Section 720.20  Statewide Turkey Permit Requirements

a)         All turkey hunters must have a current, valid Fall Archery Wild Turkey Hunting Permit.  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident turkey permit.  All hunters, except those exempted by Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5] are also required to obtain a hunting license before hunting wild turkey. Archery turkey permits are only available over-the-counter (OTC) from license vendors located throughout the State. Prices for OTC permits sold by license vendors include the vendor's issuing fee. Fees for fall archery turkey permits are as follows:

1)         Illinois Resident OTC Permit − $5.50

2)         Nonresident OTC Permit − $75.50

b)         Hunters purchasing an archery turkey permit must supply all necessary applicant information to the license vendor in order to properly complete the permit.

c)         An individual may purchase a maximum of two archery turkey permits per season. Permits are not transferable.  For the purpose of this Section, "transfer" means the modification or changing, by the Department or any other person, individual or group of the name or the location on an issued permit to another person or location. 

d)         A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department.  The procedures for obtaining a replacement license are detailed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520.50.  Monies from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

e)         It shall be unlawful to:

1)         Purchase or attempt to purchase or receive more than two archery turkey permits.  Violation is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.9).

2)         Provide false and/or deceptive information to a vendor when purchasing a permit.  In addition to criminal charges, individuals found guilty of violating this Section shall have their permit revoked and fees forfeited.  The procedure by which an individual may appeal an application rejection, permit revocation, and the forfeiture of fees is set forth in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2530 (Department Formal Hearings Conducted for Rulemaking and Contested Cases).  Violation is a Class A misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.38).

f)         Refunds and Cancellations

1)         A refund shall be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted, or for an application that has been submitted, under the following circumstances:

A)        Upon the request of the permit holder, a permit was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor or the applicant.  The permit that was issued in error and the request for a refund must be delivered to the Department before the last day of the season listed on the permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the last day of the season listed on the permit; or

B)        Upon the return of an issued permit to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the issued permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (f)(1)(B) if the permit is returned or postmarked after the first day of the season listed on the permit.

2)         A permit shall be cancelled if a refund is approved pursuant to subsection (f)(1)(A) or (B).  Once a permit has been cancelled, the cancelled permit shall not count towards the total number of permits that an applicant may obtain for the Spring Turkey Hunting Season.

3)         Upon the request of a permit holder, a refund may be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted under the following circumstances:

A)        A medical condition or death of the permit holder that prevented the permit holder from hunting.  A death certificate or medical documentation showing that the permit holder was unable to or advised not to hunt may be required by the Department before any refund is issued.  Requests must be made before the last day of the season that the permit was issued for and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refunds shall be issued under this subsection if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois after the last day of the season listed on the permit; or

B)        The permit holder was unable to travel or use the permit that was issued to him or her due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration that resulted in a danger to the health or safety of the permit holder had they attempted to use the issued permit.  Requests must be made within 60 days after the start of the season for which the permit was issued and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (f)(3)(B) if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked 60 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit. 

C)        A permit that was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor, or the applicant, if the permit is returned to the Department before the last day of the season for which the permit was issued.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12804, effective September 24, 2021)