Section 530.115  Regulations for Hunting by Falconry Methods at Various Department-Owned or -Managed Sites

a)         All the regulations in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510 apply in this Section, except that falconers are required to wear a cap and outer garment of solid and vivid blaze orange only during the upland game season on sites where upland game hunting is in progress.

b)         Statewide falconry regulations (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1590) apply at the following sites (exceptions are in parentheses):

Big Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

Edward R. Madigan State Park (hunting by falconry methods permitted from October 1 through March 31 or until 10 hen pheasants are harvested; falconers must sign in at the site check station before hunting and sign out immediately after hunting and report their harvest)

Mississippi River Pools 16, 17 and 18

Sand Ridge State Forest (statewide regulations except that hunting is permitted on Mondays and Tuesday only during the Controlled Daily Drawing Pheasant Program season; it is unlawful to hunt by falconry methods in the vicinity of pheasant releases as pheasants are being released; falconry hunters must obtain a free permit from site office before hunting and report harvest by April 15; failure to report harvest by April 15 will result in loss of hunting privileges the following year)

Snake Den Hollow Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting permitted from the day after the close of the Fulton-Knox County Zone goose season until the close of the statewide falconry season)

c)         Cock and hen pheasant, hungarian partridge, bobwhite quail, and rabbit may be taken at the following sites in accordance with 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1590; falconers must obtain a free permit from site office before hunting and return permit and report harvest by February 15; failure to return permit or report harvest will result in loss of hunting privileges the following year (additional site regulations are in parentheses):

Chain O'Lakes State Park (hunting permitted 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from the Monday after the non-fee season through January 31 except closed Christmas Day; obtain permit from site office Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Eagle Creek State Park (hunting permitted from the end of the statewide firearms season for rabbits through January 31)

Moraine View State Park (hunting permitted October 1 through two days before the pheasant season opens.  Reopens Monday following the close of the controlled pheasant hunting season through the close of the North Zone upland season; hunting hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Ten Mile Creek Fish and Wildlife Area (hunting permitted from the end of the firearms rabbit season through January 31)

d)        Violation of a site regulation is a petty offense (see 520 ILCS 5/2.6, 2.7, 2.13 or 2.27).

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12592, effective September 24, 2021)