Section 970.40  Hound Running Area Regulations

 

a)         Animal densities, running periods and animal removal from dog-proof escape areas:

 

1)         Coyote and fox hound running areas shall contain not less than 2 animals and shall not contain more than 4 animals per each full 20 acres.

 

2)         Raccoon hound running areas shall contain not less than 2 nor more than 3 animals per each full 5 acres.

 

3)         Rabbit hound running areas shall contain 2 animals per each full acre.

 

4)         The running period for coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas shall not be longer than 16 consecutive hours within a 24-hour period.

 

5)         The running period for rabbit hound running areas shall be sunrise to sunset.

 

6)         Hounds shall not be released for 14 consecutive days after an animal has been added to a hound running area.

 

7)         It shall be unlawful to shake out, relocate, dislodge, move or extract an animal from a place of refuge while hounds are present within a hound running area.

 

b)         Hounds

 

1)         Not more than 3 hounds per animal shall be released into a hound running area during a running period.

 

2)         Hounds less than 7 months of age shall not be released in coyote, fox or raccoon hound running areas.

 

c)         Signs:

 

1)         Signs purchased from the Department shall be conspicuously posted on the perimeter fence of hound running areas at intervals of 500 feet or less with at least one sign on each side of the hound running area.

 

2)         The price for signs shall be set by the Department.  The price shall be the cost of the sign procured by the Department plus the cost to ship the signs to Hound Running Area Permit holders.

 

3)         Signs are available by calling 217/785-3423 or by writing to:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

License Consignment/Permits,

PO Box 19458

Springfield IL  62794-9458

 

d)         Hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Coyote and fox hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 160 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 20 acre tract.

 

2)         Coyote and fox hound running areas for inexperienced hounds one year or less in age shall have an area of 10-80 contiguous acres with 2 dog-proof escape areas for tracts of 40 acres or less and an additional dog-proof escape area for each additional 20 acre tract or partial tract.

 

3)         Raccoon hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 20 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 5 acre tract.

 

4)         Rabbit hound running areas shall have an area of not less than 5 contiguous acres with a dog-proof escape area in each 2.5 acre tract.

 

5)         Dog proof escape areas must be approved by the Department, appropriate for the species of animal pursued, available for use by pursued animals when hounds are present, and distributed evenly in hound running areas.

 

e)         Perimeter fences shall completely enclose the hound running area, shall have rounded corners designed to prevent animals from being trapped in corners by hounds, and shall be of sufficient design and strength to prevent any released animal from escaping or any wild free ranging animal from entering the hound running area.

 

f)         Perimeter fences for coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Height − at least 5 feet.

 

2)         At the top of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent inward at a 90 degree angle.

 

3)         At the bottom of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent inward at a 90 degree angle and secured to the ground, or the additional 12 inches of fence at the bottom of the perimeter fence may be buried with no bend.

 

4)         Electric wires with sufficient current to contain coyotes, foxes and raccoons and deter hounds shall be placed on and along the perimeter of hound running areas as follows:

 

A)        Coyote, fox and raccoon hound running areas − on the perimeter fence on electric fence standoffs between 30 and 46 inches from the ground.

 

B)        Coyote and fox hound running areas − one foot inside and 8 inches to one foot high along the perimeter fence.

 

C)        Coyote and fox hound running areas – 3 to 4 feet inside and 18 inches to 2 feet high along the perimeter fence.

 

5)         Perimeter fences and electric wires shall be maintained and shall be clear of debris and vegetation.

 

g)         Perimeter fences for rabbit hound running areas shall meet the following requirements:

 

1)         Height − at least 4 feet.

 

2)         At the bottom of the perimeter fence, a minimum of 12 inches of additional fence shall be bent outward at a 90 degree angle and secured to the ground or the additional 12 inches of fence at the bottom of the perimeter fence may be buried with no bend.

 

3)         Perimeter fences shall be maintained and shall be clear of debris and vegetation.

 

h)         Competitive hound events (i.e., fox hound field trials, beagle or basset hound field trials and hunt tests, or coonhound night hunts, water races, treeing contests and field trials) conducted in hound running areas must comply with the provisions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 930 (Field Trials on Private Lands).

 

i)          The breeds of dogs commonly referred to as sporting dogs may be trained or field trialed in hound running areas.  Sporting dog training and field trialing in hound running areas must comply with the provisions of 17 Ill. Adm. Code 960 (Dog Training on Non-Department Owned or -Managed Land) and 17 Ill. Adm. Code 930 (Field Trials on Private Lands), respectively.

 

j)          Compliance requirements:

 

1)         Hound running areas established prior to April 1, 2012 shall be in compliance with the perimeter fencing provisions of this Part not later than 2 years after April 1, 2012.

 

2)         The Department will waive the acreage requirements for hound running areas in existence prior to April 1, 2012.

 

A)        A waiver for up to 5 consecutive years will be granted if the Hound Running Area Permit holder requests an acreage waiver in writing. 

 

B)        Upon expiration of the first waiver, an additional waiver for up to 5 consecutive years will be granted if the Hound Running Area Permit holder requests an acreage waiver in writing and has made reasonable progress towards meeting the hound running area acreage requirements.  Reasonable progress means having added at least 25% of the remaining acreage needed to meet the hound running area acreage requirement.

 

C)        The Department may place restrictions on the number of hounds loosed at any given time in hound running areas with acreage waivers.

 

3)         The Hound Running Area Permit holder must be in compliance with all other provisions of this Part when the Hound Running Area Permit is approved.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6671, effective May 4, 2023)