Section 650.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         Illinois resident hunters must have a current, valid "Firearm Deer Permit" ($15).  Fees for non-resident deer hunters shall be $300 for each either-sex or antlered-only deer hunting permit, and shall be $15 for each antlerless-only permit.  A permit is issued for one county or special hunt area and is valid only in the county or special hunt area stated on the permit.  Only applicants who receive an either-sex permit in a county or special hunt area are eligible for an antlerless-only permit for that county or special hunt area, until the Random Daily Drawing Period that begins in September, at which time antlerless-only permits remaining in the quota will be made available regardless of whether applicants already possess an either-sex permit.  For permit applications and other information write to:

Department of Natural Resources

(Firearm or Landowner/Tenant or Non-Resident)

Deer Permit Office

P.O. Box 19227

Springfield, Illinois  62794-9227

b)         Applications from Illinois residents for participation in the First Lottery Drawing will be accepted through the last weekday in April of the current year.  Nonresidents may not apply to participate in the First Lottery Drawing.  Applications received after the last weekday in April will not be included in this lottery.  Permits will be allocated in a computerized random drawing.  Permits will be issued as either sex, antlerless only, or antlered only.  A maximum of one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit shall be issued per person.  Applicants for free landowner/tenant permits are not eligible to participate in the First or Second Lottery Drawings.  Landowners who receive permits in the First or Second Lottery Drawing are not eligible for landowner permits.  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident deer permit.

c)          Applicants must complete all portions of the current year permit application form.  Incomplete or incorrect applications will be returned along with the applicant's permit fee for correction or completion if received in the Permit Office prior to the deadline established in subsection (b).

d)         Applicants must check the second-season box if they agree to accept a second-season permit upon being rejected for a full-season permit.

e)          Applicants must check the antlerless-only box and provide an additional $15 to apply for an additional antlerless-only permit.  Antlerless-only permits will be issued until the antlerless-only quota is filled for a given county or special hunt area.

f)          Permits for counties and special hunt areas with unfilled quotas after the First Lottery Drawing will be allocated in a Second Lottery Drawing.  This drawing is open only to nonresident applicants and to Illinois residents who were not previously issued firearm permits for the current hunting season.  Illinois residents will be given preference for permits allocated in the Second Lottery Drawing.  Applications for the Second Lottery Drawing will be accepted through the tenth weekday in August of the current year.  Applicants may also apply for remaining antlerless-only permits by checking the antlerless-only box and providing an additional $15.  A list of unfilled counties and special hunt areas will be announced upon becoming available after the First Lottery Drawing.  Applicants must apply on a current year Firearm Deer Permit application form.  A maximum of one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit shall be issued per person.

g)          There will be an application period that starts the first weekday after September 14 and ends the first weekday in October, during which anyone (regardless of any other permit they may have, subject to subsection (a)) can apply for firearm deer permits left over from the county and special hunt area quotas.  During this application period, the permits shall be issued in a random daily drawing.  Applications received each day will not be processed until all applications received for that day are mixed.  All applications received on a specific day will be processed before processing applications received for a subsequent day.  All applications for the Random Daily Drawing will be processed individually (i.e., no group applications will be processed).  Applicants can apply for one or more permits during this application period.  Applicants must mark the "September Drawing – Multiple Permits" box on the firearm deer permit application.

h)          Permits remaining after the Random Daily Drawing will be available over-the-counter (OTC) from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) beginning the third Monday in October on a first-come, first-served basis.  Permits will be sold until quotas are exhausted, or until the close of the firearm deer season, whichever occurs first.  Persons may purchase one or more permits during this period, subject to availability. Persons purchasing OTC deer permits must supply all necessary applicant information to the agents in order to properly complete the permit. 

i)           Hunter preference in obtaining a permit during the First Lottery Drawing will be given:  to individuals that applied for an either-sex permit in the previous year's First Lottery Drawing who were rejected because the quota was depleted in their county choices; or to applicants that received, in the previous year, a second season either-sex permit in the First Lottery Drawing only.  In order to be eligible for preference during the First Lottery Drawing, the second season box must have been checked on the application form of unsuccessful applicants when they were rejected.  Preference will not be granted to applicants who received a full-season either-sex permit but who did not receive an antlerless-only permit.  Persons with lottery preference will have first chance at receiving available either-sex permits.  The following criteria must be met to obtain a preference in the First Lottery Drawing:

1)         The applicant must apply using the official Department application.

2)         The applicant must be a resident of the State, be eligible to receive a Firearm Deer Permit, and not had deer hunting privileges revoked pursuant to Section 650.50.

3)         The applicant must apply for the same county choices that he/she listed on the previous year's application. Preference will not be granted for special hunt areas.

j)          Applications may be accepted at the counter window of the permit office; however, permits for the First Lottery, Second Lottery and Random Daily Drawing will be mailed.  In-person, mail-in and electronic applications will receive equal treatment in the drawings.

k)         Permits are not transferable.  Refunds will not be granted, unless the Department of Natural Resources has erroneously issued the permit after the quota has been depleted or where the applicant was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit.

l)          A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail, then there will be no charge.  The procedures for obtaining a replacement license are detailed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520.50. Monies derived from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

m)        The periods for accepting applications for the First and Second Lottery periods may be extended if applications are not available to the public by April 1.  A news release will announce the extension of the application periods.

n)         Hunting without a valid permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 11534, effective July 27, 2009)