Section 660.30  Statewide Muzzleloading Rifle Requirements

a)         The only legal hunting device is a single or double barreled muzzleloading firearm of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least 16 inches in length.

b)         The standards and specifications for muzzleloading firearms and ammunition are as follows:

1)         A muzzleloading firearm is defined as a firearm that is incapable of being loaded from the breech end.

2)         The minimum size of the muzzleloading firearm projectile shall be .44 caliber.  A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or a part of the projectile.  Non-expanding, military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to harvest white-tailed deer; only soft point or expanding bullets (including copper/copper alloy rounds designed for hunting) are legal ammunition.

3)         Only black powder or a "black powder substitute" such as Pyrodex may be used.  Modern smokeless powders (nitrocellulose-based) are an approved blackpowder substitute only in muzzleloading firearms that are specifically designed for their use.

4)         Only percussion caps, wheellock, matchlock or flint type ignition may be used, except the Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) electronic ignition shall be legal to use.

5)         Removal of percussion cap or removal of prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way down or removal of prime powder from flashpan and wheel unwound or removal of prime powder and match with match not lit, or removal of the battery from the CVA electronic ignition muzzleloader, shall constitute an unloaded muzzleloading firearm.

c)         It shall be unlawful to use or possess any other firearm or ammunition in the field while hunting white-tailed deer during the muzzleloading rifle deer season.  However, the lawful possession of firearms to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer by persons other than muzzleloading deer hunters shall not be prohibited during the muzzleloading rifle deer season as set in Section 660.10.

d)         Violation of this Section is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 9325, effective June 13, 2008)