Section 650.22  Deer Permit Requirements – Special Hunts

a)         Special hunt sites are defined as those sites which are owned or controlled by agencies/entities other than the Department, or sites at which the Department only controls a portion of the property designated for deer hunting, which issue deer hunting permits through the statewide lottery process.  The Permit Office issues deer hunting permits through a computerized drawing for the following sites, in addition to the Department-owned or -managed sites listed in Section 650.60(i).  The permit preference system does not apply to special hunt areas or to State sites allocating permits in the lottery.

Burning Star 5 (only antlerless deer or antlered deer having at least 4 points on one side may be harvested; the first and second season are considered separate hunt choices, and permit applications must specify which season they are applying for in the county choice or hunt area field of the application; tree stands and blinds used for deer hunting must be removed from the area at the end of each day's hunt; deer hunters may begin scouting the Saturday prior to the first firearm deer hunting season)

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (the first and second season are considered separate hunt choices, and permit applicants must specify which season they are applying for in the County Choice or Hunt Area field of the application.  Permits may be issued as antlerless-only without the normal bonus requirement.  Standby hunting will be allowed if additional permits are available at the site)

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – Disabled Hunt (first season only)

Joliet Army Training Area (Will County)

Lake Shelbyville Project Lands (Moultrie County) (it is unlawful to drive deer)

Lake Shelbyville Project Lands except Wolf Creek State Park (Shelby County) (it is unlawful to drive deer)

Lost Mound Unit – Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (first season only; permit drawing will be conducted by USFWS; preference given to disabled hunters; bonus permits will be issued at site; antlerless deer only except that either-sex bonus permits may be sold to hunters who previously harvested an antlerless deer on site that season)

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (no handguns allowed; additional site pass is required; check-in, check-out and reporting of harvest is required)

b)         Providing false information on an application is a Class A misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.38).  Hunting deer prior to ½ hour before sunrise or after ½ hour after sunset is a Class A misdemeanor with a $500 minimum and $5,000 maximum fine, in addition to other statutory penalties (see 520 ILCS 5/2.33(y)).  Taking an antlered deer with an antlerless permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).  Hunting after sunset or outside the set season is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 9300, effective June 13, 2008)