100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB2410

 

Introduced , by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
520 ILCS 5/2.25  from Ch. 61, par. 2.25

    Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a person may take deer with a .45 caliber or larger air-powered gun. Defines "air-powered gun" as any implement, designed as a gun that will expel a BB or pellet by spring, gas, or air charged from an external high compression power source.


LRB100 09719 SLF 19888 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2410LRB100 09719 SLF 19888 b

1    AN ACT concerning wildlife.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section
52.25 as follows:
 
6    (520 ILCS 5/2.25)  (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
7    Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer
8except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle, or
9a .45 caliber or larger air-powered gun or (ii) as provided by
10administrative rule, with a bow and arrow, during the open
11season of not more than 14 days which will be set annually by
12the Director between the dates of November 1st and December
1331st, both inclusive, or a special 3-day, youth-only season
14between the dates of September 1 and October 31. For the
15purposes of this Section, legal handguns include any centerfire
16handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length
17of 4 inches. The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun
18is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with a capability of at
19least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Full metal
20jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer. For the
21purposes of this Section, "air-powered gun" means any
22implement, designed as a gun that will expel a BB or pellet by
23spring, gas, or air charged from an external high compression

 

 

HB2410- 2 -LRB100 09719 SLF 19888 b

1power source.
2    The Department shall make administrative rules concerning
3management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and
4arrow season.
5    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
6with a bow and arrow during the open season for bow and arrow
7set annually by the Director between the dates of September 1st
8and January 31st, both inclusive.
9    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
10with (i) a muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow during the
11open season for muzzleloading rifles set annually by the
12Director.
13    The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting
14forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
15possession limits and those counties of the State where open
16seasons are established, to be published in accordance with
17Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
18    The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
19the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
20found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun
21or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department shall publicly
22announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
23shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting, permit
24requirements, application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons,
25and reporting requirements.
26    The Department is authorized to establish a separate

 

 

HB2410- 3 -LRB100 09719 SLF 19888 b

1harvest period at specific sites within the State for the
2purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during
3the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This season
4shall be restricted to gun or bow and arrow hunting only and
5shall be established during the period of September 1st to
6February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publish
7suitable prescribed rules and regulations established by
8administrative rule pertaining to management restrictions
9applicable to this special harvest program. The Department
10shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left over from a
11regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled over and
12used during any separate harvest period held within 6 months of
13the season for which those tags were issued at no additional
14cost to the permit holder subject to the management
15restrictions applicable to the special harvest program.
16(Source: P.A. 97-907, eff. 8-7-12; 98-368, eff. 8-16-13.)