Section 670.40  Statewide Deer Hunting Rules

a)         The bag limit is one deer per legally authorized either-sex, antlered-only or antlerless-only permit.  All either-sex permits and antlered-only permits are subject to the following restriction:  no hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than 2 antlered deer during a year, including the youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm seasons.  For purposes of this subsection, deer seasons are considered to be in the same year if their opening dates fall within the same 12-month period that begins on July 1.  A hunter in possession of an either-sex permit after having harvested 2 antlered deer during a year, as defined above, may only use the permit to harvest an antlerless deer. Subject to this restriction, an either-sex permit holder is allowed to take a deer with or without antlers; and an antlered-only permit holder is allowed to take only a deer having at least one antler of a length of 3 or more inches.  An antlerless-only permit holder is allowed to take only a deer without antlers or a deer having antlers less than 3 inches long.

b)         The Illinois Restricted Archery Zone shall consist of Champaign, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt Counties.  During the period October 1-October 31, only antlered deer may be harvested in the Restricted Archery Zone, regardless of permits in possession.  An antlered deer is defined as a deer having at least one antler of a length of 3 or more inches.  All restrictions listed in subsection (a) also apply in the Restricted Archery Zone.

c)         Recipients of any type of Archery Deer Hunting Permit shall record their signature on the permit prior to hunting and must carry it on their person while hunting. 

d)         The temporary harvest tag shall be attached and properly sealed immediately upon kill and before the deer is moved, transported or field dressed.  No person shall leave any deer that has been killed without properly attaching the temporary harvest tag to the deer in the manner prescribed on the permit. 

e)         Hunters shall not have in their possession, while in the field during archery deer season, any deer permit issued to another person (permits are non-transferable).

f)         Permits will not be re-issued in cases involving deer taken which are found to be diseased or spoiled due to previous injury.  Legal disposal of unfit deer taken shall be the responsibility of the hunter.  For those hunters participating in DNR's Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Program, a free permit will be made available (during either the current year or the subsequent year, at the discretion of the hunter) if their tested deer is determined to have chronic wasting disease.

g)         Unlawful take or possession of one deer is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24); unlawful take or possession of two or more deer in a 90-day period is a Class 4 felony (see 520 ILCS 5/2.36a); unlawful take or possession of 2 or more deer as a single act or single course of conduct is a Class 3 felony (see 520 ILCS 5/2.36a); and any other violation of this Section is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 3999, effective March 1, 2024)