Section 730.40  Youth Dove Hunting

a)         A one-day Youth Dove Hunt will be held the first weekend day in September or Labor Day, whichever comes first, at the following sites:

Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison County)

b)         A one-day youth/adult dove hunt will be held the first weekend day in September or Labor Day, whichever comes first, where both the youth and adult will be permitted to hunt at the following sites:

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

Jubilee College State Park

Kankakee River State Park

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (only nontoxic shot, as defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 50 CFR 20, #6 steel shot or #7½ bismuth shot or smaller may be possessed)

Mt. Vernon Game Farm

Ramsey Lake State Park

Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area

Sangchris Lake State Park

Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area

c)         Hunting hours are from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Check-in time is from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

d)         Hunter quota will be announced by public news release.  Hunter quota is determined by the formula: one hunter per 10 to 40 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; and the number of employees available to work at the site.

e)         All hunters must have a hunting permit and wear a back patch while hunting.  Stand-by permits will be available at the site by lottery drawing if vacancies occur.

f)         Applicants must be between the ages of 10-17 inclusive, with a valid Illinois hunting license.

g)         Each youth must be accompanied by a supervising adult.  If the hunter does not have a valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card, the supervising adult is required to have a FOID card.  Only one supervising adult in a hunting party is required to have a valid FOID card if the hunters in the hunting party stay under the immediate control (accompany youth hunters at all times) of the supervising adult possessing the valid FOID card.  All adult hunters must have a valid FOID card.  The supervising adults shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party and be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.

h)         Applicants must contact the Department to obtain a permit reservation.  Starting dates and methods for making reservations will be publicly announced.  Multiple reservations for the same person will not be accepted and that person will forfeit his right to acquire a reservation for the season.

i)          Violation of this Section is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.18).

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4078, effective March 1, 2024)