093_HB2918enr

 
HB2918 Enrolled                      LRB093 03699 JAM 03729 b

 1        AN ACT concerning wildlife.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Wildlife  Code  is  amended  by  changing
 5    Section 2.25 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
 8    deer except (i) with a shotgun or muzzleloading rifle or (ii)
 9    as provided by administrative rule, with a bow and arrow,  or
10    crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined in Section
11    2.33,  during  the open season of not more than 14 days which
12    will be set annually by the Director  between  the  dates  of
13    November 1st and December 31st, both inclusive.
14        It  shall  be unlawful for any person to take deer except
15    with a bow and arrow,  or  crossbow  device  for  handicapped
16    persons  (as defined in Section 2.33), during the open season
17    for bow and arrow set annually by the  Director  between  the
18    dates of September 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
19        It  shall  be unlawful for any person to take deer except
20    with (i) a muzzleloading rifle, or (ii)  bow  and  arrow,  or
21    crossbow device for handicapped persons as defined in Section
22    2.33,  during  the  open  season for muzzleloading rifles set
23    annually by the Director.
24        The Director shall cause an administrative  rule  setting
25    forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
26    possession  limits and those counties of the State where open
27    seasons are established, to be published in  accordance  with
28    Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
29        The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
30    the  purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
31    found in the deer herd. This season shall  be  restricted  to
 
HB2918 Enrolled             -2-      LRB093 03699 JAM 03729 b
 1    gun  or  bow  and  arrow  hunting  only. The Department shall
 2    publicly announce, via statewide  news  release,  the  season
 3    dates  and  shooting  hours,  the  counties and sites open to
 4    hunting,  permit  requirements,  application  dates,  hunting
 5    rules, legal weapons, and reporting requirements.
 6        The Department is  authorized  to  establish  a  separate
 7    harvest  period  at  specific  sites within the State for the
 8    purpose of harvesting  surplus  deer  that  cannot  be  taken
 9    during  the  regular  season provided for the taking of deer.
10    This season shall be restricted  to  gun  or  bow  and  arrow
11    hunting  only  and  shall be established during the period of
12    September  1st  to  February  15th,   both   inclusive.   The
13    Department   shall  publish  suitable  prescribed  rules  and
14    regulations established by administrative rule pertaining  to
15    management  restrictions  applicable  to this special harvest
16    program.
17    (Source: P.A.  86-1188;  87-126;  87-234;  87-895;   87-1015;
18    87-1243; 87-1268.)

19        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
20    becoming law.