Section 530.70  Permit Requirements for Fee Hunting of Pheasant, Quail and Rabbit at Controlled Permit Hunting Sites

a)         Applicants must contact the Department of Natural Resources (Department or DNR) to obtain a permit reservation.  Applications for reservations on public/private partnership areas will be accepted on July 1. Should the concessionaire, for any reason, fail to operate the concession, applicants must contact the DNR.  Applications for reservations on areas operated by DNR will be accepted on the first Monday of August until 24 hours before the last hunt date.  Methods for making reservations are available on the Department's Website at:  www.dnr.illinois.gov, by email at:  dnr.pheasant@illinois.gov or by writing to the Department's Division of Parks and Recreation-Pheasant at the address cited in subsection (c).  Only applications for reservations submitted by Illinois residents will be accepted during the first application period.  Reservations will be confirmed.  Providing false information on the application is a Class A misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.38).

b)         Permits will be issued until the daily quota is filled.  The daily quota is determined by the formula one hunter per 10 to 80 huntable acres.  Huntable acres are determined by, but not limited to, the biological studies on the number of the species available, the condition, topography, and configuration of the land at the site, the condition of the roads at the site, and the number of employees available to work at the site.

c)         For all DNR operated sites the permit is valid for the permit holder and up to three hunting partners.  The hunting partners cannot hunt without the permit holder being present to hunt.  Methods for changing hunting reservations and transferring permits will be provided on the Department's Website at: www.dnr.illinois.gov, by email at:  dnr.pheasant@illinois.gov or by writing to:

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Division of Parks and Recreation − Pheasant 

One Natural Resources Way

Springfield IL  62702-1271

d)         Reservations for pheasant hunting may be issued by the Department for Chain O'Lakes State Park, Des Plaines Conservation Area, Eldon Hazlet State Park (Carlyle Lake), Iroquois County Conservation Area, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area – Controlled Unit, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park, Kankakee River State Park, Lee County Conservation Area (Green River), Moraine View State Park, Sand Ridge State Forest, Silver Springs State Park and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.

e)         The Department will operate a conveyance or authorize a conveyance to be used for disabled hunters possessing a current Standing Vehicle Permit at some controlled pheasant hunting sites. Reservations for Disabled Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permits must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the hunt.  Sites where the conveyance will be available, as well as dates of operation, shall be provided on the Department's Controlled Pheasant Hunting Website and/or publicly announced.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3840, effective March 1, 2024)