TITLE 17: CONSERVATION
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
SUBCHAPTER b: FISH AND WILDLIFE
PART 750 SALVAGE PERMITS FOR DEER

Section 750.10 Deer Killed by a Motor Vehicle

Section 750.20 Deer Killed by Other Methods

Section 750.30 Additional Regulations


AUTHORITY: Implementing and authorized by Sections 1.4, 2.24 and 2.26 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/1.4, 2.24 and 2.26].


SOURCE: Adopted at 4 Ill. Reg. 37, p. 759, effective September 4, 1980; emergency amendment at 5 Ill. Reg. 7259, effective July 1, 1981, for a maximum of 150 days; codified at 5 Ill. Reg. 10646; amended at 5 Ill. Reg. 13215, effective November 16, 1981; amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 7394, effective June 11, 1982; amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 2262, effective January 20, 1987; amended at 14 Ill. Reg. 13519, effective August 10, 1990; recodified by changing the agency name from Department of Conservation to Department of Natural Resources at 20 Ill. Reg. 9389; amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 8387, effective July 7, 1999; amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 4204, effective March 11, 2002; amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 7713, effective May 20, 2010; amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 13627, effective September 13, 2016.

 

Section 750.10  Deer Killed by a Motor Vehicle

 

A whitetail deer that is killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle may only be legally possessed by an individual if the following criteria are met:

 

a)         Only citizens of the State of Illinois who are not delinquent in child support may possess or transport whitetail deer that have been killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle.  The driver of a motor vehicle involved in a vehicle-deer collision has priority in possessing the deer. There is no limit to the number of deer that may be possessed.

 

b)         Individuals who claim a deer killed in a vehicle collision shall report the possession of the road-kill deer to the Department of Natural Resources within 24 hours via the Department's website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.  The individual claiming the deer must provide the following information:

 

1)         date the deer was claimed;

 

2)         sex of the deer;

 

3)         if a male deer with antlers, how many points (antler projections measuring 1 inch or greater in length);

 

4)         if antlers are present, are they in velvet;

 

5)         if the deer is a fawn, are spots still present on the hide;

 

6)         is the deer hide all white or mostly white;

 

7)         location of the kill; and

 

8)         full name, including middle initial, date of birth, customer ID number or Social Security Number, mailing address and telephone number.

 

c)         After making a report to the Department, the individual making the report will receive a Report ID from the Department.

 

d)         Individuals who claim a deer killed in a vehicle collision shall keep a record of their report of the road-kill deer until deer parts are consumed or are no longer possessed by any person.  The record must include the individual's Report ID.  Upon request of a peace officer, individuals shall furnish the Report ID of any deer in their possession.

 

e)         A salvage tag is not required for road-kill deer.  If a deer is taken to a commercial business for the purpose of taxidermy, tanning or meat processing, the taxidermist, tannery or meat processor shall document the Report ID and a label attached to the deer must include the Report ID.

 

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 13627, effective September 13, 2016)

 

Section 750.20  Deer Killed by Other Methods

 

A whitetail deer that is killed by methods other than a collision with a vehicle may be legally possessed by an individual if the following criteria are met:

 

a)         Any individual finding a dead or crippled deer, other than those killed in a vehicle-deer collision or legally taken by hunting methods, shall not move, transport or take possession of the deer or deer parts until permission is obtained from a Conservation Police Officer or the DNR Regional Law Enforcement Office.  Permission will be granted to transport if it is determined by an investigation that the person requesting possession is not delinquent in child support and did not illegally kill or injure the deer and the deer is not needed for evidentiary purposes.

 

b)         A salvage tag will be issued for the deer only after the person seeking to possess the deer has provided all information/materials required by Section 750.10(a) and (b) and any additional information requested by the DNR Regional Law Enforcement Office (e.g., photos of the antlers). When retained, the head/antler or hide shall be properly tagged with the salvage tag obtained from the Office of Law Enforcement.  The tag shall remain attached to the antler of the deer that has at least one antler three inches or greater in length. In cases in which the deer does not have at least one antler that is three inches or greater in length, the tag shall be attached to the hide/leg of the deer carcass.  The salvage tag shall remain attached to the deer until its parts are consumed or are no longer possessed by any person.

 

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 13627, effective September 13, 2016)

 

Section 750.30  Additional Regulations

 

a)         Parts of vehicle-killed deer or other salvaged deer shall not be bartered or sold.

 

b)         The State of Illinois is absolved of any and all liability associated with the handling or utilization of vehicle-killed deer or deer killed by other methods.  This, however, does not relieve involved parties from reporting other liabilities to appropriate agencies as required.

 

c)         Except for any Law Enforcement Officers, authorized employee as defined in Section 1.2b of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/1.2b], or specific representatives from park districts or forest preserve districts as authorized by the Director, it shall be illegal to kill a deer crippled by a collision with a motor vehicle or injured by any other method.

 

(Source:  Added at 34 Ill. Reg. 7713, effective May 20, 2010)