Section 680.40  Statewide Firearm Requirements for Late-Winter Deer Hunting

a)         The only legal firearms to take, or attempt to take, deer are:

1)         Shotgun, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs; or

2)         A single or double barreled muzzleloading rifle of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least 16 inches in length; or

3)         centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and single-shot muzzleloading handguns (blackpowder handguns that are incapable of being loaded from the breech end) of .50 caliber or larger capable of producing at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle according to published ballistic tables of the manufacturer.

b)         Standards and specifications for legal ammunition are:

1)         For shotguns and muzzleloading firearms, the minimum size of the projectile shall be .44 caliber.  A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or a part of the projectile.

2)         The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun is a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a case length not exceeding 1.4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger, both of which must be available with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.  Single-shot muzzleloading handguns must use a projectile of .44 caliber or larger with sufficient blackpowder or "blackpowder substitute" (such as Pyrodex) to produce at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.  A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or part of a projectile.

3)         Non-expanding, military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to harvest white-tailed deer; only soft point or expanding bullets (including copper/copper alloy rounds designed for hunting) are legal ammunition.

c)         Standards and specifications for use of muzzleloading firearms are as follows:

1)         A muzzleloading firearm is defined as a firearm that is incapable of being loaded from the breech end.

2)         Only black powder or a "black powder substitute" such as Pyrodex may be used.  Modern smokeless powders (nitrocellulose-based) are an approved blackpowder substitute only in muzzleloading firearms that are specifically designed for their use.

3)         Only percussion caps, wheel lock, matchlock or flint type ignition may be used, except the Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) electronic ignition shall be legal to use.

4)         Removal of percussion cap or removal of prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way down or removal of prime powder from flashpan and wheel unwound or removal of prime powder and match with match not lit, or removal of the battery from the CVA electronic ignition muzzleloader, shall constitute an unloaded muzzleloading firearm.

d)         Hunters using unfilled muzzleloader deer permits may only use muzzleloading rifles as specified in subsection (a)(2).  Hunters using unfilled firearm deer permits, or Late-Winter Deer Season Permits, may use all firearms specified in subsection (a). Hunters using unfilled youth deer permits may only use shotguns or muzzleloaders as specified in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2).

e)         It shall be unlawful to use or possess any other firearm or ammunition in the field while hunting white-tailed deer during the Late-Winter Deer Season. However, the lawful possession of firearms to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer by persons other than deer hunters shall not be prohibited during the Late-Winter deer season as set in Section 680.10.  Violation is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 19736, effective December 3, 2008)