Chapter 520 — WILDLIFE

(520 ILCS 5/1.2r) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2r) Sec. 1.2r. "Vehicle" means any device capable of transporting a person on land, on ice, on water, in water, or in the air. (Source: P.A. 81-382.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2s) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2s) Sec. 1.2s. "Wild" means not ordinarily domesticated, and ordinarily living unconfined in a state of nature without the care of man. (Source: P.A. 97-431, eff. 8-16-11.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2t) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2t) Sec. 1.2t. "Wildlife" means any bird or mammal that is by nature wild by way of distinction from a bird or mammal that is naturally tame and is ordinarily living unconfined in a state of nature without the care of man. (Source: P.A. 103-…

(520 ILCS 5/1.2u) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2u) Sec. 1.2u. "Individual" means a natural person. (Source: P.A. 84-150.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2v) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2v) Sec. 1.2v. "Water set" means any trap or similar device which is placed or set in contact with flowing or impounded water. (Source: P.A. 85-152.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2v-1) Sec. 1.2v-1. Youth. "Youth" means a person under 18 years of age. (Source: P.A. 100-638, eff. 1-1-19.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2w) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.2w) Sec. 1.2w. "Land set" means any trap or similar device which is not placed or set in contact with flowing or impounded water. (Source: P.A. 85-152.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2x) Sec. 1.2x. Taxidermy. "Taxidermy" means the art of preparing, preserving, and mounting the skins of fish, birds, or mammals to make them appear lifelike. (Source: P.A. 88-416.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2y) Sec. 1.2y. "Hound running" means pursuing any fox, coyote, raccoon, or rabbit with a hound. (Source: P.A. 95-196, eff. 1-1-08.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.2z) Sec. 1.2z. "Authorized species" means any fox, coyote, raccoon, or rabbit associated with a hound running area. (Source: P.A. 95-196, eff. 1-1-08.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.3) Sec. 1.3. The Department shall have the authority to manage wildlife and regulate the taking of wildlife for the purposes of providing public recreation and controlling wildlife populations. The seasons during which wildlife may be taken, the methods for taking w…

(520 ILCS 5/1.30) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.30) Sec. 1.30. The Department has the authority to sell Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps. The Department may consign, issue or otherwise make available such stamps for sale by designated agents as authorized in Section …

(520 ILCS 5/1.31) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.31) Sec. 1.31. Pheasant Fund. There is created in the State Treasury the State Pheasant Fund. All interest earned on monies in this Fund shall remain in the fund. (a) Thirty percent of the money collected from the sale of State Habitat Stamp…

(520 ILCS 5/1.32) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.32) Sec. 1.32. Distribution of funds; State Furbearer Committee. (a) There is created within the State Treasury the State Furbearer Fund. All interest earned on monies in this Fund shall remain in the fund. Six percent of the money collected…

(520 ILCS 5/1.4) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.4) Sec. 1.4. The Department is authorized to make rules and regulations for carrying out, administering and enforcing the provisions of this Act. These rules and regulations shall be called and hereinafter referred to as administrative rules.…

(520 ILCS 5/1.5) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.5) Sec. 1.5. The Department is authorized to cooperate with the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of Illinois in making pollution investigations and making reports thereof. (Source: P.A. 78-255.)

(520 ILCS 5/1.6) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.6) Sec. 1.6. The Department, and persons authorized by it, may take, purchase or propagate, any mammals or birds, or eggs of such birds for propagation and stocking purposes, and when so taken, may transmit them to parts of the State where a …

(520 ILCS 5/1.7) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.7) Sec. 1.7. The Department is authorized to produce such mammals, birds or their eggs, and to distribute them to anyone having suitable land or means for their breeding, hatching or further propagation; the Department shall also have authori…

(520 ILCS 5/1.8) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.8) Sec. 1.8. The Department may establish and maintain refuges or public hunting areas upon any lands or waters owned by the Federal government by mutual consent of the Federal and State governments and upon any lands owned or leased by the S…

(520 ILCS 5/1.9) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.9) Sec. 1.9. The Department shall have the power and authority to select and purchase or lease, receive by donation or acquire, in accordance with the laws relating to eminent domain: (a) suitable lands for the breeding, hatching, propagation…

(520 ILCS 5/1.9-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 1.9-1) Sec. 1.9-1. The following described areas are designated as State game farms: Wilmington State Game Farm in Will County; Glen D. Palmer State Game Farm in Kendall County; Mt. Vernon State Game Farm in Jefferson County. (Source: P.A. 78…

(520 ILCS 5/1.9-2) Sec. 1.9-2. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any power granted under this Code to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A.…

(520 ILCS 5/2.1) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.1) Sec. 2.1. The ownership of and title to all wild birds and wild mammals within the jurisdiction of the State are hereby declared to be in the State, and no wild birds or wild mammals shall be taken or killed, in any manner or at any time, …

(520 ILCS 5/2.10) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.10) Sec. 2.10. The Department may, on an annual basis, establish a spring wild turkey open season within the period beginning on March 1 and running through May 31, and a fall wild turkey season within the period beginning on October 1 and r…

(520 ILCS 5/2.11) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.11) Sec. 2.11. Before any person may lawfully hunt wild turkey, he shall first obtain a "Wild Turkey Hunting Permit" in accordance with the prescribed regulations set forth in an administrative rule of the Department. The fee for a Resident …

(520 ILCS 5/2.13) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.13) Sec. 2.13. It shall be unlawful for any person to take Hungarian partridge except with shotgun, or bow and arrow, during the open season which will be set annually by the Director between the dates of October 15th - January 31st, both in…

(520 ILCS 5/2.15) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.15) Sec. 2.15. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess at any time any net or trap for the purpose of netting or trapping any of the game birds defined by this Act. (Source: P.A. 77-1781.)

(520 ILCS 5/2.16) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.16) Sec. 2.16. It shall be unlawful to sell or barter, or offer to sell or barter, buy or barter, or offer to buy or barter any of the game birds defined in this Act, whether taken in this State or in some other state and imported into Illin…

(520 ILCS 5/2.18) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.18) Sec. 2.18. It shall be unlawful to take, possess, transport or use migratory game birds except during such periods of time, and only in such manner and numbers, as may be permitted pursuant to the Federal "Migratory Bird Treaty Act", and…

(520 ILCS 5/2.18-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.18-1) Sec. 2.18-1. (a) It shall be lawful for any person who holds the licenses, permits and stamps required by this Act for the taking of migratory waterfowl to use, in addition to or in lieu of any other authorized ammunition, either lea…

(520 ILCS 5/2.19) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.19) Sec. 2.19. It shall be unlawful to use a floating blind for the taking of migratory waterfowl, as permitted by this Act, unless such blind is anchored in a stationary position when in use. This does not prohibit the use of a scull boat i…

(520 ILCS 5/2.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.2) Sec. 2.2. This Act shall apply only to the wild birds and parts of wild birds (including, but not limited to, their nests and eggs), and wild mammals and parts of wild mammals, which shall include their green hides, in the State of Illinoi…

(520 ILCS 5/2.20) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.20) Sec. 2.20. It shall be unlawful to take waterfowl or any species of wildlife in any area managed by the Department unless those species are taken in compliance with the rules and regulations established by the Department of which notice …

(520 ILCS 5/2.23) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.23) Sec. 2.23. It is unlawful for any person to take any species of waterfowl protected by this Act on the Horseshoe Lake Waterfowl Refuge, and those areas adjacent within the tract of land hereinafter described, or on the Marion-Pickerell W…

(520 ILCS 5/2.24) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.24) Sec. 2.24. It shall be unlawful to take or possess deer in this State, except in compliance with the provisions of Sections 2.25, 2.26, and 3.23 and subsections (a), (g), (n), (r), (t), (w), and (y) of Section 2.33, and the administrativ…

(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…

(520 ILCS 5/2.26) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.26) Sec. 2.26. Deer hunting permits. Any person attempting to take deer shall first obtain a "Deer Hunting Permit" issued by the Department in accordance with its administrative rules. Those rules must provide for the issuance of the followi…

(520 ILCS 5/2.27) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.27) Sec. 2.27. It shall be unlawful for any person to take cottontail, jack, and swamp rabbits except with a gun or bow and arrow during the open season which will be set annually by the Director between the dates of October 1st to February …

(520 ILCS 5/2.28) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.28) Sec. 2.28. It shall be unlawful for any person to take fox squirrels and gray squirrels except with a gun or bow and arrow during the open season which will be set annually by the Director between the dates of May 1st to February 28. Dog…

(520 ILCS 5/2.29) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.29) Sec. 2.29. It shall be unlawful to sell or barter, or offer to sell or barter, buy or barter, or offer to buy or barter, any of the game mammals defined by this Act, whether taken in this State or in some other state and imported into th…

(520 ILCS 5/2.2a) Sec. 2.2a. Invasive and exotic wild animals. The Department may prohibit or limit the importation, possession, release into the wild, take, commercialization of take, sale, and propagation of wild mammals, wild birds, and feral livestock that are not defined as …

(520 ILCS 5/2.2b) Sec. 2.2b. Imminent threat; nuisance permits. (a) It shall not be illegal for an owner or tenant of land, or his or her designated agent, to immediately take on his or her property a gray wolf, Canis lupus; American black bear, Ursus americanus; or cougar, Puma …

(520 ILCS 5/2.3) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.3) Sec. 2.3. Release of Wildlife - Permission. It shall be unlawful to release from captivity any live bird or mammal, either indigenous or non-indigenous in this State and that is ordinarily considered a wildlife species except as provided i…

(520 ILCS 5/2.30) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.30) Sec. 2.30. Except as provided in this Section, it shall be unlawful for any person to trap or to hunt with a gun, dog, dog and gun, or bow and arrow, gray fox, red fox, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, badger, bobcat, and opossum except d…

(520 ILCS 5/2.30b) Sec. 2.30b. River otter and bobcat pelts. The pelts of river otters and bobcats shall be tagged in accordance with federal regulation 50 CFR 23.69(e). The Department may require harvest registration and set forth procedures, fees for registration, and the proce…

(520 ILCS 5/2.30c) Sec. 2.30c. Bobcat hunting and trapping permit; fee. Before any person may lawfully hunt or trap a bobcat, he or she shall first obtain a "Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Permit" in accordance with regulations set forth in an administrative rule of the Department. …

(520 ILCS 5/2.31) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.31) Sec. 2.31. Except as provided in Section 2.30, it shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take wild birds or wild mammals along, upon, across, or from any public right-of-way or highway in this State. (Source: P.A. 97-628,…

(520 ILCS 5/2.32) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.32) Sec. 2.32. It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to molest, destroy or attempt to destroy any feed bed, nest, den, house or other cavity of any of the wild mammals protected by this Act except as provided in Section 2.37. For t…

(520 ILCS 5/2.33) Sec. 2.33. Prohibitions. (a) It is unlawful to carry or possess any gun in any State refuge unless otherwise permitted by administrative rule. (b) It is unlawful to use or possess any snare or snare-like device, deadfall, net, or pit trap to take any species, ex…

(520 ILCS 5/2.33-1) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.33-1) Sec. 2.33-1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, no person shall place, carry, possess or transport a shotgun on a boat of any type in an area under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources during the peri…