Section 680.40  Statewide Firearm Requirements for Late-Winter Deer Hunting

a)         Legal weapons to take, or attempt to take, deer are dependent on the unused permits that are legally in the possession of the hunter.  Specifications for legal weapons are defined in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30.  Hunters with a valid Late-Winter Season Deer Permit may also use single-shot muzzleloading handguns (handguns into which the projectile is incapable of being loaded through the breech end) of .50 calliber or larger.  Single-shot muzzleloading handguns must use a projectile of .44 caliber or larger with sufficient blackpowder or "blackpowder substitute" (such as Pyrodex) to produce at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.  A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or part of a projectile.

b)         Hunters with valid, unused permits from previous firearm, muzzleloader or youth seasons may use only the legal firearms, as described in subsection (a) that are allowed by the season for which the hunter possess an unused permit.  Hunters with a valid Late-Winter Season Deer Permit may use any of the weapons described in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 650.30.

c)         It shall be unlawful to use or possess any other firearm or ammunition in the field while hunting white-tailed deer during the Late-Winter Deer Season unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.  The lawful possession of firearms to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer by persons other than deer hunters shall not be prohibited during the Late-Winter deer season as set in Section 680.10.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18738, effective November 2, 2022)