hunting License must be accompanied by a non-hunting, validly-licensed (Illinois hunting license) adult who is 21 years of age or older.  All other hunters (using other types of hunting licenses or license-exempt) participating in the Youth Deer Hunting Season must each be accompanied by a non-hunting supervisor (parent, guardian or responsible adult).  A nonresident supervisor must have a valid Illinois hunting license.

 

2)         The non-hunting supervisor must wear the solid blaze orange/pink garments required of gun deer hunters, and must remain with the hunting youth so as to have the youth under immediate control.  Youths participating in the first firearm deer season using only an unfilled Youth Deer Permit (i.e., youths without a firearm deer season permit for that county) must be accompanied by a supervisor as described in this subsection (b), but, during the firearm deer season, that supervisor may also hunt so long as he/she has the appropriate licenses and permits.  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 be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.

 

c)         The temporary harvest tag must be attached and properly sealed immediately upon kill and before the deer is moved, transported or field dressed.  No person shall leave any deer that has been killed without properly attaching the temporary harvest tag to the deer in the manner prescribed in Section 685.50 and on the permit.

 

d)         Hunters shall not have in their possession, while in the field during the Youth Deer Season, any deer permit issued to another person (permits are non-transferrable).

 

e)         Permits shall not be re-issued in cases involving deer taken that are found to be diseased or spoiled due to previous injury.  Disposal of unfit deer taken shall be the responsibility of the hunter.

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.50  Reporting Harvest of Deer

 

a)         Successful hunters must register their harvest by 10:00 p.m. on the same calendar day the deer 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. If a hunter is not able to locate a harvested deer in sufficient time to enable reporting the harvest by 10:00 p.m., the hunter must immediately report the harvest upon retrieving it. They will be provided with a confirmation number to verify that they checked in their harvest. This number must be written by the hunter on the temporary harvest tag (leg tag). If the condition of the tag precludes writing on the tag in the appropriate space (i.e., bloody, etc.), the confirmation number shall be written elsewhere on the tag, or onto a piece of paper and attached to the deer along with the temporary harvest tag. The deer must remain whole (or field dressed) until it has been checked in. In instances where deer are checked in while the hunter is still afield, the deer may not be dismembered while afield beyond quartering the animal. If quartered, all parts of the carcass (except the entrails removed during field dressing) must be transported together and evidence of sex must remain naturally attached to one quarter. Evidence of sex is: 

 

1)         For a buck:  head with antlers attached to carcass or attached testicle, scrotum, or penis.

 

2)         For a doe:  head attached to carcass or attached udder (mammary) or vulva.

 

b)         The harvest tag (leg tag) and confirmation number must remain attached to the deer until it is at the legal residence of the person who legally took or possessed the deer and final processing is completed. If the head/antlers are delivered to a taxidermist for processing, the confirmation number must be recorded on the "head tag" portion of the permit and both must remain with the deer while at the taxidermist's. If the carcass is taken to a meat processor, the harvest tag (leg tag) with confirmation number must remain with the deer while it is processed and until it is at the legal residence of the person who legally took or possessed the deer. Persons delivering deer/parts of deer to a tanner for processing must supply the tanner with either their deer permit number, their confirmation number, or a written certification by the person from whom the deer was received that the specimen was legally taken or obtained.

 

c)         In counties where Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance is occurring during the firearm deer season (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.45(a)), successful hunters using their Youth Deer Permits during the first weekend of the firearm season may, at their option, register their harvest at a designated firearm deer check station by 8:00 p.m. on the day the deer was killed. In this situation, the "head tag" portion of the permit will be retained at the check station and a permanent harvest tag will be attached to the deer upon registration. Tagging requirements for deer delivered to taxidermists, meat processors and tanners are described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.45(a). Youth hunters required to report under this subsection (c), but who are unable to locate a harvested deer in sufficient time to report the harvest by 8:00 p.m., must report the harvest as described in subsection (a).

 

d)         Site specific reporting requirements must be followed in addition to this Section.

 

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18749, effective November 2, 2022)

 

Section 685.60  Rejection of Application/Revocation of Deer Permits (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.70  Regulations at Various Department-Owned, -Leased or -Managed Sites

 

a)         All the regulations in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510 apply in this Section, unless this Section is more restrictive.

 

b)         Check-in, check-out, and reporting of harvest is required at those sites listed in this Section 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 at the following sites:

 

Apple River Canyon State Park (Salem/Thompson Units only) (2)

 

Argyle Lake State Park (2)

 

Big Grand Pierre Glade State Natural Area (2)

 

Big River State Forest (2)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Cache River State Natural Area (1)

 

Campbell Pond State Habitat 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)

 

Cedar Glen State Natural Area (2)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (2)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Crawford County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Cretaceous Hills State Natural Area (2)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area (1)

 

Devil's Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Dixon Springs State Park (1)

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (2)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (North Allen Branch Unit only) (2)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park Cedar/Draper Bluffs Hunting Area (1)

 

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

 

Fort Massac State Park (2)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (2)

 

Giant City State Park (1)

 

Glass Hill State Natural Area (1)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (2)

 

Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (2)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (2)

 

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

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (1 – except south of Highway 154 and north of Highway 13)

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Mackinaw State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (2)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Mississippi River Pools 17, 18

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22, 24

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Oakford Conservation Area

 

Pere Marquette State Park (2)

 

Prairie Ridge State Natural Area (2)

 

Pyramid State Park (Captain, Denmark, East Conant, Galum, and Park Units) (2)

 

Rall Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Ralph Clover State Natural Area

 

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

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Sahara Woods State Recreation Area (2)

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (2)

 

Seilbeck Forest State Natural Area (2)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Siloam Springs State Park (2)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area (1)

 

Spoon River State Forest (2)

 

Tapley Woods State Natural Area (2)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Trail of Tears State Forest (1)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area – Firing Line Unit (1)

 

Wards Grove State Nature Preserve (2)

 

Weinberg-King State Fish and Wildlife Area, including Scripps and Spunky Bottoms Units (2)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Habitat Area (2)

 

Winston Tunnel State Natural Area (2)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

d)         Statewide regulations shall apply at the following sites, except that hunter quotas shall be filled by mail-in drawing. Information about drawing dates and application procedures will be publicly announced.

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (only in the area between County Highway 14/Friends Creek Road and State Route 48 – both sides of lake) (2)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Upland Management Area only) (2)

 

Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area/Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (2)

 

Iroquois County State Wildlife Area (1)

 

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

 

Kankakee River State Park (2)

 

Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Sangamon County Conservation Area

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.80  Youth White-Tailed Deer Hunt (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 33 Ill. Reg. 11609, effective July 27, 2009)

 

Section 685.90  Heritage Youth Wild Turkey Hunt – Spring Season (Repealed)

                                                                                                                       

(Source:  Repealed at 29 Ill. Reg. 20469, effective December 2, 2005)

 

Section 685.100  Youth Pheasant Hunting (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 29 Ill. Reg. 20469, effective December 2, 2005)

 

Section 685.110  Youth Waterfowl Hunting

 

a)         Permit Requirements

 

1)         Permit reservations shall be accepted starting in September. Initial acceptance dates shall be publicly announced.  Applicants must be between the ages of 10-17 inclusive on the date of the hunt.

 

2)         Only one permit per person shall be issued for the hunt on December 28 at Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) and Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area and on the second Sunday in November of the Illinois Central Zone Waterfowl season at Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit.

 

3)         The permit shall be for the use of the entire blind and it shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to bring one supervising adult who may also hunt if the regular season is open at the date and location of the youth permit hunt. Adults may not hunt during special youth hunts held prior to the opening of the regular waterfowl season.  The supervising adult shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party, and be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.  Each youth and supervising adult may be accompanied by a non-hunting guide. The maximum number of people in a blind is 2 hunting youth, 2 hunting adults and a non-hunting guide.

 

4)         Permit Reservations and Transferability

 

A)        All duplicate permit reservations shall be rejected and the hunter shall forfeit his or her rights to a permit.  Permits are not transferable.  Previous participants are ineligible to apply for a permit.

 

B)        For other information write to:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

One Natural Resources Way

P.O. Box 19457

Springfield IL  62794-9457

 

5)         Permits for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunt will be issued from the Springfield Permit Office.

 

b)         General Waterfowl Hunting Regulations at the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Areas

 

1)         Hours, Permits and Stamp Charges

 

A)        Hunting hours at Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County) and Union County are from legal opening until 12:00 Noon on the day of the Youth Waterfowl Hunt.  Hunting hours at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, Clinton Lake State Recreation Area also including the Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area and the Disabled Hunt Unit, Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area, Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area, Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit and Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit are from statewide opening to 1:00 p.m. on the days of the youth waterfowl hunts.

 

B)        At Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area, Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area and Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County), hunters with Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunt Permit reservations are required to check in at the check station between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.  Permits are void after 5:00 a.m.  A drawing shall be held on the morning of the hunt to allocate blind sites.

 

C)        At Donnelley State Fish and Wildlife Area, the first weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and the third weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of the duck season for the zone the site is located in shall be designated as Youth Hunt days open to hunters 10-17 years old.  Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult.  Blinds not allocated to youth hunters shall be available for adults, except for the third Sunday, when only permitted hunters are allowed.  The blinds will be allocated by drawing the day of the hunt.  Preference will be given to youth hunters who have not been drawn for a previous hunt at the site during the current season.

 

D)        At Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Spring Lake Bottoms Unit, hunters with Illinois Youth Waterfowl Permit reservations are required to check-in at the check station no later than one hour before legal shooting time, after which time permits are void.  A drawing shall be held on the morning of the hunt to allocate blind sites.

 

E)        Larry D. Closson State Habitat Area will be open during the Central Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunting days.  Only one party per day will be assigned to this site, consisting of the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit holder, up to 3 additional youth hunters, and up to 2 non-hunting adult chaperones.  This site does not have any permanent blind structures.  Hunters may construct temporary blinds that must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.

 

F)         At Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – Duck Ranch Unit, hunters with Illinois Youth Waterfowl Permit reservations are required to check in at the check station no later than one hour before legal shooting time, after which time permits are void.  A drawing shall be held on the morning of the hunt to allocate blind sites.  A standby drawing will be held immediately after the permit drawing for any unclaimed blinds by permit holders.

 

G)        Black Crown Marsh State Natural Area will be open during the Northern Zone Youth Waterfowl Hunting season.  Walk-in hunting only.  A hunting party will consist of the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit holder, up to 3 additional youth hunters, and up to 2 non-hunting adult chaperones.  This site does not have any permanent blind structures.  Hunters may construct temporary blinds that must be removed at the end of each day's hunt.  Hunting hours are from legal opening until 1:00 p.m. Hunters must be off the site by 2:00 p.m. Sign-in/sign-out and report harvest at parking area kiosk.

 

H)        There is no fee for the Illinois Youth Waterfowl Hunting Permit.

 

2)         Hunting must be done from assigned blinds only and hunters, unless authorized, shall not move from blind to blind or leave the blind and return.

 

3)         Shotguns must be unloaded and encased at all times when not hunting.

 

4)         At Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area and Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County), each youth shall not possess more than 25 shells.  Each adult shall not possess more than 5 shells for each Canada goose allowed in the daily bag.  Hunters without their guns may leave the blind to retrieve crippled waterfowl.

 

5)         At Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, hunters participating in the youth hunt must sign in and out, no entry into subimpoundments before 4:30 a.m. and must be out of subimpoundments by 2:00 p.m.  A drawing will be held at 4:00 a.m. each day of the youth hunt for hunters wanting to hunt the Casey Fork impoundment.  Drawing will be held at the Cottonwood Access Area.  Airboats are not allowed in Casey Fork subimpoundment, Big Muddy subimpoundment, and the impoundments on Corps of Engineers managed areas during youth waterfowl season.

 

c)         Special Hunts

If, by regulation published in the Federal Register, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets any special dates for youth-only waterfowl hunting, the Department shall, by public announcement, open those Department sites that, under the circumstances prevailing at the time, the Department believes may be opened without unduly disturbing other Department programs. Open sites that require the use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 will be noted in the public announcement.

 

(Source:  Amended at 49 Ill. Reg. 11820, effective September 2, 2025)

 

Section 685.120  Youth Dove Hunting (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 29 Ill. Reg. 20469, effective December 2, 2005)