Section 660.30  Statewide Muzzleloading Rifle Requirements

a)         The only legal hunting device is a single or double barreled muzzleloading rifle of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least 16 inches in length.

b)         The standards and specifications for muzzleloading rifles and ammunition are as follows:

1)         A muzzleloading rifle is defined as a rifle into which the projectile is incapable of being inserted from the breech end.

2)         The minimum size of the muzzleloading rifle projectile shall be .44 caliber.  A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or a part of the projectile.  Non-expanding, military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to harvest white-tailed deer; only soft point or expanding bullets (including copper/copper alloy rounds designed for hunting) are legal ammunition.

3)         Only black powder or a "black powder substitute" such as Pyrodex may be used.  Modern smokeless powders (nitrocellulose-based) are an approved blackpowder substitute only in muzzleloading rifles that are specifically designed for their use.

4)         Only percussion (cap or primer), wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or electronic ignition may be used.

5)         The following shall constitute an unloaded muzzleloading rifle:

A)        removal of percussion cap/primer;

B)        removal of prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way down;

C)        removal of prime powder from flashpan and wheel unwound;

D)        removal of prime powder and match with match not lit; or

E)        removal of the battery from the electronic ignition .

c)         It shall be unlawful to use or possess any other firearm or ammunition in the field while hunting white-tailed deer during the muzzleloading rifle deer season.  However, the lawful possession of firearms to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer by persons other than muzzleloading deer hunters shall not be prohibited during the muzzleloading rifle deer season as set in Section 660.10.

d)         Violation of this Section is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12680, effective September 24, 2021)