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Public Act 91-0582
SB163 Enrolled LRB9102634DHmg
AN ACT concerning recreational hunting and trapping.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources Act is
amended by changing Section 1-15 as follows:
(20 ILCS 801/1-15)
Sec. 1-15. General powers and duties.
(a) It shall be the duty of the Department to
investigate practical problems, implement studies, conduct
research and provide assistance, information and data
relating to the technology and administration of the natural
history, entomology, zoology, and botany of this State; the
geology and natural resources of this State; the water and
atmospheric resources of this State; and the archeological
and cultural history of this State.
(b) The Department shall obtain, store, and process
relevant data; recommend technological, administrative, and
legislative changes and developments; cooperate with other
federal, state, and local governmental research agencies,
facilities, or institutes in the selection of projects for
study; cooperate with the Board of Higher Education and with
the public and private colleges and universities in this
State in developing relevant interdisciplinary approaches to
problems; evaluate curricula at all levels of education and
provide assistance to instructors; and sponsor an annual
conference of leaders in government, industry, health, and
education to evaluate the state of this State's environment
and natural resources.
(c) The Director, in accordance with the Personnel Code,
shall employ such personnel, provide such facilities, and
contract for such outside services as may be necessary to
carry out the purposes of the Department. Maximum use shall
be made of existing federal and state agencies, facilities,
and personnel in conducting research under this Act.
(d) In addition to its other powers, the Department has
the following powers:
(1) To obtain, store, process, and provide data and
information related to the powers and duties of the
Department under this Act. This subdivision (d)(1) does
not give authority to the Department to require reports
from nongovernmental sources or entities.
(2) To cooperate with and support the Illinois
Governor's Science and Technology Advisory Committee and
the Illinois Coalition for the purpose of facilitating
the effective operations and activities of such entities.
Support may include, but need not be limited to,
providing space for the operations of the Committee and
the Illinois Coalition.
(e) The Department is authorized to make grants to local
not-for-profit organizations for the purposes of development,
maintenance and study of wetland areas.
(f) The Department has the authority to accept, receive
and administer on behalf of the State any gifts, bequests,
donations, income from property rental and endowments. Any
such funds received by the Department shall be deposited into
the Natural Resources Fund, a special fund which is hereby
created in the State treasury, and used for the purposes of
this Act or, when appropriate, for such purposes and under
such restrictions, terms and conditions as are predetermined
by the donor or grantor of such funds or property. Any
accrued interest from money deposited into the Natural
Resources Fund shall be reinvested into the Fund and used in
the same manner as the principal. The Director shall maintain
records which account for and assure that restricted funds or
property are disbursed or used pursuant to the restrictions,
terms or conditions of the donor.
(g) The Department shall recognize, preserve, and
promote our special heritage of recreational hunting and
trapping by providing opportunities to hunt and trap in
accordance with the Wildlife Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; revised 12-2-98.)
Section 10. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
Section 3.8 as follows:
(520 ILCS 5/3.8) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.8)
Sec. 3.8. Migratory waterfowl areas; geese.
(a) On any property operated under a Migratory Waterfowl
Hunting Area Permit (Commercial) where the principal use is
to take wild geese, it is the permit holder's duty to ensure
all of the following but only during Canada goose season:
(1) That no person takes wild geese except from a
blind or pit.
(2) That no person establishes or uses any blind or
pit for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any
other blind or pit or within 100 yards of the boundary of
the property on which the blind or pit is located.
(3) That no person establishes or uses any blind or
pit for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any
wildlife refuge boundary or public road right-of-way
adjacent to any State or Federal waterfowl refuge. If a
blind or pit has been established for more than 10 years
and it was believed by both the landowner and the
Department during that time to meet the minimum yardage
requirements of this paragraph (3), then the blind or pit
may remain in place even though a survey or other
evidence may indicate that the minimum yardage
requirements are not met.
(b) On any property where the principal use is to take
wild geese in Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Union
and Williamson Counties, other than property operated under a
Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Area Permit (Commercial), all of
the following restrictions shall be observed but only during
Canada goose season:
(1) No person may take wild geese except from a
blind or pit and it shall be illegal to take or attempt
to take geese from the base of standing timber except
when immediately adjacent to an open field.
(2) No person may establish or use a blind or pit
within 100 yards of the boundary of the property on which
the blind or pit is located unless the minimum yardage
requirement cannot be met, in which case one pit or blind
may be permitted only if there is a minimum of 200 yards
between that pit or blind and the nearest pit or blind.
(3) No person may establish or use a blind or pit
for the taking of wild geese within 200 yards of any
wildlife refuge boundary or public road right-of-way
adjacent to any State or Federal waterfowl refuge. If a
blind or pit has been established for more than 10 years
and it was believed by both the landowner and the
Department during that time to meet the minimum yardage
requirements of this paragraph (3), then the blind or pit
may remain in place even though a survey or other
evidence may indicate that the minimum yardage
requirements are not met.
(4) No more than the number of persons allowed by
administrative rule may occupy or attempt to take wild
geese from any blind or pit at the same time.
(Source: P.A. 90-435, eff. 1-1-98.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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