Section 710.70  Spring Youth Turkey Hunt

 

a)         Hunting Dates

 

1)         Northern Zone:  the Saturday and Sunday beginning 9 days prior to the opening date of the Northern Zone first spring turkey hunting season.

 

2)         Southern Zone:  the Saturday and Sunday beginning 9 days prior to the opening date of the Southern Zone first spring turkey hunting season.

 

b)         Open Counties:  All counties listed in Section 710.10 are open to Spring Youth Turkey Hunting.

 

c)         Eligibility:  The Spring Youth Turkey Hunt is open only to Illinois residents under the age of 16 on the beginning date of the designated youth hunting days.  All participating youths must have completed a Department-approved Hunter Education course.

 

d)         Permit Requirements − Spring Youth Turkey Hunt

 

1)         All youth hunters must have a current, valid Youth Turkey Hunt Permit ($10).  For permit application and other information write to:

 

Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Youth Turkey Hunt

One Natural Resources Way

P.O. Box 19227

Springfield IL  62794-9227

 

2)         Each applicant must enclose a separate fee (check or money order) payable to the Department of Natural Resources or the application will be returned.  Applicants should not send cash with their applications.  The Department will not be responsible for cash sent through the mail.

 

3)         Each applicant must complete the official Department Youth Wild Turkey Permit application.

 

4)         Applications will be accepted through the second Monday in February.

 

5)         The applicants must not have had their hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State or any other state.

 

6)         If more than one application for an Illinois Youth Turkey Hunt Permit is received from the same person, all applications submitted in that name will be rejected and permits revoked.

 

7)         A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department.

 

8)         The Youth Turkey Hunt Permit shall be valid only for the dates and counties listed on the permit.  Each youth must also possess a valid Illinois hunting license or apprentice hunting license and Habitat Stamp prior to hunting, unless exempt.  Hunting without a permit is a Class B misdemeanor [520 ILCS 5/2.9].

 

9)         A permit issued for the Youth Turkey Hunt will count toward the maximum number of permits (Section 710.20(j)) an individual can receive for the Spring Wild Turkey Season .

 

e)         Youth Turkey Hunting Regulations

 

1)         Each Illinois Youth Turkey Hunt Permit holder is required to be accompanied afield by a parent/guardian or responsible adult who possesses a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card.  The accompanying adult must be present for the permit holder (youth) to hunt.  The adult and/or adult caller is not allowed to hunt, but may accompany the youth hunter as a caller or observer.  The supervising adult shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party and shall be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.

 

2)         All regulations prescribed by Section 710.30 of this Part apply during the Youth Turkey Hunt.

 

f)          The following sites will be open to holders of a valid Youth Turkey Hunt Permit for the county in which the site is located.  Persons wishing to hunt one of the listed sites should contact that site prior to hunting for information about site regulations and restrictions.

 

Anderson Lake Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Apple River Canyon State Park − Thompson and Salem Units (1)

 

Argyle Lake State Park

 

Big Bend Fish and Wildlife Area (Whiteside County)

 

Big River State Forest

 

Cache River State Natural Area

 

Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Castle Rock State Park

 

Copperhead Hollow State Wildlife Area

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Public Hunting Area

 

Crawford County Conservation Area

 

Cypress Pond State Natural Area

 

Deer Pond State Natural Area

 

Devil's Island State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Dog Island Wildlife Management Area

 

Falling Down Prairie State Natural Area (1)

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Cedar Draper State Habitat Area

 

Giant City State Park

 

Green River State Wildlife Area

 

Hanover Bluff State Natural Area (1)

 

Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area − Alexander County

 

Kankakee River State Park

 

Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area (1)

 

Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Moraine View State Park (free site permit required)

 

Mississippi River Area Pools 21, 22, 24, 25 and 26

 

Momence Wetlands

 

Nauvoo State Park (Max Rowe Unit Only)

 

Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Pere Marquette State Park (open area south of Graham Hollow Road only)

 

Pyramid State Park

 

Pyramid State Park − East Conant Unit

 

Ray Norbut Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Rend Lake Corps of Engineers-managed land in Jefferson and

Franklin Counties

 

Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Sam Parr State Park

 

Sielbeck Forest State Natural Area

 

Siloam Springs State Park

 

Siloam Springs State Park (Buckhorn Unit)

 

Skinner Farm State Habitat Area

 

Spoon River State Forest

 

Trail of Tears State Forest

 

Ten Mile Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Union County Conservation Area

 

Weinberg-King State Park

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Cecil White Unit)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Scripps Unit)

 

Weinberg-King State Park (Spunky Bottoms Unit)

 

Witkowsky State Wildlife Area (1)

 

g)         Statewide regulations shall apply except that all hunting is allowed by site-specific permit only.  The Department of Natural Resources allocates permits for these areas through the lottery process set forth in Section 710.70(d).  This permit is only valid for the specific site and season indicated on the permit.

 

Burning Star 5 (preseason scouting is permitted beginning the Saturday prior to the youth season; hunters must have their permit in possession while scouting; permit holders must display a parking card in the dash of their vehicle)

 

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

 

Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (Closed Portion)

 

Eldon Hazlet State Park

 

Ferne Clyffe State Park − Ferne Clyffe Hunting Area

 

Hidden Springs State Forest

 

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

 

Lake Shelbyville Project Land (U.S. Army Corps of  Engineers managed) Moultrie County

 

Lake Shelbyville Project Land (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed) Shelby County

 

Sangchris Lake State Park

 

South Shore State Park (must have Eldon Hazlet State Park permit)

 

Weldon Springs − Piatt County Unit

 

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 19742, effective December 3, 2008)