SB1981 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 09746 SLF 19915 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1981

Introduced 2/10/2017, by Sen. Don Harmon

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.30	from Ch. 61, par. 2.30
520 ILCS 5/2.30b
520 ILCS 5/2.30c

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to trap bobcat in this State at any time. Provides that no person shall knowingly sell, offer for sale, or purchase a bobcat pelt of a bobcat taken in this State. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

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 Sections 2.30, 2.30b, and 2.30c as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.30) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.30)

Sec. 2.30. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or to hunt with gun, dog, dog and gun, or bow and arrow, gray fox, red fox, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, badger, bobcat, and opossum except during the open season which will be set annually by the Director between 12:01 a.m., November 1 to 12:00 midnight, February 15, both inclusive.

It shall be unlawful for any person to trap bobcat in this State at any time.

It is unlawful to pursue any fur-bearing mammal with a dog or dogs between the hours of sunset and sunrise during the 10 day period preceding the opening date of the raccoon hunting season and the 10 day period following the closing date of the raccoon hunting season except that the Department may issue field trial permits in accordance with Section 2.34 of this Act. A non-resident from a state with more restrictive fur-bearer pursuit regulations for any particular species than provided for that species in this Act may not pursue that species in Illinois except during the period of time that Illinois residents are allowed to pursue that species in the non-resident's state of residence. Hound running areas approved by the Department shall be exempt from the provisions of this Section.

It shall be unlawful to take beaver, river otter, weasel, mink, or muskrat except during the open season set annually by the Director, and then, only with traps, except that a firearm, pistol, or airgun of a caliber not larger than a .22 long rifle may be used to remove the animal from the trap.

It shall be unlawful for any person to trap beaver or river otter with traps except during the open season which will be set annually by the Director between 12:01 a.m., November 1st and 12:00 midnight, March 31, both inclusive.

Coyote may be taken by trapping methods only during the period from September 1 to March 1, both inclusive, and by hunting methods at any time.

Striped skunk may be taken by trapping methods only during the period from September 1 to March 1, both inclusive, and by hunting methods at any time.

Muskrat may be taken by trapping methods during an open season set annually by the Director.

For the purpose of taking fur-bearing mammals, the State may be divided into management zones by administrative rule.

It shall be unlawful to take or possess more than the season limit or possession limit of fur-bearing mammals that shall be set annually by the Director. The season limit for river otter shall not exceed 5 river otters per person per season. The season limit for bobcat shall not exceed one bobcat per permit. Possession limits shall not apply to fur buyers, tanners, manufacturers, and taxidermists, as defined by this Act, who possess fur-bearing mammals in accordance with laws governing such activities.

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the taking or possessing of fur-bearing mammals found dead or unintentionally killed by a vehicle along a roadway during the open season provided the person who possesses such fur-bearing mammals has all appropriate licenses, stamps, or permits; the season for which the species possessed is open; and that such possession and disposal of such fur-bearing mammals is otherwise subject to the provisions of this Section.

The provisions of this Section are subject to modification by administrative rule.

(Source: P.A. 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 98-924, eff. 8-15-14; 99-33, eff. 1-1-16.)

(520 ILCS 5/2.30b)

Sec. 2.30b. River otter and bobcat pelts.

(a) The pelts of river otters and bobcats shall be tagged in accordance with federal regulation 50 CFR 23.69(e). The Department may require harvest registration and set forth procedures, fees for registration, and the process of tagging pelts in administrative rules. Fees for registration and tagging shall not exceed $5 per pelt.

(b) No person shall knowingly sell, offer for sale, or purchase a bobcat pelt of a bobcat taken in this State.

(Source: P.A. 99-33, eff. 1-1-16.)

(520 ILCS 5/2.30c)

Sec. 2.30c. Bobcat hunting and trapping permit; fee. Before any person may lawfully hunt or trap a bobcat, he or she shall first obtain a "Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permit" in accordance with regulations set forth in an administrative rule of the Department. The fee for a Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permit, if any, shall not exceed $5. The Department may limit the number of Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permits that are made available each season and take other actions to regulate harvest in accordance with Sections 1.3 and 2.30 of this Act. The harvest of bobcats in this State shall be non-detrimental, as defined by federal regulations (50 CFR 23.61), and as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with 50 CFR 23.69.

(Source: P.A. 99-33, eff. 1-1-16.)

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

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