97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB3740

 

Introduced 2/10/2012, by Sen. Christine J. Johnson

 

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

    Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the Director of the Department of Natural Resources shall establish an additional shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle 3-day season for counties that include or are North of interstate I-88 that have deer herds affected with chronic wasting disease. Provides the Director may establish an additional shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle 3-day season for counties South of interstate I-88 where the Director deems a significant number of deer herds are affected with chronic wasting disease.


LRB097 19336 CEL 64585 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3740LRB097 19336 CEL 64585 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
9(ii) as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow,
10or crossbow device for handicapped persons, as defined in
11Section 2.33, and persons age 62 or older during the open
12season of not more than 14 days which will be set annually by
13the Director between the dates of November 1st and December
1431st, both inclusive, or a special 2-day, youth-only season
15between the dates of September 1 and October 31. The Director
16shall establish an additional shotgun, handgun, or
17muzzleloading rifle 3-day season for counties that include or
18are North of interstate I-88 that have deer herds affected with
19chronic wasting disease. The Director may establish an
20additional shotgun, handgun, or muzzleloading rifle 3-day
21season for counties South of interstate I-88 where the Director
22deems a significant number of deer herds are affected with
23chronic wasting disease.

 

 

SB3740- 2 -LRB097 19336 CEL 64585 b

1    For the purposes of this Section, legal handguns include
2any centerfire handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum
3barrel length of 4 inches. The only legal ammunition for a
4centerfire handgun is a cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with
5a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the
6muzzle. Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest
7deer.
8    The Department shall make administrative rules concerning
9management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and
10arrow season.
11    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
12with a bow and arrow, or crossbow device for handicapped
13persons, as defined in Section 2.33, and persons age 62 or
14older during the open season for bow and arrow set annually by
15the Director between the dates of September 1st and January
1631st, both inclusive.
17    It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
18with (i) a muzzleloading rifle, or (ii) bow and arrow, or
19crossbow device for handicapped persons, as defined in Section
202.33, and persons age 62 or older during the open season for
21muzzleloading rifles set annually by the Director.
22    The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting
23forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
24possession limits and those counties of the State where open
25seasons are established, to be published in accordance with
26Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.

 

 

SB3740- 3 -LRB097 19336 CEL 64585 b

1    The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
2the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
3found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun
4or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department shall publicly
5announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
6shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting, permit
7requirements, application dates, hunting rules, legal weapons,
8and reporting requirements.
9    The Department is authorized to establish a separate
10harvest period at specific sites within the State for the
11purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during
12the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This season
13shall be restricted to gun or bow and arrow hunting only and
14shall be established during the period of September 1st to
15February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publish
16suitable prescribed rules and regulations established by
17administrative rule pertaining to management restrictions
18applicable to this special harvest program. The Department
19shall allow unused gun deer permits that are left over from a
20regular season for the taking of deer to be rolled over and
21used during any separate harvest period held within 6 months of
22the season for which those tags were issued at no additional
23cost to the permit holder subject to the management
24restrictions applicable to the special harvest program.
25(Source: P.A. 94-919, eff. 6-26-06; 95-13, eff. 1-1-08; 95-329,
26eff. 8-21-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)