Section 680.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         Illinois resident hunters must have a current, valid Late-Winter Deer Season Permit ($15), or an unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permit valid for the previous firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer season and valid for one of the open counties.  Nonresident hunters must have an unfilled firearm or muzzleloader deer permit valid for the previous firearm or muzzleloader deer season and valid for one of the open counties.  A Late-Winter Deer Season Permit is issued for one county or special hunt area and is valid only in the county or special hunt area stated on the permit.  Unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permits are valid only for the county for which they were originally issued, except that unfilled landowner property-only hunting firearm deer permits are valid only for the farmlands that the person to whom it was issued owns, leases, or rents within the open counties/portions of counties. 

1)         Unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permits that were originally issued for special hunt areas are not valid during the Late-Winter Season unless:

A)        the hunter's name is redrawn at the daily site lottery to hunt at the same special hunt area during the Late-Winter Season; or

B)        the special hunt area is open to persons with a county permit and the special hunt area does not conduct a daily site lottery. 

2)         Sites conducting a daily site lottery will be announced publicly.  For permit applications and other information write to:

Department of Natural Resources

(Late-Winter Deer Season)

Deer Permit Office

Post Office Box 19227

Springfield IL 62794-9227

b)         Applications shall be accepted as soon as they are available through the tenth weekday in November for the Late-Winter Deer Season in the following January.  Applications received after the tenth weekday in November shall not be included in the drawing.  Permits shall be allocated in a random drawing.  Permits not correctly filled out shall be rejected from the random drawing.  Permits shall be issued as antlerless-only.

c)         In-person, mail-in and electronic applications shall receive equal treatment in the drawings.

d)         Each applicant must apply using the official agency Late-Winter Deer Permit Application, and must complete all portions of the form. 

e)         For the applicant to be eligible to receive a Late-Winter Deer Permit ($15), he must be an Illinois resident and not have had his deer hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State pursuant to Section 3.36 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.36].  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident deer permit.

f)          It shall be unlawful to apply for or receive more than one permit for the Late-Winter Deer season.

g)         Applications shall be accepted at the counter window of the permit office; however, permits shall be mailed.

h)         Recipients of the Late-Winter Deer Hunting Permit shall record their signature on the permit and must carry it on their person while hunting.

i)          Permits are not transferable.  Refunds shall not be granted unless the Department has erroneously issued the permit after the quota has been depleted or where the applicant was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit.

j)          A $3 service fee shall be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail, then there shall be no charge. Monies derived from this source shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

k)         Hunting without a valid permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 13180, effective August 30, 2007)