Illinois Department of Natural Resources JB Pritzker, Governor One Natural Resources Way ∙ Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271 Colleen Callahan, Director www.dnr.illinois.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rachel Torbert October 20, 2020 OFFICE: 217-785-3953 CELL: 217-685-1163
[email protected] IDNR Sets Health and Safety Procedures for Deer Hunting at State Sites SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced changes to 2020- 2021 deer hunting procedures at state sites. The changes, health and safety protocols implemented in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, will provide greater protection to both the hunting public and site staff during the season. Hunters should follow all public health guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, including wearing masks when social distancing cannot be achieved and refraining from congregating in parking lot areas. Through responsible actions, hunters can help ensure that site hunting programs continue to offer Illinoisans healthy outdoor recreation opportunities. The following changes in regulations will apply to IDNR sites participating in the deer hunting program: 1. No standby deer hunting will occur on state sites for the 2020-2021 hunting seasons. Deer hunting during the Firearm, Muzzleloading Rifle, CWD, and Late Winter Deer Seasons on state sites where special permits are issued through the regular statewide drawing will be limited to those persons already in possession of a site permit at the beginning of the season. In the past, standby drawings were held to fill unmet quotas or allow additional hunters to go afield once others had harvested deer. These drawings often resulted in crowded conditions at site offices.