PART 740 CROW, WOODCOCK, SNIPE, RAIL AND TEAL HUNTING : Sections Listing

TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE
PART 740 CROW, WOODCOCK, SNIPE, RAIL AND TEAL HUNTING

AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by Sections 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.18, 2.26, 2.33 and 3.5 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5] and Migratory Bird Hunting (50 CFR 20, August 25, 1987).

SOURCE: Adopted at 5 Ill. Reg. 8896, effective August 25, 1981; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 10645; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 357, effective December 23, 1981; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 9648, effective July 21, 1982; amended at 7 Ill. Reg. 8815, effective July 15, 1983; amended at 8 Ill. Reg. 16796, effective August 30, 1984; amended at 9 Ill. Reg. 11620, effective July 16, 1985; peremptory amendments at 9 Ill. Reg. 14383, effective September 5, 1985; amended at 10 Ill. Reg. 15607, effective September 16, 1986; amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 9575, effective May 5, 1987; emergency amendments at 11 Ill. Reg. 15253, effective August 28, 1987, for a maximum of 150 days; emergency expired January 25, 1988; amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 12261, effective July 15, 1988; amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 12869, effective July 21, 1989; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 11207, effective June 29, 1990; amended at 15 Ill. Reg. 10057, effective June 24, 1991; amended at 16 Ill. Reg. 11162, effective June 30, 1992; amended at 17 Ill. Reg. 10877, effective July 1, 1993; amended at 18 Ill. Reg. 9998, effective June 21, 1994; amended at 19 Ill. Reg. 10577, effective July 1, 1995; amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 10851, effective August 5, 1996; amended at 21 Ill. Reg. 9061, effective June 26, 1997; amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 14782, effective August 3, 1998; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 9033, effective July 28, 1999; amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 8901, effective June 19, 2000; amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 11364, effective August 14, 2001; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 13605, effective September 3, 2002; amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 12882, effective September 1, 2004; amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 9814, effective June 27, 2005; amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 12267, effective June 28, 2006; amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 9199, effective June 18, 2007; amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 10125, effective June 30, 2008; amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 9719, effective June 26, 2009; amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 12848, effective August 20, 2010; amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 13254, effective July 26, 2011; amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 20735, effective December 12, 2013; amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 11461, effective August 3, 2015; amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 10690, effective July 20, 2016; amended at 41 Ill. Reg. 8798, effective June 28, 2017; amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 9644, effective August 23, 2019; amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12837, effective September 24, 2021.

 

Section 740.5  Applicable Federal Regulations

 

Federal Register documents listing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations and establishing seasons for migratory birds may be viewed at:  www.fws.gov/policy/frsystem.

 

(Source:  Added at 45 Ill. Reg. 12837, effective September 24, 2021)

 

Section 740.10  Statewide Regulations

 

a)         Woodcock, snipe, crow and rail regulations are in accordance with Federal Regulations (50 CFR 20, effective August 26, 1990) (no incorporation in this Part includes later amendments or editions) unless the regulations in this Part are more restrictive.

 

b)         The regulations in Section 2.33 of the Wildlife Code on illegal devices shall apply to this Part, unless federal regulations are more restrictive.

 

c)         Woodcock

 

1)         Season dates, daily limits and possession limits are in accordance with federal regulations.

 

2)         Hunting hours:  Sunrise to Sunset

 

d)         Snipe (Common)

 

1)         Season dates, bag limits and possession limits are in accordance with federal regulations.

 

2)         Hunting hours:  Sunrise to Sunset

 

e)         Rail (Sora and Virginia)

 

1)         Season dates, bag limits and possession limits are in accordance with federal regulations

 

2)         Hunting hours:  Sunrise to Sunset

 

f)         Teal

 

1)         Teal regulations are in accordance with federal regulations, (50 CFR 20.103, effective August 26, 1990; 50 CFR 20.104, effective August 26, 1990; 50 CFR 20.105, effective August 26, 1990; 50 CFR 20.106, effective August 26, 1990; and 50 CFR 20.109, effective August 26, 1990), unless the regulations in this Part are more restrictive.

 

2)         It shall be unlawful to take, possess, transport, or use migratory waterfowl except during such period of time and in such manner and numbers as may be provided in the Federal "Migratory Bird Treaty Act" (16 USC 703-711), the "Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act" (16 USC 718 et seq.), and annual "Rules and Regulations for Migratory Bird Hunting" (50 CFR 20, effective August 29, 1990) (collectively referred to in this Part as federal regulations), or contrary to the Wildlife Code.

 

3)         Hunting hours are sunrise-sunset.

 

g)         Crow

 

1)         Season dates:  October 28 through the next following February 28.

 

2)         Hunting hours are ½ hour before sunrise through sunset.

 

h)         It shall be unlawful while attempting to take teal, rail or snipe to have in possession any shotgun shells not approved as non-toxic by federal regulations. Violation is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.18-1(b)).

 

i)          Hunting during the closed season, over daily bag limit, or over possession limit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.18).

 

j)          Woodcock, Snipe, Rail and Teal – Hunting prior to sunrise or after sunset is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.18).  Hunting before ½ hour prior to sunrise or after ½ hour after sunset is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum $500 fine and a maximum $5,000 fine in addition to other statutory penalties (see 520 ILCS 5/2.33(y)).

 

k)         Crow – Hunting ½ hour after sunset is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.18).  Hunting before ½ hour prior to sunrise or after ½ hour after sunset is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum $500 fine and a maximum $5,000 fine in addition to other statutory penalties (see 520 ILCS 5/2.33(y)).

 

(Source:  Amended at 31 Ill. Reg. 9199, effective June 18, 2007)

 

Section 740.20  Regulations at Various Department-Owned or -Managed Sites

 

a)         All the rules in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510 apply in this Section, unless this Section is more restrictive.  Violation of a site specific regulation is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.20). Sites that require use of windshield cards by hunters as specified in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10 are followed by (1).

 

b)         Woodcock, snipe and rail hunting; statewide regulations as provided for in this Part shall apply at the following areas (exceptions are in parentheses):

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (1)

 

Anderson Lake Conservation Area (closed 7 days before duck season)

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Big River State Forest (1)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Butterfield Trail State Recreation Area (1)

 

Cache River State Natural Area

 

Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area (1)

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters – Corps of Engineers managed lands

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (sub-impoundment area closes 7 days prior to the start of the waterfowl season for the zone in which Carlyle Lake is located)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (1)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (1)

 

Crawford County State Conservation Area (1)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area

 

Devil's Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (1)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park (North of Allen Branch and west of Peppenhorst Branch only) (1)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park

 

Ft. de Chartres State Historic Site (hunting with muzzleloading shotgun only)

 

Ft. Massac State Park (1)

 

Fox Ridge State Park (woodcock only; 4:00 p.m. daily closings) (1)

 

Giant City State Park

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (1)

 

Hamilton County State Conservation Area (statewide hours until rabbit season, then 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1)

 

Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area (woodcock only; closes October 31) (1)

 

Hidden Springs State Forest (4:00 p.m. daily closing) (1)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Public Hunting Area) (Alexander County)

 

Iroquois County State Wildlife Management Area (season closes the day before permit pheasant season; 4:00 p.m. daily closing; sign in/out required; closed to snipe hunting) (1)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunters are restricted to the Open Units portion of the site during the controlled pheasant season, except those hunters who possess a valid free upland game permit (1)

 

Jubilee College State Park (season coincides with Jubilee Upland season, 17 Ill. Adm. Code 530.110)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (Doza Creek Waterfowl Management Area closed 7 days prior to waterfowl season; the defined Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed)

 

Kickapoo State Recreation Area (woodcock only; 4:00 p.m. daily closing; closed during firearm deer season) (1)

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Lake Shelbyville – Eagle Creek State Park (woodcock only; 4:00 p.m. daily closing; closes opening day of site's pheasant season) (1)

 

Mackinaw State Fish and Wildlife Area (woodcock only; closed during firearm deer season) (1)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – All Units (open during teal and early goose season only) (1)

 

Meeker State Habitat Area (1)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area (woodcock only; 4:00 p.m. daily closing; closed during firearm deer season) (1)

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area (Pools 25 and 26)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, and 18

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22 and 24

 

Moraine View State Park (woodcock only; 4:00 p.m. daily closing; season closes the day before site's controlled pheasant season) (1)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (woodcock only; closed during firearm deer season) (1)

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area (West subunit only; woodcock only)

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark and East Conant Units (open to hunters with a free upland game permit, daily draw waterfowl permit and windshield card) (1)

 

Pyramid State Park – Galum and Park Units (1)

 

Ramsey Lake State Park (statewide hours until rabbit season begins; then 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1)

 

Randolph County State Conservation Area (woodcock only)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Red Hills State Park (1)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Corps of Engineers managed areas of Rend Lake

 

Rice Lake State Wildlife Area (season open during teal season only; sunrise until 1:00 p.m.)

 

Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (statewide hours until rabbit season, then 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1)

 

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area (statewide hours until rabbit season, then 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (During the controlled pheasant hunting season, hunters must abide by those portions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 530.105 and 530.110 which pertain to Sand Ridge State Forest) (1)

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (4:00 p.m. daily closing) (1)

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area (1)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area

 

Snake Den Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area/Victoria Pheasant Habitat Area (closes September 30) (1)

 

Spoon River State Forest (1)

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (statewide hours until rabbit season, then 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) (1)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (non-toxic shot only for woodcock hunting in waterfowl rest areas) (1)

 

Trail of Tears State Forest

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line Management Area only)

 

Washington County State Conservation Area (woodcock only)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (1)

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit (1)

 

Wildcat Hollow State Forest

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

c)         Woodcock, snipe and rail hunting permitted, exceptions as noted in parentheses.  Hunters must obtain a permit from site office and permit must be in possession while hunting.  Failure to report harvest by February 15 will result in loss of hunting privileges at that site for the following year.

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) − Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Unit (permit required)

 

d)         Teal hunting; statewide regulations as provided for in this Part shall apply on the following sites, except no permanent blinds allowed except as authorized in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 590.15, 590.20, 590.40 and 590.50 (exceptions are in parentheses):

 

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Cache River State Natural Area

 

Campbell Pond State Wildlife Management Area (1)

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Carlyle Lake Lands and Waters – Corps of Engineers managed lands (waters of Peppenhorst Branch and Allen Branch north of the buoys only)

 

Carlyle Lake State Fish andWildlife Area

 

Chain O'Lakes State Park (hunting is allowed only from numbered blind sites; the blinds need not be completed)

 

Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (1)

 

Clear Lake State Waterfowl Management Area (1)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area (hunting in waterfowl areas East of Parnell Bridge and North of Route 54 only)

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunters must sign in prior to hunting and sign out reporting harvest at the end of each day; hunting from staked sites only; no permanent blinds; hunting by boat access only; no cutting vegetation on site; hunting north of North 6th Avenue only; four hunters per blind site; no fishing north of North 6th Avenue during this season; shooting hours from legal opening to 9:00 a.m.; all hunters must be signed out by 10:00 a.m.)

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area

 

Des Plaines State Conservation Area (hunting is allowed only from numbered blind sites; the blinds need not be completed) (1)

 

Devil's Island State Wildlife Management Area

 

Dog Island State Wildlife Management Area (1)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park – North Allen Branch Waterfowl Management Area (1)

 

Embarras River Bottoms State Habitat Area (1)

 

Ft. de Chartres State Historic Site (hunting is allowed from anchored, portable boat blinds only)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area – Public Hunting Area (Alexander County)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) (hunting is allowed only from numbered blind sites; blind builders must claim their blinds 1 hour before shooting time each day or blind is open to the public; blinds need not be completed; hunters must sign in at the Main Office prior to hunting and sign out to report harvest after the hunt)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) − Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Unit (permit required)

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area (the defined Baldwin Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is closed)

 

Lake Shelbyville – Corps of Engineers Managed Lands and Waters

 

Lake Sinnissippi State Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting is allowed only from numbered blind sites; blind builders must claim their blinds ½ hour before shooting time each day or blind is open to the public; blinds need not be completed)

 

Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area – all management units (1)

 

Meredosia Lake

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Waterfowl Management Area (Mississippi River Pools 25 and 26) (blind builders must claim their blinds ½ hour before shooting time or the blind is open for that day's hunt; no hunting allowed in the designated Batchtown waterfowl rest area, Crull Hollow waterfowl rest area and Godar waterfowl rest area)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17 and 18

 

Mississippi River Pools 21, 22 and 24

 

Oakford State Conservation Area

 

Pekin Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Pyramid State Park − Captain, Denmark, East Conant, and Galum Units (no hunting in waterfowl rest areas) (1)

 

Quincy Bay (Mississippi River Pool 21)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Corps of Engineers managed areas of Rend Lake (no trespassing or hunting allowed on Rend Lake Refuge during teal or early Canada goose seasons)

 

Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (check in and check out required; sunrise until 1:00 p.m.)

 

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area (1)

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Snake Den Hollow State Fish and Wildlife Area/Victoria Pheasant Habitat Area (1)

 

Starved Rock State Park (hunting allowed only from numbered blind sites; blinds need not be completed)

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (walk-in hunting in the subimpoundment only) (1)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area (Firing Line Unit only)

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit (1)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

e)         Crow Hunting

 

1)         Statewide regulations as provided for in this Part shall apply at the following sites (season dates in parentheses):

 

Alvah Borah State Habitat Area (1)

 

Anderson Lake State Conservation Area

 

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Big River State Forest (1)

 

Burning Star State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area

 

Giant City State Park (January 1 through the statewide closing; hunters must sign in and out reporting harvest at the hunter check station)

 

Green River State Wildlife Area (January 1 through statewide closing) (1)

 

Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (East and West Open Units) (1)

 

Mackinaw State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17, 18

 

Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area (Pools 25 and 26)

 

Pyramid State Park – Captain, Denmark, East Conant, Galum and Park Units (no hunting in waterfowl rest area) (1)

 

Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Corps of Engineers managed areas of Rend Lake

 

Sam Dale Lake State Conservation Area (1)

 

Sand Ridge State Forest (1)

 

Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area (day after Canada goose season closes through statewide closing; nontoxic shot only (1))

 

Shelbyville State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Spoon River State Forest (1)

 

Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area (1)

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area (non-toxic shot only for crow hunting in waterfowl rest areas) (1)

 

Weinberg-King State Park – Spunky Bottoms Unit (1)

 

Wise Ridge State Natural Area

 

2)         Crow hunting permitted, exceptions as noted in parentheses.  Hunters must obtain a permit from site office and permit must be in possession while hunting.  Failure to report harvest by March 15 will result in loss of hunting privileges at that site for the following year:

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) (February 1-28)

 

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County) – Gabaret, Mosenthein, Chouteau Island Unit

 

3)         All hunters must make a reasonable effort to retrieve downed birds.  All crows must be removed from the site by the hunter.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12837, effective September 24, 2021)