Section 680.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         Illinois resident hunters must have a current, valid Late-Winter Deer Season Permit ($15), or an unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permit valid for the previous firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer season and valid for one of the open counties.  Nonresident hunters must have an unfilled firearm or muzzleloader deer permit valid for the previous firearm or muzzleloader deer season and valid for one of the open counties.  A Late-Winter Deer Season 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.  Unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permits are valid only for the county for which they were originally issued, except that unfilled landowner property-only hunting firearm deer permits are valid only for the farmlands that the person to whom it was issued owns, leases, or rents within the open counties/portions of counties. 

1)         Unfilled firearm, muzzleloader or youth deer permits that were originally issued for special hunt areas are not valid during the Late-Winter Season unless:

A)        the hunter's name is redrawn at the daily site lottery to hunt at the same special hunt area during the Late-Winter Season; or

B)        the special hunt area is open to persons with a county permit and the special hunt area does not conduct a daily site lottery. 

2)         Sites conducting a daily site lottery will be announced publicly. 

b)         Resident Late-Winter Deer Permits will be available for sale over-the-counter (OTC) from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) beginning December 1 through the last day of the Late-Winter Deer Season.  For counties in Unit A, there shall be no limitation on permit sales; hunters may purchase as many permits as they wish for any or all of the included counties.  For counties in Unit B, hunters may purchase only a single permit for each of the included counties.

c)         For the applicant to be eligible to receive a Late-Winter Deer Permit ($15), he/she must be an Illinois resident and not have had his/her deer hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State pursuant to Section 3.36 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.36].  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident deer permit.

d)         Hunters purchasing Late-Winter Deer Permits must supply all necessary application information to the agents in order to properly complete the permit. 

e)         Recipients of the Late-Winter Deer Hunting Permit shall record their signature on the permit and must carry it on their person while hunting.

f)          Permits are not transferable.  Refunds shall not be granted unless the Department has erroneously issued the permit.

g)         A $3 service fee shall be charged for replacement permits. Monies derived from this source shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

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

(Source:  Amended at 33 Ill. Reg. 11601, effective July 27, 2009)