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| Public Act 094-0919 |
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AN ACT concerning wildlife.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section | ||||
2.25 as follows:
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(520 ILCS 5/2.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
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Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer | ||||
except (i) with
a shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle or | ||||
(ii) as provided by
administrative rule,
with a bow and arrow, | ||||
or crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined
in | ||||
Section 2.33, during the open season of not more than 14 days | ||||
which will
be set annually by the Director between the dates of
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November 1st and December 31st, both inclusive.
For the | ||||
purposes of this Section, legal handguns include any centerfire
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handguns of .30
caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length | ||||
of 4 inches. The only legal
ammunition
for a centerfire handgun | ||||
is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a
capability of at | ||||
least
500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Full metal | ||||
jacket bullets may not be
used to
harvest deer.
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The Department shall make administrative rules concerning | ||||
management
restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and | ||||
arrow season.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except | ||||
with a bow and
arrow, or crossbow device for handicapped | ||||
persons (as defined in Section
2.33), during the open season | ||||
for bow and arrow set annually by the Director
between the | ||||
dates of September 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except | ||||
with (i) a
muzzleloading rifle, or (ii) bow and arrow, or | ||||
crossbow device for
handicapped persons as defined in Section | ||||
2.33, during the open season for
muzzleloading rifles set | ||||
annually by the Director.
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The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting | ||
forth the
prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and | ||
possession limits and
those counties of the State where open | ||
seasons are established, to be
published in accordance with | ||
Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
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The Department may establish separate harvest periods for | ||
the purpose of
managing or eradicating disease that has been | ||
found in the deer herd. This
season shall be restricted to gun | ||
or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department
shall publicly | ||
announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
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shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting, permit | ||
requirements,
application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons, | ||
and reporting requirements.
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The Department is authorized to establish a separate | ||
harvest period at
specific sites within the State for the | ||
purpose of harvesting
surplus deer that cannot be taken during | ||
the regular season provided for
the taking of deer. This season | ||
shall be restricted to gun or bow and
arrow hunting only and | ||
shall be established during the period of September 1st
to | ||
February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publish | ||
suitable
prescribed rules and regulations established by | ||
administrative rule pertaining
to management restrictions | ||
applicable to this special harvest program. The Department | ||
shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left over from a | ||
regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled over and | ||
used during any separate harvest period held within 6 months of | ||
the season for which those tags were issued at no additional | ||
cost to the permit holder subject to the management | ||
restrictions applicable to the special harvest program.
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(Source: P.A. 93-37, eff. 6-25-03; 93-554, eff. 8-20-03; | ||
revised 9-15-03.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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