093_HB1135

                                     LRB093 05241 JAM 05304 b

 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
 5    Section 2.25 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
 8    deer except (i) with a shotgun or muzzleloading rifle or (ii)
 9    as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow,  or
10    crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined in Section
11    2.33,  during  the open season of not more than 14 days which
12    will be set annually by the Director  between  the  dates  of
13    November  1st  and  December  31st,  both inclusive. The open
14    season for hunting by shotgun  each  year  must  start  on  a
15    Thursday and last, in the aggregate, at least 8 days.
16        It  shall  be unlawful for any person to take deer except
17    with a bow and arrow,  or  crossbow  device  for  handicapped
18    persons  (as defined in Section 2.33), during the open season
19    for bow and arrow set annually by the  Director  between  the
20    dates of September 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
21        It  shall  be unlawful for any person to take deer except
22    with (i) a muzzleloading rifle, or (ii)  bow  and  arrow,  or
23    crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined in Section
24    2.33,  during  the  open  season for muzzleloading rifles set
25    annually by the Director.
26        The Director shall cause an administrative  rule  setting
27    forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
28    possession  limits and those counties of the State where open
29    seasons are established, to be published in  accordance  with
30    Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
31        The  Department  is  authorized  to  establish a separate
 
                            -2-      LRB093 05241 JAM 05304 b
 1    harvest period at specific sites within  the  State  for  the
 2    purpose  of  harvesting  surplus  deer  that  cannot be taken
 3    during the regular season provided for the  taking  of  deer.
 4    This  season  shall  be  restricted  to  gun or bow and arrow
 5    hunting only and shall be established during  the  period  of
 6    September   1st   to   February  15th,  both  inclusive.  The
 7    Department  shall  publish  suitable  prescribed  rules   and
 8    regulations  established by administrative rule pertaining to
 9    management restrictions applicable to  this  special  harvest
10    program.
11    (Source: P.A.   86-1188;  87-126;  87-234;  87-895;  87-1015;
12    87-1243; 87-1268.)

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