Section 680.10  Statewide Season

a)         Season:  One-half hour before sunrise on the first Thursday after December 25 to ½ hour after sunset on the following Sunday, and ½ hour before sunrise on the first Friday after January 11 to ½ hour after sunset on the following Sunday.  Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.  Hunting prior to ½ hour before 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)).  

b)         For the purpose of removing surplus deer, the Department of Natural Resources (Department) shall open select counties and sites to firearm deer hunting during the Late-Winter Deer Season. The Department shall notify the public of the counties that are projected to have surplus deer populations via a public announcement. 

c)         Hunting outside the set season dates or without a valid permit for the county hunted in is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).  Hunting prior to ½ hour before 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 37 Ill. Reg. 14967, effective August 30, 2013)