Bill Text: IL HB5881 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the firearm open season set annually by the Director of Natural Resources between the dates of November 1 and December 31, both inclusive, shall include (1) a period before Thanksgiving of at least 4 consecutive days, (2) a period after Thanksgiving of at least 5 consecutive days, and (3) a total period of not more than 14 days. Makes technical changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-09-24 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg [HB5881 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5881-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5881 Introduced , by Rep. Adam M. Niemerg SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
520 ILCS 5/2.25 from Ch. 61, par. 2.25
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that the firearm open season set annually by the Director of Natural Resources between the dates of November 1 and December 31, both inclusive, shall include (1) a period before Thanksgiving of at least 4 consecutive days, (2) a period after Thanksgiving of at least 5 consecutive days, and (3) a total period of not more than 14 days. Makes technical changes.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning wildlife.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing
Section 2.25 as follows:
(520 ILCS 5/2.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)
Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer
except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, single shot centerfire
rifle, or muzzleloading rifle or (ii) as provided by
administrative rule, with a bow and arrow, during the open
season of not more than 14 days which will be set annually by
the Director between the dates of November 1 1st and December
31 31st, both inclusive, or a special 3-day, youth-only season
between the dates of September 1 and October 31. For the
purposes of this Section, legal handguns and rifles are
limited to centerfire handguns that are either a single shot
or revolver and centerfire rifles that are single shot. The
only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun or rifle is a
bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger with
a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths inches, or a
straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or larger,
both of which must be available as a factory load with the
published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a

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capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.
The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches. Full metal
jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer.
The Department shall adopt make administrative rules
concerning management restrictions applicable to the firearm
and bow and arrow season.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
with a shotgun, handgun, single shot centerfire rifle, or
muzzleloading rifle during the firearm open season set
annually by the Director between the dates of November 1 and
December 31, both inclusive, or as otherwise provided in this
Section. The firearm open season for the taking of deer set
annually by the Director between the dates of November 1 and
December 31, both inclusive, shall include (1) a period before
Thanksgiving of at least 4 consecutive days, (2) a period
after Thanksgiving of at least 5 consecutive days, and (3) a
total period of not more than 14 days.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
with a bow and arrow during the open season for bow and arrow
set annually by the Director between the dates of September
1st and January 31st, both inclusive.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except
with (i) a muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow during the
open season for muzzleloading rifles set annually by the
Director.
The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting

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forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and
possession limits and those counties of the State where open
seasons are established, to be published in accordance with
Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.
The Department may establish separate harvest periods for
the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been
found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun
or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department shall publicly
announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting.
The Department is authorized to establish a separate
harvest period at specific sites within the State for the
purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during
the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This
season shall be restricted to gun or bow and arrow hunting only
and shall be established during the period of September 1st to
February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publicly
announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and
shooting hours, and the counties and sites open to hunting.
The Department shall publish suitable prescribed rules and
regulations established by administrative rule pertaining to
management restrictions applicable to this special harvest
program. The Department shall allow unused gun deer permits
that are left over from a regular season for the taking of deer
to be rolled over and used during any separate harvest period
held within 6 months of the season for which those tags were

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