101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4994

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Charles Meier

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
520 ILCS 5/1.2a-1 new
520 ILCS 5/2.25  from Ch. 61, par. 2.25
520 ILCS 5/2.26  from Ch. 61, par. 2.26

    Amends the Wildlife Code. Permits the use of an airbow in hunting deer. Defines "airbow". Makes conforming changes.


LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4994LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 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
5Sections 2.25 and 2.26 and by adding Section 1.2a-1 as follows:
 
6    (520 ILCS 5/1.2a-1 new)
7    Sec. 1.2a-1. "Airbow" means a bow and arrow device that
8applies 150 pounds of force in the form of compressed air to an
9arrow over a 25 inch power stroke.
 
10    (520 ILCS 5/2.25)  (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
11    Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer
12except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle or
13(ii) as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow
14or airbow, during the open season of not more than 14 days
15which will be set annually by the Director between the dates of
16November 1st and December 31st, both inclusive, or a special
173-day, youth-only season between the dates of September 1 and
18October 31. For the purposes of this Section, legal handguns
19include any centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a
20minimum barrel length of 4 inches. The only legal ammunition
21for a centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or
22larger with a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy

 

 

HB4994- 2 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1at the muzzle. Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to
2harvest deer.
3    The Department shall make administrative rules concerning
4management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and
5arrow season.
6    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
7with a bow and arrow or airbow during the open season for bow
8and arrow set annually by the Director between the dates of
9September 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
10    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
11with (i) a muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow or airbow
12during the open season for muzzleloading rifles set annually by
13the Director.
14    The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting
15forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
16possession limits and those counties of the State where open
17seasons are established, to be published in accordance with
18Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
19    The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
20the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
21found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun,
22or bow and arrow, and airbow hunting only. The Department shall
23publicly announce, via statewide news release, the season dates
24and shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting,
25permit requirements, application dates, hunting rules, legal
26weapons, and reporting requirements.

 

 

HB4994- 3 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1    The Department is authorized to establish a separate
2harvest period at specific sites within the State for the
3purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during
4the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This season
5shall be restricted to gun, or bow and arrow, and airbow
6hunting only and shall be established during the period of
7September 1st to February 15th, both inclusive. The Department
8shall publish suitable prescribed rules and regulations
9established by administrative rule pertaining to management
10restrictions applicable to this special harvest program. The
11Department shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left
12over from a regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled
13over and used during any separate harvest period held within 6
14months of the season for which those tags were issued at no
15additional cost to the permit holder subject to the management
16restrictions applicable to the special harvest program.
17    Beginning July 1, 2019, and on an annual basis thereafter,
18the Department shall provide a report to the General Assembly
19providing information regarding deer management programs
20established by the Code or by administrative rule that
21includes: (1) the number of surplus deer taken during each
22separate harvest season; (2) the number of deer found to have a
23communicable disease or other abnormality; and (3) what happens
24to the deer taken during each separate harvest season.
25(Source: P.A. 101-66, eff. 7-12-19.)
 

 

 

HB4994- 4 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1    (520 ILCS 5/2.26)  (from Ch. 61, par. 2.26)
2    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 101-444)
3    Sec. 2.26. Deer hunting permits. Any person attempting to
4take deer shall first obtain a "Deer Hunting Permit" issued by
5the Department in accordance with its administrative rules.
6Those rules must provide for the issuance of the following
7types of resident deer archery permits: (i) a combination
8permit, consisting of one either-sex permit and one
9antlerless-only permit, (ii) a single antlerless-only permit,
10and (iii) a single either-sex permit. The fee for a Deer
11Hunting Permit to take deer with either bow and arrow or gun
12shall not exceed $25.00 for residents of the State. The
13Department may by administrative rule provide for non-resident
14deer hunting permits for which the fee will not exceed $300 in
152005, $350 in 2006, and $400 in 2007 and thereafter except as
16provided below for non-resident landowners and non-resident
17archery hunters. The Department may by administrative rule
18provide for a non-resident archery deer permit consisting of
19not more than 2 harvest tags at a total cost not to exceed $325
20in 2005, $375 in 2006, and $425 in 2007 and thereafter. The
21fees for a youth resident and non-resident archery deer permit
22shall be the same.
23    The standards and specifications for use of guns and bow
24and arrow for deer hunting shall be established by
25administrative rule.
26    No person may have in his or her possession any firearm not

 

 

HB4994- 5 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1authorized by administrative rule for a specific hunting season
2when taking deer.
3    Persons having a firearm deer hunting permit shall be
4permitted to take deer only during the period from 1/2 hour
5before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, and only during those
6days for which an open season is established for the taking of
7deer by use of shotgun, handgun, or muzzle loading rifle.
8    Persons having an archery deer hunting permit shall be
9permitted to take deer only during the period from 1/2 hour
10before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, and only during those
11days for which an open season is established for the taking of
12deer by use of bow and arrow.
13    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer by use of
14dogs, horses, automobiles, aircraft or other vehicles, or by
15the use or aid of bait or baiting of any kind. For the purposes
16of this Section, "bait" means any material, whether liquid or
17solid, including food, salt, minerals, and other products,
18except pure water, that can be ingested, placed, or scattered
19in such a manner as to attract or lure white-tailed deer.
20"Baiting" means the placement or scattering of bait to attract
21deer. An area is considered as baited during the presence of
22and for 10 consecutive days following the removal of bait.
23Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of a dog to
24track wounded deer. Any person using a dog for tracking wounded
25deer must maintain physical control of the dog at all times by
26means of a maximum 50 foot lead attached to the dog's collar or

 

 

HB4994- 6 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1harness. Tracking wounded deer is permissible at night, but at
2no time outside of legal deer hunting hours or seasons shall
3any person handling or accompanying a dog being used for
4tracking wounded deer be in possession of any firearm or
5archery device. Persons tracking wounded deer with a dog during
6the firearm deer seasons shall wear blaze orange or solid blaze
7pink color as required. Dog handlers tracking wounded deer with
8a dog are exempt from hunting license and deer permit
9requirements so long as they are accompanied by the licensed
10deer hunter who wounded the deer.
11    It shall be unlawful to possess or transport any wild deer
12which has been injured or killed in any manner upon a public
13highway or public right-of-way of this State unless exempted by
14administrative rule.
15    Persons hunting deer must have gun unloaded and no bow and
16arrow device shall be carried with the arrow in the nocked
17position during hours when deer hunting is unlawful.
18    It shall be unlawful for any person, having taken the legal
19limit of deer by gun, to further participate with gun in any
20deer hunting party.
21    It shall be unlawful for any person, having taken the legal
22limit of deer by bow and arrow, to further participate with bow
23and arrow in any deer hunting party.
24    The Department may prohibit upland game hunting during the
25gun deer season by administrative rule.
26    The Department shall not limit the number of non-resident,

 

 

HB4994- 7 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1either-sex archery deer hunting permits to less than 20,000.
2    Any person who violates any of the provisions of this
3Section, including administrative rules, shall be guilty of a
4Class B misdemeanor.
5    For the purposes of calculating acreage under this Section,
6the Department shall, after determining the total acreage of
7the applicable tract or tracts of land, round remaining
8fractional portions of an acre greater than or equal to half of
9an acre up to the next whole acre.
10    For the purposes of taking white-tailed deer, nothing in
11this Section shall be construed to prevent the manipulation,
12including mowing or cutting, of standing crops as a normal
13agricultural or soil stabilization practice, food plots, or
14normal agricultural practices, including planting, harvesting,
15and maintenance such as cultivating or the use of products
16designed for scent only and not capable of ingestion, solid or
17liquid, placed or scattered, in such a manner as to attract or
18lure deer. Such manipulation for the purpose of taking
19white-tailed deer may be further modified by administrative
20rule.
21(Source: P.A. 100-691, eff. 1-1-19; 100-949, eff. 1-1-19;
22101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
 
23    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 101-444)
24    Sec. 2.26. Deer hunting permits. Any person attempting to
25take deer shall first obtain a "Deer Hunting Permit" issued by

 

 

HB4994- 8 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1the Department in accordance with its administrative rules.
2Those rules must provide for the issuance of the following
3types of resident deer archery permits: (i) a combination
4permit, consisting of one either-sex permit and one
5antlerless-only permit, (ii) a single antlerless-only permit,
6and (iii) a single either-sex permit. The fee for a Deer
7Hunting Permit to take deer with either bow and arrow, airbow,
8or gun shall not exceed $25.00 for residents of the State. The
9Department may by administrative rule provide for non-resident
10deer hunting permits for which the fee will not exceed $300 in
112005, $350 in 2006, and $400 in 2007 and thereafter except as
12provided below for non-resident landowners and non-resident
13archery hunters. The Department may by administrative rule
14provide for a non-resident archery deer permit consisting of
15not more than 2 harvest tags at a total cost not to exceed $325
16in 2005, $375 in 2006, and $425 in 2007 and thereafter. The
17fees for a youth resident and non-resident archery deer permit
18shall be the same.
19    The Department shall create a pilot program during the
20special 3-day, youth-only deer hunting season to allow for
21youth deer hunting permits that are valid statewide, excluding
22those counties or portions of counties closed to firearm deer
23hunting. The Department shall adopt rules to implement the
24pilot program. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
25prohibit the Department from issuing Special Hunt Area Permits
26for the youth-only deer hunting season or establishing, through

 

 

HB4994- 9 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1administrative rule, additional requirements pertaining to the
2youth-only deer hunting season on Department-owned or
3Department-managed sites, including site-specific quotas or
4drawings. The provisions of this paragraph are inoperative on
5and after January 1, 2023.
6    The standards and specifications for use of guns, and bow
7and arrow, and airbow for deer hunting shall be established by
8administrative rule.
9    No person may have in his or her possession any firearm not
10authorized by administrative rule for a specific hunting season
11when taking deer.
12    Persons having a firearm deer hunting permit shall be
13permitted to take deer only during the period from 1/2 hour
14before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, and only during those
15days for which an open season is established for the taking of
16deer by use of shotgun, handgun, or muzzle loading rifle.
17    Persons having an archery deer hunting permit shall be
18permitted to take deer only during the period from 1/2 hour
19before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, and only during those
20days for which an open season is established for the taking of
21deer by use of bow and arrow or airbow.
22    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer by use of
23dogs, horses, automobiles, aircraft or other vehicles, or by
24the use or aid of bait or baiting of any kind. For the purposes
25of this Section, "bait" means any material, whether liquid or
26solid, including food, salt, minerals, and other products,

 

 

HB4994- 10 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1except pure water, that can be ingested, placed, or scattered
2in such a manner as to attract or lure white-tailed deer.
3"Baiting" means the placement or scattering of bait to attract
4deer. An area is considered as baited during the presence of
5and for 10 consecutive days following the removal of bait.
6Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of a dog to
7track wounded deer. Any person using a dog for tracking wounded
8deer must maintain physical control of the dog at all times by
9means of a maximum 50 foot lead attached to the dog's collar or
10harness. Tracking wounded deer is permissible at night, but at
11no time outside of legal deer hunting hours or seasons shall
12any person handling or accompanying a dog being used for
13tracking wounded deer be in possession of any firearm or
14archery device. Persons tracking wounded deer with a dog during
15the firearm deer seasons shall wear blaze orange or solid blaze
16pink color as required. Dog handlers tracking wounded deer with
17a dog are exempt from hunting license and deer permit
18requirements so long as they are accompanied by the licensed
19deer hunter who wounded the deer.
20    It shall be unlawful to possess or transport any wild deer
21which has been injured or killed in any manner upon a public
22highway or public right-of-way of this State unless exempted by
23administrative rule.
24    Persons hunting deer must have gun unloaded and no bow and
25arrow device, including an airbow, shall be carried with the
26arrow in the nocked position during hours when deer hunting is

 

 

HB4994- 11 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1unlawful.
2    It shall be unlawful for any person, having taken the legal
3limit of deer by gun, to further participate with gun in any
4deer hunting party.
5    It shall be unlawful for any person, having taken the legal
6limit of deer by bow and arrow or airbow, to further
7participate with bow and arrow or airbow in any deer hunting
8party.
9    The Department may prohibit upland game hunting during the
10gun deer season by administrative rule.
11    The Department shall not limit the number of non-resident,
12either-sex archery deer hunting permits to less than 20,000.
13    Any person who violates any of the provisions of this
14Section, including administrative rules, shall be guilty of a
15Class B misdemeanor.
16    For the purposes of calculating acreage under this Section,
17the Department shall, after determining the total acreage of
18the applicable tract or tracts of land, round remaining
19fractional portions of an acre greater than or equal to half of
20an acre up to the next whole acre.
21    For the purposes of taking white-tailed deer, nothing in
22this Section shall be construed to prevent the manipulation,
23including mowing or cutting, of standing crops as a normal
24agricultural or soil stabilization practice, food plots, or
25normal agricultural practices, including planting, harvesting,
26and maintenance such as cultivating or the use of products

 

 

HB4994- 12 -LRB101 18424 CMG 67872 b

1designed for scent only and not capable of ingestion, solid or
2liquid, placed or scattered, in such a manner as to attract or
3lure deer. Such manipulation for the purpose of taking
4white-tailed deer may be further modified by administrative
5rule.
6(Source: P.A. 100-691, eff. 1-1-19; 100-949, eff. 1-1-19;
7101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-444, eff. 6-1-20.)
 
8    Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes
9changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text
10that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section
11represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does
12not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes
13made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other
14Public Act.