Section 970.10  Definitions

 

Animal – Coyote, Red Fox, Rabbit or Raccoon.

 

Department – Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

 

Fit – Animals free of injuries that might prevent them from evading hounds and, in the case of raccoons, foxes and coyotes, treated for parasites (i.e., roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms) and inoculated to prevent diseases (i.e., canine distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) that might infect domestic dogs or others of their kind.

 

Hound – American Foxhound, Basset Hound, Beagle Hound, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, English Coonhound, English Foxhound, Plott Hound, Redbone Coonhound, Treeing Walker Coonhound and mix-bred hounds of these breeds used to pursue animals by scent.

 

Hound Running Area – A fenced enclosure authorized by the Department where fit animals may be pursued by hounds.

 

Licensed Veterinarian – Veterinarians licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to practice veterinary medicine in Illinois.

 

Running Period − The duration of time when hounds are allowed to pursue animals in a hound running area.

 

Section 970.20  Hound Running Area Permits and Fees

 

a)         Hound Running Area Permits are available from the Department upon completion of an application for the permit, payment of the permit fee and approval of the Hound Running Area by the Department. Permit applications are available on the Department's website at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov or by contacting the Department at:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Office of Land Management

One Natural Resources Way

Springfield IL  62702-1271

 

b)         The Department will issue Hound Running Area Permits for coyote and fox areas, for rabbit areas, for raccoon areas and for certain combinations of those animals.

 

c)         Applicants for Hound Running Area Permits must possess a Fur-bearing Mammal Breeders Permit for possession of coyotes, foxes and/or raccoons and a Class B Commercial Game Breeders Permit for possession of rabbits.

 

d)         Hound Running Area Permits are renewable annually and expire on March 31 of each year.  The annual fee for each Hound Running Area Permit is $250.

 

e)         Plans for modifications to established Hound Running Areas must be approved by the Department prior to construction.  Upon completion, modified Hound Running Areas must be approved by the Department prior to any release of animals or hounds.

 

f)         Applicants shall provide a list of licensed trappers and Commercial Game Breeder Permit holders from whom animals will be obtained in accordance with Section 970.60.  Hound Running Area operators shall be limited to 6 licensed trappers and 6 Commercial Game Breeder Permit holders from whom they may obtain animals.  The list shall only be subject to modification during the month of the annual renewal date and during September 1-14 annually while the Hound Running Area Permit is active.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6671, effective May 4, 2023)

 

Section 970.30  Hound Running Area Records

 

a)         Hound Running Area Permit holders shall keep accurate, complete and current records.  Records shall be retained for 2 years from the end of the calendar year in which the record was made.  Records shall be made available for inspection by the Department at any reasonable hour.

 

b)         Hound Running Area Permit holders shall maintain records on the number, species and source of all animals released into the hound running area, including the unique animal identifiers attached to each animal released. The following information shall be recorded and maintained in the permit holder's records and correspond to the unique animal identifiers:

 

1)         The name, address, phone number, and the Department customer number of the person from whom the animal was obtained.

 

2)         The origin county of the animals, including the origin county of those animals existing in the hound running area prior to April 1, 2012.

 

3)         All veterinary care records, inoculation records and copies of health certificates or certificates of veterinarian inspections.

 

4)         The date of release into and recovery from the hound running area.

 

5)         The date of mortality or discovery of mortality of any coyote, fox or raccoon.

 

c)         Leases provided for in Section 970.60(b) must be written and contain the lessor's and lessee's complete names and principal addresses, the effective dates of the lease, an attached Plat Map with the lessor's property highlighted, a list of the animals that may be captured on the property, signatures of the lessor and lessee and the date the lease was signed. 

 

Section 970.40  Hound Running Area Regulations

 

a)         Animal densities, running periods and animal removal from dog-proof escape areas:

 

1)         Coyote and fox hound running areas shall contain not less than 2 animals and shall not contain more than 4 animals per each full 20 acres.

 

2)         Raccoon hound running areas shall contain not less than 2 nor more than 3 animals per each full 5 acres.

 

3)         Rabbit hound running areas shall contain 2 animals per each full acre.

 

4)         The running period for coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas shall not be longer than 16 consecutive hours within a 24-hour period.

 

5)         The running period for rabbit hound running areas shall be sunrise to sunset.

 

6)         Hounds shall not be released for 14 consecutive days after an animal has been added to a hound running area.

 

7)         It shall be unlawful to shake out, relocate, dislodge, move or extract an animal from a place of refuge while hounds are present within a hound running area.

 

b)         Hounds

 

1)         Not more than 3 hounds per animal shall be released into a hound running area during a running period.

 

2)         Hounds less than 7 months of age shall not be released in coyote, fox or raccoon hound running areas.

 

c)         Signs:

 

1)         Signs purchased from the Department shall be conspicuously posted on the perimeter fence of hound running areas at intervals of 500 feet or less with at least one sign on each side of the hound running area.

 

2)         The price for signs shall be set by the Department.  The price shall be the cost of the sign procured by the Department plus the cost to ship the signs to Hound Running Area Permit holders.

 

3)         Signs are available by calling 217/785-3423 or by writing to:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

License Consignment/Permits,

PO Box 19458

Springfield IL  62794-9458

 

d)         Hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Coyote and fox hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 160 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 20 acre tract.

 

2)         Coyote and fox hound running areas for inexperienced hounds one year or less in age shall have an area of 10-80 contiguous acres with 2 dog-proof escape areas for tracts of 40 acres or less and an additional dog-proof escape area for each additional 20 acre tract or partial tract.

 

3)         Raccoon hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 20 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 5 acre tract.

 

4)         Rabbit hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 5 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 2.5 acre tract.

 

5)         Dog proof escape areas must be approved by the Department, appropriate for the species of animal pursued, available for use by pursued animals when hounds are present, and distributed evenly in hound running areas.

 

e)         Perimeter fences shall completely enclose the hound running area, shall have rounded corners designed to prevent animals from being trapped in corners by hounds, and shall be of sufficient design and strength to prevent any released animal from escaping or any wild free ranging animal from entering the hound running area.

 

f)         Perimeter fences for coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Height − at least 5 feet.

 

2)         At the top of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent inward at a 90 degree angle.

 

3)         At the bottom of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent inward at a 90 degree angle and secured to the ground, or the additional 12 inches of fence at the bottom of the perimeter fence may be buried with no bend.

 

4)         Electric wires with sufficient current to contain coyotes, foxes and raccoons and deter hounds shall be placed on and along the perimeter of hound running areas as follows:

 

A)        Coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas − on the perimeter fence on electric fence standoffs between 30 and 46 inches from the ground.

 

B)        Coyote and fox hound running areas − one foot inside and 8 inches to one foot high along the perimeter fence.

 

C)        Coyote and fox hound running areas – 3 to 4 feet inside and 18 inches to 2 feet high along the perimeter fence.

 

5)         Perimeter fences and electric wires shall be maintained and shall be clear of debris and vegetation.

 

g)         Perimeter fences for rabbit hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Height − at least 4 feet.

 

2)         At the bottom of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent outward at a 90 degree angle and secured to the ground or the additional 12 inches of fence at the bottom of the perimeter fence may be buried with no bend.

 

3)         Perimeter fences shall be maintained and shall be clear of debris and vegetation.

 

h)         Competitive hound events (i.e., fox hound field trials, beagle or basset hound field trials and hunt tests, or coonhound night hunts, water races, treeing contests and field trials) conducted in hound running areas must comply with the provisions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 930 (Field Trials on Private Lands).

 

i)          The breeds of dogs commonly referred to as sporting dogs may be trained or field trialed in hound running areas.  Sporting dog training and field trialing in hound running areas must comply with the provisions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 960 (Dog Training on Non-Department Owned or -Managed Land) and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 930 (Field Trials on Private Lands), respectively.

 

j)          Compliance requirements:

 

1)         Hound running areas established prior to April 1, 2012 shall be in compliance with the perimeter fencing provisions of this Part not later than 2 years after April 1, 2012.

 

2)         The Department will waive the acreage requirements for hound running areas in existence prior to April 1, 2012.

 

A)        A waiver for up to 5 consecutive years will be granted if the Hound Running Area Permit holder requests an acreage waiver in writing. 

 

B)        Upon expiration of the first waiver, an additional waiver for up to 5 consecutive years will be granted if the Hound Running Area Permit holder requests an acreage waiver in writing and has made reasonable progress towards meeting the hound running area acreage requirements.  Reasonable progress means having added at least 25% of the remaining acreage needed to meet the hound running area acreage requirement.

 

C)        The Department may place restrictions on the number of hounds loosed at any given time in hound running areas with acreage waivers.

 

3)         The Hound Running Area Permit holder must be in compliance with all other provisions of this Part when the Hound Running Area Permit is approved.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6671, effective May 4, 2023)

 

Section 970.50  Marking of Animals

 

a)         Each rabbit possessed under authority of a Hound Running Area Permit shall be marked with a unique numbered ear tag provided by the Department.  The cost for each ear tag shall be the actual cost incurred by the Department for the procurement of the tags plus the cost for shipping the tags to the Hound Running Area Permit holder.

 

b)         Each coyote, fox and raccoon possessed under authority of a Hound Running Area Permit shall be marked with a unique numbered ear tag and unique passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag provided by the Department.  The cost for each set of tags shall be the actual cost incurred by the Department for the procurement of the tags plus the cost for shipping the tags to the Hound Running Area Permit holder.

 

c)         Only ear and PIT tags obtained from the Department may be used.  To obtain tags refer to the contact information in Section 970.40(c)(3).

 

d)         Offspring of animals contained in hound running areas must be properly marked by October 31 of each year.

 

Section 970.60  Sources of Captive-Reared and Wild Animals

 

a)         No animals captured from the wild in another state may be imported into Illinois for possession, propagation or release under authority of a Hound Running Area Permit and accompanying Fur-bearing Mammal Breeders Permit or Class B Commercial Game Breeders Permit.

 

b)         Animals may be obtained from the sources listed in this subsection (b), provided they are taken or possessed in accordance with the Wildlife Code and this Section. Animals captured from the wild shall be transferred to a Hound Running Area Permit holder within 48 hours after capture.

 

1)         Individuals who hold a valid Fur-bearing Mammal Breeders Permit or Class B Commercial Game Breeders Permit;

 

2)         Individuals who hold a valid Class A or Class C Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit.  This subsection authorizes individuals who hold a valid Class A or Class C Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit to transfer live animals to Hound Running Area Permit holders with an appropriately designated hound running area in accordance with the provisions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 525 (Nuisance Wildlife Control Permits);

 

3)         Individuals who hold a valid resident trapping license, provided animals in their possession are taken during the open season for a particular species; and

 

4)         Individuals who hold a valid Hound Running Area Permit and those individuals listed in Section 970.20(f) may capture animals year-round on properties they own or lease.

 

Section 970.70  Temporary Holding Facilities – Minimum Standards

 

Animals held in temporary confinement for more than 24 hours by Hound Running Area Permit holders shall be housed individually in escape proof pens of sufficient size for the species.

 

a)         Rabbits − floor space shall be at least 6 square feet.

 

b)         Coyotes, foxes and raccoons − floor space shall be at least 32 square feet.

 

c)         The pens shall have a solid roof to protect animals from the elements and an inside shelter, such as a wooden box, plastic barrel or animal carrier.

 

Section 970.80  Disposition of Animals

 

a)         Animals possessed under authority of a Hound Running Area Permit and accompanying Fur-bearing Mammal Breeders Permit or Class B Commercial Game Breeders Permit may only be released into a Department-approved hound running area.

 

b)         Animals shall be provided feed designed to maintain adequate weight and meet the animal's nutritional requirements.  Animals shall be provided adequate water.

 

c)         Only fit animals shall be released in hound running areas.

 

d)         Fit animals possessed under authority of a Hound Running Area Permit may be transferred only to other individuals with valid Hound Running Area Permits.

 

e)         Animals deemed unfit by the operator for training exercises or field trialing in a hound running area shall be euthanized by gunshot or by a licensed veterinarian.  Euthanized animals shall be disposed of pursuant to the Illinois Dead Animal Disposal Act [225 ILCS 610] and 8 Ill. Adm. Code 90 (Illinois Dead Animal Disposal Act).

 

f)         Fit animals that must be disposed of due to revocation or suspension of the Hound Running Area Permit under Section 970.90 must be transferred to an individual with a valid Permit at a different location or euthanized as specified in subsection (e).

 

Section 970.90  Penalties

 

A Hound Running Area Permit holder who accumulates 13 or more points based on violation of the Wildlife Code as set out in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2530 (Revocation Procedures for Conservation Offenses) and has his or her licenses, permits and stamps issued under the Wildlife Code revoked and privileges suspended, shall be allowed 30 days from the date of revocation/suspension to dispose of all animals held under the Hound Running Area Permit and the Fur-bearing Mammal Breeder's Permit or Commercial Game Breeder's Permit.  Any property operated as a hound running area by a person who subsequently has his/her privileges suspended or revoked will not be eligible to be licensed as a hound running area by any person during the period of time when the original license is suspended.