99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB6187

 

Introduced 2/11/2016, by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
520 ILCS 5/2.25  from Ch. 61, par. 2.25

    Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that rifles with cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches, and have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches may be used to take deer. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB6187LRB099 17771 MGM 42133 b

1    AN ACT concerning wildlife.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section
52.25 as follows:
 
6    (520 ILCS 5/2.25)  (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
7    Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer
8except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, rifle, or muzzleloading
9rifle or (ii) as provided by administrative rule, with a bow
10and arrow, during the open season of not more than 14 days
11which will be set annually by the Director between the dates of
12November 1st and December 31st, both inclusive, or a special
133-day, youth-only season between the dates of September 1 and
14October 31. For the purposes of this Section, legal handguns
15include any centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a
16minimum barrel length of 4 inches. The only legal ammunition
17for a centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or
18larger with a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy
19at the muzzle. For the purposes of this Section, legal rifles
20must use cartridges that fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or
21larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches, and have a
22maximum case length of 1.8 inches. Full metal jacket bullets
23may not be used to harvest deer.

 

 

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1    The Department shall make administrative rules concerning
2management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and
3arrow season.
4    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
5with a bow and arrow during the open season for bow and arrow
6set annually by the Director between the dates of September 1st
7and January 31st, both inclusive.
8    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
9with (i) a muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow during the
10open season for muzzleloading rifles set annually by the
11Director.
12    The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting
13forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
14possession limits and those counties of the State where open
15seasons are established, to be published in accordance with
16Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
17    The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
18the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
19found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun
20or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department shall publicly
21announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
22shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting, permit
23requirements, application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons,
24and reporting requirements.
25    The Department is authorized to establish a separate
26harvest period at specific sites within the State for the

 

 

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1purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during
2the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This season
3shall be restricted to gun or bow and arrow hunting only and
4shall be established during the period of September 1st to
5February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publish
6suitable prescribed rules and regulations established by
7administrative rule pertaining to management restrictions
8applicable to this special harvest program. The Department
9shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left over from a
10regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled over and
11used during any separate harvest period held within 6 months of
12the season for which those tags were issued at no additional
13cost to the permit holder subject to the management
14restrictions applicable to the special harvest program.
15(Source: P.A. 97-907, eff. 8-7-12; 98-368, eff. 8-16-13.)
 
16    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
17becoming law.