95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0564


 
Introduced 2/5/2007, by Rep. John E. Bradley
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		














520 ILCS 5/2.25
  from Ch. 61, par. 2.25







    Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the open deer hunting season set annually by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources must  not exceed 21 days (now 14).  Provides that the Director shall increase the open deer hunting season bag limit, for each licensed deer hunter, by one. Effective immediately.
















LRB095 08202 CMK 28371 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0564

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1
    AN ACT concerning wildlife.

 
2
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3
represented in the General Assembly:


 
4
    Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended  by changing Section 
5
2.25 as follows:
 



6
    (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 
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except (i) with
a shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle or 
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(ii) as provided by
administrative rule,
with a bow and arrow, 
10
or crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined
in 
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Section 2.33, during the open season of not more than 21
14 
12
days which will
be set annually by the Director between the 
13
dates of
November 1st and December 31st, both inclusive.
For 
14
the purposes of this Section, legal handguns include any 
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centerfire
handguns of .30
caliber or larger with a minimum 
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barrel length of 4 inches.  The only legal
ammunition
for a 
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centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with 
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a
capability of at least
500 foot pounds of energy at the 
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muzzle.  Full metal jacket bullets may not be
used to
harvest 
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deer.

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    The Department shall make administrative rules concerning 
22
management
restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and 
23
arrow season.

 


 






HB0564
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    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except 
2
with a bow and
arrow, or crossbow device for handicapped 
3
persons (as defined in Section
2.33), during the open season 
4
for bow and arrow set annually by the Director
between the 
5
dates of September 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.

6
    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except 
7
with (i) a
muzzleloading rifle, or (ii) bow and arrow, or 
8
crossbow device for
handicapped persons as defined in Section 
9
2.33, during the open season for
muzzleloading rifles set 
10
annually by the Director.

11
    The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting 
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forth the
prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and 
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possession limits and
those counties of the State where open 
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seasons are established, to be
published in accordance with 
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Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act. Because this amendatory Act 
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of the 95th General Assembly expands the open deer hunting 
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season by 7 days, the Director shall increase the bag limit, 
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for each licensed  deer hunter, by one.


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    The Department may establish separate harvest periods for 
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the purpose of
managing or eradicating disease that has been 
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found in the deer herd. This
season shall be restricted to gun 
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or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department
shall publicly 
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announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and

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shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting, permit 
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requirements,
application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons, 
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and reporting requirements.

 


 






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1
    The Department is authorized to establish a separate 
2
harvest period at
specific sites within the State for the 
3
purpose of harvesting
surplus deer that cannot be taken during 
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the regular season provided for
the taking of deer. This season 
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shall be restricted to gun or bow and
arrow hunting only and 
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shall be established during the period of September 1st
to 
7
February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publish 
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suitable
prescribed rules and regulations established by 
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administrative rule pertaining
to management restrictions 
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applicable to this special harvest program. The Department 
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shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left over from a 
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regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled over and 
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used during any separate harvest period held within 6 months of 
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the season for which those tags were issued at no additional 
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cost to the permit holder subject to the management 
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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; 
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94-919, eff. 6-26-06.)

 

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