Section 570.30  Statewide Hours, Daily Limit and Possession Limit

a)         Muskrat, mink, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk, red fox, gray fox, coyote and weasel

1)         Trapping hours:  November 10 open for trapping at sunrise; February 15 closed for trapping after sunset; otherwise, hours are unrestricted.

2)         Daily and possession limit:  None

b)         Beaver and River Otter

1)         Trapping hours: November 10 open for trapping at sunrise; March 31 closed for trapping after sunset; otherwise, hours are unrestricted.

2)         Season and possession limit: 

A)        None for beaver;

B)        The otter trapping season limit is 5 river otters trapped during any one season by a person.  The possession limit is twice the season limit for all otters possessed by an individual that were taken over multiple seasons.  Possession limit for river otter does not apply to fur buyers, fur tanners, taxidermists or manufacturers as defined by Section 3.11, 3.12, 3.15, 3.16, 3.16a, 3.18 and 3.21 of the Wildlife Code (Code) [520 ILCS 5].  River otters salvaged from roadways under Section 2.30 of the Code become part of the person's season limit of 5 river otters and are subject to permit and tagging requirements.  Having more river otter than allowed is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.30).

c)         Woodchuck (Groundhog)

1)         Trapping hours:  June 1 open for trapping at sunrise; September 30 closed for trapping after sunset; otherwise hours are unrestricted.

2)         Daily and possession limit:  None

d)         Badger

1)         Trapping hours: November 10 open for trapping at sunrise; February 15 closed for trapping after sunset; otherwise, hours are unrestricted.

2)         Daily and possession limit: not to exceed two badgers per season in the Northern Zone zone and one badger per season in the Southern Zone.  Badgers salvaged from roadways under authority of Section 2.30 of the Code become part of the person's season limit.  Possession limits do not apply to fur buyers, fur tanners, taxidermists or manufacturers as defined by Sections 3.11, 3.12, 3.15, 3.16, 3.16a, 3.18 and 3.21 of the Code.  Having more badger than allowed is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.30).

e)         Bobcat

1)         Trapping hours:  November 10 open for trapping at sunrise; February 15 closed for trapping after sunset; otherwise, hours are unrestricted.

2)         Daily and possession limit:  Not to exceed one bobcat per person, per season for combined methods of take.  Bobcats salvaged from roadways under Section 2.30 of the Code become part of the person's season limit and are subject to permit and tagging requirements.  Possession limits do not apply to fur buyers, fur tanners, taxidermists or manufacturers as defined by Sections 3.11, 3.12, 3.15, 3.16, 3.16a, 3.18 and 3.21 of the Code.  Having more bobcat than allowed is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.30).

f)         Trapping before specified hours on opening day or after specified hours on closing day is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.30).

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18576, effective November 2, 2022)