Illinois Administrative Code

Section 760.20 Crossbow Permits (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 42 Ill. Reg. 2842, effective January 24, 2018)

Section 760.21 Crossbow Equipment Requirements (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 46 Ill. Reg. 18816, effective November 2, 2022)

Section 760.22 Crossbow Hunting Rules (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 42 Ill. Reg. 2842, effective January 24, 2018)

Section 760.30 Standing Vehicle Permits a) Eligibility 1) Class A – Permanent Disability After proper application, the Department may issue a Class A permit to shoot from a vehicle to paraplegics or other persons, if the person meets any of the following: A) has a permanent or ir…

Section 760.40 Rejection of Application/Revocation of Permits a) The Department may issue a permit to an applicant who is denied a permit under this Part if, upon review and after considering the physical condition of the applicant and the recommendation of a licensed physician s…

Section 805.10 Definition Injurious Species are defined as those species listed and/or hybrids thereof in 50 CFR 16.11-15, not including herptiles, and any other species as listed in this Part, based upon the potential threat to indigenous wildlife, aquatic life, or the habitat. …

Section 805.20 Listing of Injurious Species a) Wild Mammals *Flying fox or fruit bat of the genus Pteropus *Mongoose or meerkat of the genera Atilax, Cynictis, Helogale, Heroestes *Ichneumia, Munzos, and Suricata *Any species of European rabbit of the genus Oryctolagus *Any speci…

Section 805.30 Unlawful Acts a) Injurious species shall not be possessed, propagated, bought, sold, bartered or offered to be bought, sold, bartered, transported, traded, transferred or loaned to any other person or institution unless a permit is first obtained from the Departmen…

Section 805.40 Permits a) Application Requirements Permits to transport/possess injurious species may be issued by the Department of Natural Resources in accordance with Section 20-100 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5/20-100] and Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 3.22 of the Wild…

Section 805.50 Penalties a) Violations of Section 20-90 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5/20-90] and associated administrative rules are business offenses, punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000. b) Violations of Section 10-100(a) of the Fish…

Section 810.10 Sale of Fish and Fishing Seasons − Statewide a) No fish or parts thereof (including eggs) taken by sport fishing methods (including snagging) may be bought, sold or bartered. b) Lake Michigan – The sport fishing season for rainbow smelt shall be from March 1 to Apr…

Section 810.100 Bed Protection a) It is unlawful to operate any motorized vehicle upon the bed of any public water wholly or partially within the State of Illinois. b) The following vehicles are exempted from the above subsection: 1) vehicles operating under a permit issued by th…

Section 810.14 Wanton Waste – Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Mollusks and Crustaceans Abandonment a) Except as provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person at any time to take or possess any fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans authorized by this Part in I…

Section 810.15 Statewide and Site Specific Bowfishing (Archery/Spear Methods) Regulations a) Legal Methods of Taking Aquatic life, as listed by species in subsection (b), may be taken by means of legal bowfishing devices, including a pitchfork, underwater spear gun, bow and arrow…

Section 810.20 Snagging a) Sport fishermen are permitted only one pole and line device to which can be attached no more than two hooks. On the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, the maximum treble hook size is 5/0; however, gaffs may not be used Statewide to land paddle…

Section 810.25 Trotlines a) Sportfishermen must check trotlines and other legal hook and line devices at least once every 24 hours. b) Any sport fishing device, including trot line device, bank pole, and throw line or buoyed ganging devices, left unattended must be tagged with th…

Section 810.28 Mussels a) Persons possessing a sport fishing license may possess up to 50 relic mussel shells for personal collection. b) Collected live mussels may not be transported between water bodies. c) Mussels collected under a sport fishing license may only be taken for p…

Section 810.30 Pole and Line Fishing Only (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991)

Section 810.35 Statewide Sportfishing (Hook and Line and Other Non-Bowfishing or Non‑Snagging Legal Methods Under a Sportfishing License) Regulations – Daily Harvest and Size Limits a) No fish species may be dressed (filleted or head and tail removed) on any waters to which lengt…

Section 810.37 Definitions for Site Specific Sportfishing Regulations (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 47 Ill. Reg. 1934, effective January 30, 2023)

Section 810.40 Daily Catch and Size Limits (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 15 Ill. Reg. 4699, effective March 18, 1991)

Section 810.45 Site Specific Water Area Regulations a) Site specific regulations are listed by water area affected. The coverage of the regulation is dictated by the extent of the water area listed and not by the county. In some cases, regulations for a given water area or site m…

Section 810.5 Definitions Aquatic life – all fish, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans, algae, aquatic plants and aquatic invertebrates, and any other aquatic animals or plants that the Department identifies in administrative rules. Catch and Release Fishing – means that …

Section 810.50 Bait Fishing a) Statewide Regulations 1) Aquatic life species found on the Aquatic Life Approved Species list are allowed for use as live bait if purchased from a licensed Illinois Aquatic Life Dealer or Minnow Dealer or so long as the aquatic life species taken ar…

Section 810.60 Bullfrogs (Repealed) (Source: Repealed at 21 Ill. Reg. 4709, effective April 1, 1997)

Section 810.70 Free Fishing Days During the period of June 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2026, it shall be legal for any person to fish in waters wholly or in part within the jurisdiction of the State, including the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan, without possessing a sport fishing licen…

Section 810.80 Emergency Protective Procedures a) Emergency procedures will be utilized to protect the sport fisheries resources of the State and the general health, safety and welfare of the general public under the following criteria: 1) Conditions A) When data analysis based u…

Section 810.90 Fishing Tournament Permit a) Definitions 1) "Fishing Derby" – An organized event conducted for children under the age of 16 who are attending school, senior citizens (65 years old and older), sport fishermen with disabilities, or other school-sanctioned groups when…

Section 830.10 Waters Open to Commercial Harvest of Fish The following Illinois waters are open to commercial harvest of fish: a) Mississippi River and connected public (wholly accessible by boat) backwaters, including that portion of the Kaskaskia River below the navigation lock…

Section 830.11 Special Regulations for the Commercial Harvest of VHS-Susceptible Fish Species a) Commercial fishermen shall be allowed to harvest and transport live, to a State-licensed wholesale aquatic life dealer, any permitted commercial species identified in Section 830.60 a…

Section 830.12 Special Regulations for the Commercial Harvest of Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp and Black Carp a) Commercial fishermen shall be allowed to harvest from the wild, and transport to a State-licensed wholesale aquatic life dealer, bighead carp, silver carp, gra…

Section 830.13 Special Regulations for the Commercial Harvest of Roe-Bearing Species a) Shovelnose sturgeon may not be commercially harvested except in the Mississippi River upstream of the Melvin Price Lock and Dam located in Alton (excluding the area from Lock and Dam 19 to the…

Section 830.14 License Requirements a) All commercial fishermen shall have a commercial fishing license. All individuals assisting a licensed commercial fisherman shall have a commercial fishing license unless these individuals are under the direct supervision of and aboard the s…

Section 830.15 Waters Open to Commercial Harvest of Crayfish The Illinois River and adjacent backwaters from the Route 89 highway bridge downstream are open to commercial harvest of crayfish, except for: a) U.S. Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge waters; b) Donnelly/Depue…

Section 830.20 Waters Open to Commercial Harvest of Mussels and Seasons a) Mississippi River and backwaters, April 1 to August 31 inclusive, except for the following areas: 1) All of the area directly above Lock and Dam 12 (RM 556.7) from the center of the navigation channel east…

Section 830.25 Daily Fee Fishing Area a) Persons wishing to obtain a fee fishing area license shall submit an application to the Department that contains all of the following information: 1) the legal location of the site for which the license is intended; 2) the size and number …

Section 830.30 Special Regulations a) Commercial fishing and musseling will not be permitted in any streams, ditches, or tributaries connected to the backwaters of the waters listed in Section 830.10, 830.15 or 830.20. b) Any person harvesting mussels for commercial use may posse…

Section 830.40 Devices a) Commercial Fishing 1) Devices used in the waters listed in Section 830.10 shall conform to all regulations as outlined in Article 15 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5/Art.15]. Hoop nets, basket traps, trot lines and dip nets may be used in al…

Section 830.5 Definitions a) A relic (dead) mussel shell is defined as one which apparently died of natural causes within the water and contains no meat or soft parts; it readily exhibits noticeable sediment, vegetation, algal or mineral stains, discolorations, soiling, weatherin…

Section 830.50 Permission Commercial fishermen and musselers are responsible for obtaining permission to carry out fishing or musseling activity from the landowner(s) controlling portions of the aforementioned waters as necessary. (Source: Amended at 6 Ill. Reg. 10680, effective …

Section 830.60 Species a) The following species of fish may be taken by licensed commercial fishermen: 1) Common Carp and Black Carp 2) Buffalo 3) Freshwater drum 4) Catfishes (includes bullheads) 5) Paddlefish (only in waters specified in Section 830.13) (roe harvester permit re…

Section 830.70 Size and Creel Limit a) No channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish or white catfish under 15 inches in length, undressed, or 12 inches in length, dressed, or 10.7 inches when dressed with the first vertebrae (T bone) removed, may be taken except in the Ohio…

Section 830.80 Commercial Fishing and Musseling in Additional Waters a) Additional public waters may be open to targeted commercial fishing or musseling by a Special Use Permit. Any licensed commercial fisherman or musseler who wishes to fish in any water not listed under Section…

Section 830.90 Revocation and Suspension of Commercial Fishing and Musseling Privileges, Hearings and Appeals and Reporting Requirements a) In accordance with Section 20-105 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code [515 ILCS 5/20-105], failure to comply with the provisions of the Fish a…

Section 850.10 Possession and Identification of Gear a) Licensed commercial fishermen may take bloater chub and yellow perch in Lake Michigan only with gill nets that have meshes of not more than 2¾ inch diagonal stretched measurement nor less than 2⅜ inch diagonal stretched meas…

Section 850.20 Quota a) Harvest quotas will be reviewed annually and will be established by the Department for each license fishing year taking into consideration the condition and supply of Lake Michigan fish stocks. b) For each license year beginning April 1 and ending March 31…

Section 850.25 Seasons The commercial harvest of yellow perch is prohibited from May 1 through June 15, inclusive, annually. All yellow perch incidentally caught in gill nets during this time must be removed immediately from the gill nets as they are brought on board the vessel a…

Section 850.30 Restricted Commercial Fishing Areas a) During the months of July and August, commercial gill net fishing may be undertaken anywhere in the Illinois portion of Lake Michigan outside of the 1,000 yard distance from any pier, breakwater, or similar structure, or the l…

Section 850.40 Limited Entry a) The Department may issue 5 commercial licenses for taking yellow perch and bloater chub. Each licensee may fish only with the fishing vessel designated on each license. b) Any individual or corporate license holder who continues to meet eligibility…

Section 850.5 Introduction All fish of whatever kind found in the waters of Lake Michigan within the jurisdiction of this state, shall be and are declared to be the property of the state and the taking thereof is declared to be a privilege. All fish in these waters shall be taken…