Hunting with crossbows recent changes to illinois law 520 ilcs 52. Crossbows may be used during the following seasons. Crossbow hunting in illinois is legal without restrictions throughout the entire archery season. At a meeting wednesday of the wisconsin natural resources board, the board heard a presentation on changing the crossbow deer season. Putting sales and numbers perspective on crossbows. Illinois is expected to experience its first open crossbow season. In 201718, the first season when general use of crossbows was allowed in illinois, crossbows started at 30. Yes, you need to meet hunter orange requirements during all 3 firearms seasons. People over age 60 may legally hunt with a crossbow during deer or turkey archery seasons.
Rules and regulations in illinois are a little confusing, so well try to bring it for you. Bruce rauner signed a bill that amends the illinois wildlife code to repeal restrictions on the use of crossbows during archery hunting seasons. You do, however, need to carry a valid id with a current picture and date of birth at all times while hunting. View up to date information on how illinois is handling the coronavirus disease 2019 covid19. The new law went into effect immediately for the 2017 deer hunting season. Springfield, il hunters in illinois may use crossbows during archery hunting seasons, including the illinois archery deer season and the illinois fall turkey archery season beginning on oct. Illinois hunters can use crossbows during archery seasons. Crossbow hunting regulations in illinois disclaimer. Please also read the announcements at the top of the species specific pages.
In illinois, our archery hunting seasons begin in early october and continue through early january, with a few breaks for limited shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. Please read any announcements at the top of this page. The buck wasnt a big one, but he was a good way to end the 201220 archery season and fill the freezer. To check out our regular deer hunting rates and dates for this upcoming season click here. Crossbow permit application for the purpose of securing authorization to hunt with a crossbow, i attest that i have a permanent or. Illinois law continues to allow use of a crossbow throughout the entire archery season by persons age 62 or older and handicapped persons who are issued crossbow permits by the idnr. Getting started with hunting and trapping in illinois. Illinois opens archery seasons to crossbow hunting for all. Us crossbow regulations select a stateprovince from the map to see regulations related to it. The illinois department of natural resources says that new law applies to the states archery deer season and fall turkey archery season starting oct. In both of these instances, hunters must hold a valid archery license.
Illinois opens archery seasons to crossbow hunting for all crossbows can be used to hunt deer and turkey in illinois thanks to a new state law that was signed last week. New illinois law lets anyone use crossbows in archery deer. Specific crossbow hunting requirements remain in effect for a portion of the season. The 201718 season dates for archery deer and fall turkey archery hunting in illinois are oct. Illinois offers online hunting permit registration and purchase, and permits are available for state residents and nonresidents. Application periods lotteries 2019 deer firearmmuzzleloader application periods. Crossbow hunting allowed in illinois under new law. Prior to the 2017 season, the use of crossbows during archery seasons was limited to hunters over the age of 62, or to those who had a special disability permit from the illinois department of natural resources idnr. Many illinois outfitters use this entire season to book hunters which could mean as many as 15 groups hunting the same. If hunting on dnr owned property, please refer to the sitespecific regulations regarding hunting devices and ammunition, which may differ from statewide regulations. Details can be found herein 2017, governor pat quinn signed legislation making it legal for everyone, not only the disabled, to hunt with a crossbow during both archery deer season as well as fall archery wild turkey season. Frigid temperatures and snow in january have the deer on their feet during daylight to feed on standing beans.
The 201718 season dates for archery deer and fall turkey archery hunting in. Read more 2083343700 illinois crossbows are legal for all hunters in the entire archery season. Deer hunting season illinois archery season illinois. The bill was passed by the house and senate during the. October 1, 2020, through january 17, 2021 in all other counties and that portion of kane county west of state rte 47. Il crossbow youth deer hunt barnett recruit rage father son late season in illinois.
High kill rate has dnr looking at changing crossbow deer. Shotguns, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs. New illinois law allows hunters use of crossbows during. New illinois law lifts restrictions on crossbow hunting. The louisiana department of wildlife and fisheries commission now has the ability to establish a bow and arrow only season, and a bow and arrow and crossbow season in special deer hunting seasons.
Illinois hunting seasons, 20182019 hunting season hq. Crossbows legal for illinois hunters during the archery. Currently, the crossbow season runs the same dates as the archery season, which is typically midseptember through the beginning of the year. Archery harvest by illinois deer hunters rapidly nears that of harvest during trraditional firearm seasons. One significant change allows all archery hunters the op tion of using a crossbow during certain dates see below. Illinois opened inseason bowhunting to general use of crossbows this year. Both of these allow you to hunt with a crossbow during the archery season according to the crossbow hunting regulations in illinois. Fall archery season is closed during deer firearms season for hunter safety. Kevin knighton is hunting in illinois during the late deer season with his crossbow when a big buck comes out. Bowhunting privilege is not required for use of a crossbow at any time. Illinois retailers and the crossbow manufacturers are extremely excited and anticipate a rise in sales. Hunters may also use a muzzleloader permit with a muzzleloading rifle during 2nd firearm deer season dec. Crossbows also legal for handicapped persons by permitto hunt with a crossbow during an archery season, you must also have a valid archery permit as well as a hunting license and a proper tag. The illinois archery season opens each year on october 1 and runs through the middle of january.
E factor outdoors diy hunting fishing 3,031 views 31. Then travel to speciesspecific information by hovering over the buttons below and click. Crossbows may be used to take bear during the early bear season, early muzzleloader season in the northern zone, regular firearms seasons in the northern and southern zones, and the late muzzleloader season in the southern. Il crossbow youth deer hunt barnett recruit rage father son late season in illinois duration. Previously, the law only allowed hunters to hunt with a crossbow if they were 62 and older or if the hunter obtained a doctors note due to physical disability. In september 2017, illinois governor bruce rauner signed a bill into law that removes previous restrictions on the use of crossbows during illinois archery seasons. Begining october 1st, 2017, crossbow hunting will be legal by anyone, regardless of disabilities, with a valid hunting license. This has been the case since the crossbow season was established in 2014.
In addition, the previous law allowed certain youth hunters to use crossbows, and allowed all archery hunters to use crossbows beginning the monday after the second firearm deer season. Illinois deer hunting had a significant shift in harvest. The season is expected to open december 3rd, the second monday after thanksgiving, and after the firearm deer season. Now, anyone may choose to use a crossbow during the archery deer hunting seasons in illinois. In cook, dupage and lake counties, and that portion of kane county east of state rte 47. Illinois legalizes crossbows during archery season. If there is something that you are unsure of or disagree with, please contact the illinois department of natural resources directly.
The crossbow season is only going to be open for roughly half of the illinois archery season. In 2017 a legislation was signed by governor pat quinn legalizing the use of a crossbow for everybody in illinois not alone for the disabled during archery deer season and fall archery wild turkey season as well. If the previous crossbow restrictions kept you from hunting in illinois during the archery seasons, this change may come as a welcome opportunity. Legal for physically challenged hunters during archery season. Crossbow regulations north american crossbow federation. During illinois hunting seasons, youll find a variety of standard game animals, including deer, turkey, rabbit and other small game. Pat quinn still must sign house bill 4819 into law, but all involved say its a done deal.