State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois Digest of Hunt ing and Tra ppi ng REGULATIONS 2018–2019 Use through July 31, 2019 or until the 2019-2020 digest is printed. www.instagram.com/illinoisdnr/ Message From the Director Digest Update IDNR’s Hunter Heritage Program endeavored to improve the As director of the Illinois Department of clarity and ease of finding hunting and trapping information Natural Resources, it is my pleasure to relevant to your specific interests in the digest this year. For welcome you to the 2018-19 hunting and example, if you want to hunt turkey, you should be able to trapping season in Illinois – and to thank find all the information you need to hunt turkey in one section. you for taking time to review this updated All websites listed in the digest can be clicked to go directly edition of the Illinois Digest of Hunting to those sites. Due to federally-approved waterfowl harvest and Trapping Regulations . limits now being available earlier, waterfowl regulations and information were also added into this digest to further simplify This digest includes a detailed review finding information without the need for a separate waterfowl of Illinois hunting and trapping season digest. The IDNR appreciates your feedback and will continue dates, possession limits, hunting zone boundaries, statewide to work diligently to make hunting and trapping regulations in hunting regulations, license and permit information, sunrise Illinois easier to understand. and sunset tables, and other details you should find helpful. This publication is a summary of Illinois hunting and trapping New or amended regulations for 2018-19 are in shaded print regulations prepared for your convenience. It is designed as to highlight them. Please take time to review the digest and a guide to help you understand the laws and regulations for become familiar with all the regulations regarding your hunting hunting and trapping in Illinois. It also provides information and trapping interests before heading to the field. such as seasons, harvest limits, and required permits for these opportunities in Illinois. It is not a legal document and The digest also contains information on Illinois public hunting is not intended to cover all hunting and trapping laws and areas, frequently asked questions, and on efforts to maintain regulations. This document does not contain the exact healthy wildlife populations. wording of the Illinois’ Adopted Administrative Rules available Our hunting heritage in Illinois is well known around the state at www.dnr.illinois.gov/adrules/pages/default.aspx or the and throughout the country. The Illinois Department of Wildlife Code of the Illinois Compiled Statutes available at Natural Resources is committed to protecting our wildlife www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs2.asp?ChapterID=43 . resources, and to expanding hunting opportunities. We recognize the important role hunters and trappers play in Role of Hunters as Stewards of Wildlife and Habitat managing wildlife – and we thank you for taking part in these activities and buying the licenses and permits that support • The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, was enacted by our programs. congress in 1937 in response to hunter and firearm industry concern of overexploitation and loss of We sincerely appreciate your interest in hunting and trapping wildlife and habitat. in Illinois, and wish you the best for a great season. • Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act funds come from a 10–11% excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. • Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act funds are collected by the U.S. Department of the Interior that allocates funds to state wildlife management agencies for hunter education programs, shooting ranges, and improving game and non-game wildlife populations, including habitat management and research. Wayne A. Rosenthal , Director • The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act has been crucial in successfully Illinois Department of Natural Resources managing many species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl, and numerous non-game wildlife in Illinois. • Between July 1, 2017 and June 30th, 2018, the IDNR was allocated 15.4 million dollars, which was used for numerous benefits to outdoor enthusiasts. • Increasing the number of people hunting and trapping is critical to sustaining Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act monies needed to maintain healthy wildlife populations, habitat and our rich heritage of outdoor recreation in Illinois. • By purchasing hunting licenses and equipment, you are a steward of wildlife and habitat in Illinois. The IDNR thanks you for your stewardship and hopes you continue to hunt, and introduce ‘first-timers’ to those activities. Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations ON THE COVER Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, A white-tailed deer on Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in DeWitt County. sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated Photo courtesy of Ryan Maxwell of DeWitt, Illinois. against, contact the funding sources civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois. Printed on recycled paper. This information may be provided in an alternative format if required. Contact the IDNR clearinghouse at 217/782-7498 for assistance. DNR-ORC-18-0102 • 275M • 07/18 • IOCI 18-0596 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Table of Contents 2018-2019 Illinois Hunting Information New Regulations for 2018-2019 – New laws, new programs and pending legislative changes are indicated by yellow shading . Prior to undertaking activities subject to change, review information published at www.dnr.illinois.gov , your local newspaper’s outdoor writer’s column or check with your local IDNR office for more information. Message from Director Wayne Rosenthal . .Inside Front Cover Digest Update . .Inside Front Cover Hunters as Stewards of Wildlife and Habitat . .Inside Front Cover New Regulations . .1 IDNR Contact Information . .1 Sunrise-Sunset Table . .2 Statewide Regulations . .3 Base Hunting Licenses . .3 Definitions . .5 Statewide Laws . .10 Conservation Police . .11 Deer Hunting . .13 Turkey Hunting . .23 Waterfowl Hunting . .28 Upland Game Hunting . .36 Furbearer Trapping and Hunting . .43 Matt Lenell harvested his first wild turkey on IRAP land this past spring, after Wildlife Conflicts Information . .48 participating in the Illinois Learn to Hunt http://www.learntohuntil.com/ program. Hunting Areas Information . .49 New Regulations/Information for 2018-2019 IDNR Website Index Solid Blaze Pink Clothing . .16 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Hunting with a Crossbow . .19 https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Pages/default.aspx County-specific Archery Deer Change . .20 Hunting/Trapping Information Shot Type Comparison Table . .32 https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/default.aspx Conversion to Non-toxic Shot . .38 Hunting/Trapping Licenses Green Hides of Furbearers . .43 https://www.il.wildlifelicense.com/license.php?action=custlkup Trapping Tags Information . .44 Public Hunting Areas https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/PublicHuntingAreas.aspx For Further Information Contact Hunter Safety Certification https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Pages/HunterSafety.aspx Target Illinois Poachers . (877) 2DNRLAW (236-7529) Springfield Offices - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Trapper Safety Certification One Natural Resources Way • Springfield, IL 62702-1271 https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/safety/Pages/Trapping.aspx Special Hunting Permits . (217) 782-7305 License Office . (217) 782-2965 Conservation Police Wildlife Resources . (217) 782-6384 https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LawEnforcement/Pages/default.aspx Law Enforcement . (217) 782-6431 Telecommunications Device Office of the Director for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired (TTY) . (217) 782-9175 https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/director/Pages/default.aspx 1 www.dnr.illinois.gov Sunris e–Sunset Time Table The map and table provide Central Standard Time sunrise August September October November December Day Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set and sunset times by region from August through May. 1 5:51 8:07 6:21 7:24 6:49 6:35 7:22 5:50 6:56 4:28 2 5:52 8:06 6:22 7:23 6:50 6:34 7:23 5:49 6:57 4:28 3 5:53 8:05 6:23 7:21 6:51 6:32 7:25 5:48 6:58 4:28 Match month and date with the zone you hunt in and 4 5:54 8:04 6:24 7:20 6:52 6:30 6:26 4:47 6:59 4:27 add the appropriate number of minutes for the sunrise/ 5 5:55 8:02 6:24 7:18 6:53 6:29 6:27 4:46 7:00 4:27 6 5:56 8:01 6:25 7:16 6:54 6:27 6:28 4:45 7:01 4:27 sunset time. These times have been adjusted to reflect 7 5:57 8:00 6:26 7:15 6:55 6:26 6:29 4:44 7:02 4:27 the correct time on all dates, including Standard Time 8 5:58 7:59 6:27 7:13 6:56 6:24 6:30 4:43 7:03 4:27 9 5:59 7:58 6:28 7:12 6:57 6:22 6:32 4:42 7:03 4:27 and Daylight Saving Time. This table is also available at 10 6:00 7:56 6:29 7:10 6:58 6:21 6:33 4:41 7:04 4:27 www. dnr. illinois. gov/ hunting . 11 6:01 7:55 6:30 7:08 6:59 6:19 6:34 4:40 7:05 4:27 12 6:02 7:54 6:31 7:07 7:00 6:18 6:35 4:39 7:06 4:28 13 6:03 7:52 6:32 7:05 7:02 6:16 6:36 4:38 7:07