Chapter 520 — WILDLIFE

(520 ILCS 5/1.1) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.1) Sec. 1.1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Wildlife Code". (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.10) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.10) Sec. 1.10. The Department shall take all measures necessary for the conservation, distribution, introduction and restoration of birds and mammals. The Department also shall bring or cause to be brought, actions and proceedings, in the na…

(520 ILCS 5/1.11) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.11) Sec. 1.11. The Department may establish Conservation Training Schools and employ technicians and such other help as may be necessary for the purpose of teaching conservation methods to employees of the Department, and such other interest…

(520 ILCS 5/1.12) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.12) Sec. 1.12. The Department shall use the most modern conservation methods to manage wildlife on State controlled lands or waters for propagation or breeding wildlife. The Department may cooperate with any person desirous of managing wildl…

(520 ILCS 5/1.13) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.13) Sec. 1.13. The Department is authorized to issue a "Public Hunting Grounds for Waterfowl" daily usage stamp at a fee not to exceed $10 for duck hunting areas, and not to exceed $15 for Canada goose hunting areas; and assess a daily "Publ…

(520 ILCS 5/1.14) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.14) Sec. 1.14. All authorized employees of the Department shall have the power of, and shall be peace officers in the enforcement of the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, and may carry such weapons as may be necessary t…

(520 ILCS 5/1.15) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.15) Sec. 1.15. All authorized employees of the Department, duly accredited officers of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and all sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, and other peace officers shall be empowered to arrest any person detected in viola…

(520 ILCS 5/1.16) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.16) Sec. 1.16. All State's Attorneys shall enforce the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, in their respective counties, and shall prosecute all persons charged with violating such provisions, when so requested by the Dep…

(520 ILCS 5/1.17) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.17) Sec. 1.17. All prosecutions provided for by this Act shall be brought before the Circuit Court for the county within which the offense was committed. All such prosecutions shall be commenced within 2 years from the time the offense charg…

(520 ILCS 5/1.18) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.18) Sec. 1.18. All fines provided for by this Act which are imposed and collected shall be remitted to the Department, within 30 days after the collection thereof, by the Clerk of the Circuit Court collecting such fines, who shall submit at …

(520 ILCS 5/1.19) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.19) Sec. 1.19. All authorized employees of the Department are empowered, pursuant to law, to enter all lands and waters to enforce the provisions of this Act. Authorized employees are further empowered to examine all buildings, private or pu…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2) Sec. 1.2. This Act shall be administered by and under the direction of the Department of Natural Resources. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in the Sections following this Section and precedin…

(520 ILCS 5/1.20) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.20) Sec. 1.20. The possession of any wild bird or wild mammal protected under this Act, is prima facie evidence that the same is subject to all the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, pertaining to the taking, possession …

(520 ILCS 5/1.21) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.21) Sec. 1.21. Whenever any authorized employee of the Department, sheriff, deputy sheriff or other peace officer of the State shall have reason to believe that any person, commercial institution, commission house, restaurant or cafe keeper,…

(520 ILCS 5/1.22) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.22) Sec. 1.22. It shall be unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any authorized employee of the Department or other peace officer in the discharge of his duties under the provisions hereof. (Source: P.A. 77-1781.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.23) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.23) Sec. 1.23. It shall be unlawful for any person to represent himself falsely to be an authorized employee of the Department, or to assume to act as such without having been duly appointed and employed as such. (Source: P.A. 77-1781.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.24) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.24) Sec. 1.24. Contraband wild birds or any part thereof (their nests or eggs), or wild mammals or any part thereof, or fur-bearing mammals or any part thereof seized and confiscated in accordance with the provisions hereof, shall be dispose…

(520 ILCS 5/1.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.25) Sec. 1.25. Every hunting or trapping device, vehicle or conveyance, when used or operated illegally, or attempted to be used or operated illegally by any person in taking, transporting, holding, or conveying any wild bird or wild mammal,…

(520 ILCS 5/1.26) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.26) Sec. 1.26. Each wild bird or wild mammal, or any part thereof (including the nests or eggs of wild birds), taken, shipped, offered or received for shipment, transported, bought, sold, or bartered, or had in possession, and each green hid…

(520 ILCS 5/1.27) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.27) Sec. 1.27. Any person who aids or contributes in any manner to a violation of this Act, including administrative rules, is individually liable, as a separate offense under the provisions hereof, for the penalties imposed against the pers…

(520 ILCS 5/1.28) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.28) Sec. 1.28. Fees and fines; deposit in funds. All fees, fines, including bond forfeitures, income of whatsoever kind or nature derived from hunting and fishing activities on lands or waters or both under the jurisdiction or control of the…

(520 ILCS 5/1.28a) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.28a) Sec. 1.28a. The Wildlife and Fish Fund shall also be used for the purposes set forth in Section 1-235 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. (Source: P.A. 87-895.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.29) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.29) Sec. 1.29. Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund. (a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury the State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund. All fees collected from the sale of State Migratory Waterfowl Stamps shall be deposited into this Fund…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2a) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2a) Sec. 1.2a. "Administrative rule" means an administrative rule of the Department issued under Section 1.3 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 85-152.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2aa) Sec. 1.2aa. Centerfire. "Centerfire" means a gun that will only fire a round that contains the primer in the center of the cartridge and not in the rim of the cartridge. (Source: P.A. 102-932, eff. 1-1-23.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2b) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2b) Sec. 1.2b. "Authorized Employee" means all sworn members of the Law Enforcement Division and those persons specifically granted law enforcement authorization by the Director. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2b-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2b-1) Sec. 1.2b-1. Case. "Case" means any case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or container acceptable under Article 24 of the Criminal Code of 2012. (Source: P.A. 97-1027, eff. 8-17-12; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2bb) Sec. 1.2bb. Single shot. "Single shot" means a gun that is either manufactured or modified to only be capable of holding a total of one round in the magazine and chamber combined. "Single shot" does not include: (a) a rifle in the possession of a person who is …

(520 ILCS 5/1.2c) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2c) Sec. 1.2c. "Contraband" means all wild birds or any part thereof, (their nests or eggs), wild mammals or any part thereof, taken, bought, sold or bartered, shipped or had in possession, or any conveyance, vehicle, water craft or other me…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2c-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2c-1) Sec. 1.2c-1. Daily Limit. Daily Limit means the maximum number or amount of species which can be lawfully taken by one person in one calendar day. (Source: P.A. 84-150.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2d) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2d) Sec. 1.2d. "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2e) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2e) Sec. 1.2e. "Director" means the Director of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2f) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2f) Sec. 1.2f. "Freshly killed" means any carcass, remains or parts of the body of any dead mammal or bird that has not been prepared for immediate consumption or storage for later consumption. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2g) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2g) Sec. 1.2g. "Fur-bearing mammals" means the following specific species, mink, muskrat, raccoon, striped skunk, weasel, bobcat, opossum, beaver, river otter, badger, red fox, gray fox, and coyote. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2h) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2h) Sec. 1.2h. "Game mammals" means the following specific species: cottontail, swamp, and jack rabbit, white-tailed deer, fox squirrel, gray squirrel and ground hog. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2i) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2i) Sec. 1.2i. "Green hide" means any hide or pelt which has not been tanned. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2j) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2j) Sec. 1.2j. "Gun" means shotgun, rifle, handgun, or air rifle. (Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2j-1) Sec. 1.2j-1. "Bow and arrow" means a longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, or crossbow. (Source: P.A. 97-907, eff. 8-7-12.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2j-2) Sec. 1.2j-2. Air rifle. "Air rifle" means an air gun, air pistol, spring gun, gas gun, spring pistol, B-B gun, pellet gun, or any implement that is not a firearm and propels a singular globular projectile or pellet constructed of steel, lead, or other hard mat…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2k) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2k) Sec. 1.2k. "Hunt" means the act of a person possessing a weapon or being accompanied by a dog or a bird of prey for the purpose of taking species protected by this Act in any location such species may inhabit. (Source: P.A. 85-152.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2k-1) Sec. 1.2k-1. Hunting license. "Hunting license" means an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal during a specified period of time. (Source: P.A. 100-150, eff. 8-18-17.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2l) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2l) Sec. 1.2l. "Person" includes the plural "persons", "females" as well as "males" and shall extend and be applied to clubs, associations, corporations, firms and partnerships as well as individuals. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2m) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2m) Sec. 1.2m. "Resident" means a person who in good faith makes application for any license or permit and verifies by statement that he or she has maintained his or her permanent abode in this State for a period of at least 30 consecutive d…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2m-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2m-1) Sec. 1.2m-1. Possession Limit. Possession Limit means the maximum number or amount of species which can be lawfully held or possessed by one person at any time. (Source: P.A. 84-150.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2n) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2n) Sec. 1.2n. "Sale" means to sell, barter or otherwise offer goods to another for consideration. The term sale shall include serving the same as a part of a meal by any restaurant, hotel, or other commercial establishment. Proof of sale of…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2o) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2o) Sec. 1.2o. "Take" means hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, gig or spear, trap or ensnare, harass, or to attempt to do so. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2p) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2p) Sec. 1.2p. "Transport" or "ship" means to convey by means of parcel post, express, freight baggage or shipment by common carrier of any description; or by automobile, motorcycle, or other vehicle of any kind; or by water or aircraft of a…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2q) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2q) Sec. 1.2q. "Trap" means to capture, or attempt to capture, by setting or placing a leg hold trap, cushion-hold trap, bodygripping trap, cage or box trap, snare or other similar device permitted by this Act to capture, hold or kill any wi…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2q-1) Sec. 1.2q-1. Trapping license. "Trapping license" means an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal during a specified period of time. (Source: P.A. 102-524, eff. 8-20-21.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2q-2) Sec. 1.2q-2. Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit. "Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit" means an electronic or physical license authorizing the person to take a certain type of animal as provided in Section 2.37. (Source: P.A. 102-524, eff. 8-20-21.)