HB4693 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4693

Introduced , by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.33a

from Ch. 61, par. 2.33a

Amends the Wildlife Code. In a provision concerning trapping, replaces references to "leghold" with "foothold". Provides that the diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section 2.33a as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.33a) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.33a)

Sec. 2.33a. Trapping.

(a) It is unlawful to fail to visit and remove all animals from traps staked out, set, used, tended, placed or maintained at least once each calendar day.

(b) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use, or maintain a foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction on land, that has a jaw spread of larger than 6 1/2 inches (16.6 CM), or a body-gripping trap or one of similar construction having a jaw spread larger than 7 inches (17.8 CM) on a side if square and 8 inches (20.4 CM) if round. The diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap.

(c) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use, or maintain a foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction in water, that has a jaw spread of larger than 7 1/2 inches (19.1 CM), or a body-gripping trap or one of similar construction having a jaw spread larger than 10 inches (25.4 CM) on a side if square and 12 inches (30.5 CM) if round. The diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap.

(d) It is unlawful to use any trap with saw-toothed, spiked, or toothed jaws.

(e) It is unlawful to destroy, disturb or in any manner interfere with dams, lodges, burrows or feed beds of beaver while trapping for beaver or to set a trap inside a muskrat house or beaver lodge, except that this shall not apply to individuals who are acting pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.37 or as provided for by administrative rule.

(f) It is unlawful to trap beaver or river otter with: (1) a foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction having an inside a jaw spread of less than 5 1/2 inches (13.9 CM) or more than 8 1/2 inches(21.59 CM) 7 1/2 inches (19.1 CM), or (2) a body-gripping trap or one of similar construction having a jaw spread of less than 7 inches (17.7 CM) or more than 10 inches (25.4 CM) on a side if square and 12 inches (30.5 CM) if round, except that these restrictions shall not apply during the open season for trapping raccoons. The diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap.

(g) It is unlawful to set traps closer than 10 feet (3.05 M) from any hole or den which may be occupied by a game mammal or fur-bearing mammal except that this restriction shall not apply to water sets.

(h) It is unlawful to trap or attempt to trap any fur-bearing mammal with any colony, cage, box, or stove-pipe trap designed to take more than one mammal at a single setting.

(i) It is unlawful for any person to set or place any trap designed to take any fur-bearing mammal protected by this Act during the closed trapping season. Proof that any trap was placed during the closed trapping season shall be deemed prima facie evidence of a violation of this provision.

(j) It is unlawful to place, set, or maintain any foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction within thirty (30) feet (9.14 m) of bait placed in such a manner or position that it is not completely covered and concealed from sight, except that this shall not apply to underwater sets. Bait shall mean and include any bait composed of mammal, bird, or fish flesh, fur, hide, entrails or feathers.

(k) (Blank).

(l) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use or maintain a snare trap or one of similar construction in water, that has a loop diameter exceeding 15 inches (38.1 CM) or a cable or wire diameter of more than 1/8 inch (3.2 MM) or less than 5/64 inch (2.0 MM), that is constructed of stainless steel metal cable or wire, and that does not have a mechanical lock, anchor swivel and stop device to prevent the mechanical lock from closing the noose loop to a diameter of less than 2 1/2 inches (6.4 CM).

(m) It is unlawful to trap muskrat or mink with (1) a foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction or (2) a body-gripping trap or one of similar construction unless the body-gripping trap or similar trap is completely submerged underwater when set. These restrictions shall not apply during the open season for trapping raccoons.

(Source: P.A. 103-37, eff. 6-9-23.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.