Section 660.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         Illinois resident hunters must have a current, valid Muzzleloading Rifle Deer Permit ($15).  Fees for non-resident deer hunters shall be $250 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 and is valid only in the county 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

            (Muzzleloading Rifle)

            Deer Permit Office

            P.O. Box 19227

            Springfield, IL 62794-9227

b)         Applications from Illinois residents for participation in the First Lottery Drawing shall 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 shall not be included in this lottery.  Permits shall be allocated in a computerized random drawing.  Permits shall 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.  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 last weekday in April of the current year.

d)         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.

e)         Permits for counties and special hunt areas with unfilled quotas after the First Lottery Drawing shall be allocated in a Second Lottery Drawing.  This drawing is open only to nonresident applicants and to Illinois residents who were not previously issued muzzleloader 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 shall be announced upon becoming available after the First Lottery Drawing.  Applicants must apply on a current year Muzzleloading Rifle Deer Permit application form.  A maximum of one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit shall be issued per person.

f)          There will be an application period that starts the first working day after September 14 and ends the first weekday in October during which anyone (regardless of any other permit they may have, subject to the restriction in subsection (a)) can apply for muzzleloading 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 muzzleloading rifle deer permit application.

g)         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 muzzleloader 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.

h)         Hunter preference in obtaining a muzzleloading rifle permit during the First Lottery Drawing shall be given to individuals that applied for an either-sex muzzleloading permit in the previous year's First Lottery Drawing who were rejected because the quota was depleted in their county choices.  The following criteria must be met to obtain a preference in the muzzleloading rifle First Lottery Drawing:

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

2)         The applicant must be a resident of the State, be eligible to receive a Muzzleloading Rifle Deer Permit, and not had deer hunting privileges revoked pursuant to Section 660.50.

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.

4)         Where applicants apply as a group, preference for the entire group shall apply as it does above for the individual.  All county choices for the group must be identical.

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

j)          Permits are not transferable.  Refunds shall 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.

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

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

m)        Hunting without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24). Providing false information on a permit application is a Class A misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.38).

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 11555, effective July 27, 2009)