104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1470

Introduced , by Rep. Travis Weaver

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

`520 ILCS 5/1.2t-2 new`
`520 ILCS 5/2.25`	`from Ch. 61, par. 2.25`
`520 ILCS 5/2.33`
`520 ILCS 5/1.2bb rep.`

Amends the Wildlife Code. Repeals the definition of "single shot". Provides that the term "wildlife rifle" means a rifle that can hold up to 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined. Replaces references to single shot rifles with references to wildlife rifles. Provides that it is unlawful to possess or to be in close proximity to a rifle that is not a centerfire wildlife rifle while deer hunting. Deletes language providing that it is unlawful while deer hunting to possess or be in close proximity to a rifle that is not centerfire or to be in possession of or in close proximity to a magazine that is capable of making a rifle not a single shot.

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A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning wildlife.

2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4 Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing

5 Sections 1.2bb, 2.25, and 2.33 and by adding Section 1.2t-2 as

6 follows:

7 (520 ILCS 5/1.2t-2 new)

8 Sec. 1.2t-2. Wildlife rifle. "Wildlife rifle" means a

9 rifle that can hold up to 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber

10 combined.

11 (520 ILCS 5/2.25) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.25)

12 Sec. 2.25. It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer

13 except (i) with a shotgun, handgun, ~~single shot~~ centerfire

14 wildlife rifle, or muzzleloading rifle or (ii) as provided by

15 administrative rule, with a bow and arrow, during the open

16 season of not more than 14 days which will be set annually by

17 the Director between the dates of November 1st and December

18 31st, both inclusive, or a special 3-day, youth-only season

19 between the dates of September 1 and October 31. For the

20 purposes of this Section, legal handguns and rifles are

21 limited to centerfire handguns that are ~~either a single shot~~

22 ~~or~~ revolver and centerfire wildlife rifles ~~that are single~~

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1 ~~shot~~. The only legal ammunition for a centerfire handgun or

2 rifle is a bottleneck centerfire cartridge of .30 caliber or

3 larger with a case length not exceeding one and two-fifths

4 inches, or a straight-walled centerfire cartridge of .30

5 caliber or larger, both of which must be available as a factory

6 load with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer

7 showing a capability of at least 500 foot pounds of energy at

8 the muzzle. The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches.

9 Full metal jacket bullets may not be used to harvest deer.

10 The Department shall make administrative rules concerning

11 management restrictions applicable to the firearm and bow and

12 arrow season.

13 It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except

14 with a bow and arrow during the open season for bow and arrow

15 set annually by the Director between the dates of September

16 1st and January 31st, both inclusive.

17 It shall be unlawful for any person to take deer except

18 with (i) a muzzleloading rifle or (ii) bow and arrow during the

19 open season for muzzleloading rifles set annually by the

20 Director.

21 The Director shall cause an administrative rule setting

22 forth the prescribed rules and regulations, including bag and

23 possession limits and those counties of the State where open

24 seasons are established, to be published in accordance with

25 Sections 1.3 and 1.13 of this Act.

26 The Department may establish separate harvest periods for

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1 the purpose of managing or eradicating disease that has been

2 found in the deer herd. This season shall be restricted to gun

3 or bow and arrow hunting only. The Department shall publicly

4 announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and

5 shooting hours, the counties and sites open to hunting.

6 The Department is authorized to establish a separate

7 harvest period at specific sites within the State for the

8 purpose of harvesting surplus deer that cannot be taken during

9 the regular season provided for the taking of deer. This

10 season shall be restricted to gun or bow and arrow hunting only

11 and shall be established during the period of September 1st to

12 February 15th, both inclusive. The Department shall publicly

13 announce, via statewide news release, the season dates and

14 shooting hours, and the counties and sites open to hunting.

15 The Department shall publish suitable prescribed rules and

16 regulations established by administrative rule pertaining to

17 management restrictions applicable to this special harvest

18 program. The Department shall allow unused gun deer permits

19 that are left over from a regular season for the taking of deer

20 to be rolled over and used during any separate harvest period

21 held within 6 months of the season for which those tags were

22 issued at no additional cost to the permit holder subject to

23 the management restrictions applicable to the special harvest

24 program.

25 Beginning July 1, 2019, and on an annual basis thereafter,

26 the Department shall provide a report to the General Assembly

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1 providing information regarding deer management programs

2 established by the Code or by administrative rule that

3 includes: (1) the number of surplus deer taken during each

4 separate harvest season; (2) the number of deer found to have a

5 communicable disease or other abnormality; and (3) what

6 happens to the deer taken during each separate harvest season.

7 (Source: P.A. 101-66, eff. 7-12-19; 102-314, eff. 1-1-22;

8 102-932, eff. 1-1-23.)

9 (520 ILCS 5/2.33)

10 Sec. 2.33. Prohibitions.

11 (a) It is unlawful to carry or possess any gun in any State

12 refuge unless otherwise permitted by administrative rule.

13 (b) It is unlawful to use or possess any snare or

14 snare-like device, deadfall, net, or pit trap to take any

15 species, except that snares not powered by springs or other

16 mechanical devices may be used to trap fur-bearing mammals, in

17 water sets only, if at least one-half of the snare noose is

18 located underwater at all times.

19 (c) It is unlawful for any person at any time to take a

20 wild mammal protected by this Act from its den by means of any

21 mechanical device, spade, or digging device or to use smoke or

22 other gases to dislodge or remove such mammal except as

23 provided in Section 2.37.

24 (d) It is unlawful to use a ferret or any other small

25 mammal which is used in the same or similar manner for which

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1 ferrets are used for the purpose of frightening or driving any

2 mammals from their dens or hiding places.

3 (e) (Blank).

4 (f) It is unlawful to use spears, gigs, hooks, or any like

5 device to take any species protected by this Act.

6 (g) It is unlawful to use poisons, chemicals, or

7 explosives for the purpose of taking any species protected by

8 this Act.

9 (h) It is unlawful to hunt adjacent to or near any peat,

10 grass, brush, or other inflammable substance when it is

11 burning.

12 (i) It is unlawful to take, pursue or intentionally harass

13 or disturb in any manner any wild birds or mammals by use or

14 aid of any vehicle, conveyance, or unmanned aircraft as

15 defined by the Illinois Aeronautics Act, except as permitted

16 by the Code of Federal Regulations for the taking of

17 waterfowl; except that nothing in this subsection shall

18 prohibit the use of unmanned aircraft in the inspection of a

19 public utility facility, tower, or structure or a mobile

20 service facility, tower, or structure by a public utility, as

21 defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, or a

22 provider of mobile services as defined in Section 153 of Title

23 47 of the United States Code. It is also unlawful to use the

24 lights of any vehicle or conveyance, any light connected to

25 any vehicle or conveyance, or any other lighting device or

26 mechanism from inside or on a vehicle or conveyance in any area

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1 where wildlife may be found except in accordance with Section

2 2.37 of this Act; however, nothing in this Section shall

3 prohibit the normal use of headlamps for the purpose of

4 driving upon a roadway. For purposes of this Section, any

5 other lighting device or mechanism shall include, but not be

6 limited to, any device that uses infrared or other light not

7 visible to the naked eye, electronic image intensification,

8 active illumination, thermal imaging, or night vision. Striped

9 skunk, opossum, red fox, gray fox, raccoon, bobcat, and coyote

10 may be taken during the open season by use of a small light

11 which is worn on the body or hand-held by a person on foot and

12 not in any vehicle.

13 (j) It is unlawful to use any shotgun larger than 10 gauge

14 while taking or attempting to take any of the species

15 protected by this Act.

16 (k) It is unlawful to use or possess in the field any

17 shotgun shell loaded with a shot size larger than lead BB or

18 steel T (.20 diameter) when taking or attempting to take any

19 species of wild game mammals (excluding white-tailed deer),

20 wild game birds, migratory waterfowl or migratory game birds

21 protected by this Act, except white-tailed deer as provided

22 for in Section 2.26 and other species as provided for by

23 subsection (l) or administrative rule.

24 (l) It is unlawful to take any species of wild game, except

25 white-tailed deer and fur-bearing mammals, with a shotgun

26 loaded with slugs unless otherwise provided for by

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1 administrative rule.

2 (m) It is unlawful to use any shotgun capable of holding

3 more than 3 shells in the magazine or chamber combined, except

4 on game breeding and hunting preserve areas licensed under

5 Section 3.27 and except as permitted by the Code of Federal

6 Regulations for the taking of waterfowl. If the shotgun is

7 capable of holding more than 3 shells, it shall, while being

8 used on an area other than a game breeding and shooting

9 preserve area licensed pursuant to Section 3.27, be fitted

10 with a one-piece plug that is irremovable without dismantling

11 the shotgun or otherwise altered to render it incapable of

12 holding more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber,

13 combined.

14 (n) It is unlawful for any person, except persons who

15 possess a permit to hunt from a vehicle as provided in this

16 Section and persons otherwise permitted by law, to have or

17 carry any gun in or on any vehicle, conveyance, or aircraft,

18 unless such gun is unloaded and enclosed in a case, except that

19 at field trials authorized by Section 2.34 of this Act,

20 unloaded guns or guns loaded with blank cartridges only may be

21 carried on horseback while not contained in a case, or to have

22 or carry any bow or arrow device in or on any vehicle unless

23 such bow or arrow device is unstrung or enclosed in a case, or

24 otherwise made inoperable unless in accordance with the

25 Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

26 (o) (Blank).

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1 (p) It is unlawful to take game birds, migratory game

2 birds or migratory waterfowl with a rifle, pistol, revolver,

3 or air rifle.

4 (q) It is unlawful to fire a rifle, pistol, revolver, or

5 air rifle on, over, or into any waters of this State, including

6 frozen waters.

7 (r) It is unlawful to discharge any gun or bow and arrow

8 device along, upon, across, or from any public right-of-way or

9 highway in this State.

10 (s) It is unlawful to use a silencer or other device to

11 muffle or mute the sound of the explosion or report resulting

12 from the firing of any gun.

13 (t) It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to

14 take any species of wildlife or parts thereof, or allow a dog

15 to hunt, within or upon the land of another, or upon waters

16 flowing over or standing on the land of another, or to

17 knowingly shoot a gun or bow and arrow device at any wildlife

18 physically on or flying over the property of another without

19 first obtaining permission from the owner or the owner's

20 designee. For the purposes of this Section, the owner's

21 designee means anyone who the owner designates in a written

22 authorization and the authorization must contain (i) the legal

23 or common description of property for which such authority is

24 given, (ii) the extent that the owner's designee is authorized

25 to make decisions regarding who is allowed to take or attempt

26 to take any species of wildlife or parts thereof, and (iii) the

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1 owner's notarized signature. Before enforcing this Section,

2 the law enforcement officer must have received notice from the

3 owner or the owner's designee of a violation of this Section.

4 Statements made to the law enforcement officer regarding this

5 notice shall not be rendered inadmissible by the hearsay rule

6 when offered for the purpose of showing the required notice.

7 (u) It is unlawful for any person to discharge any firearm

8 for the purpose of taking any of the species protected by this

9 Act, or hunt with gun or dog, or allow a dog to hunt, within

10 300 yards of an inhabited dwelling without first obtaining

11 permission from the owner or tenant, except that while

12 trapping, hunting with bow and arrow, hunting with dog and

13 shotgun using shot shells only, or hunting with shotgun using

14 shot shells only, or providing outfitting services under a

15 waterfowl outfitter permit, or on licensed game breeding and

16 hunting preserve areas, as defined in Section 3.27, on

17 federally owned and managed lands and on Department owned,

18 managed, leased, or controlled lands, a 100 yard restriction

19 shall apply.

20 (v) It is unlawful for any person to remove fur-bearing

21 mammals from, or to move or disturb in any manner, the traps

22 owned by another person without written authorization of the

23 owner to do so.

24 (w) It is unlawful for any owner of a dog to allow his or

25 her dog to pursue, harass, or kill deer, except that nothing in

26 this Section shall prohibit the tracking of wounded deer with

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1 a dog in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.26 of this

2 Code.

3 (x) It is unlawful for any person to wantonly or

4 carelessly injure or destroy, in any manner whatsoever, any

5 real or personal property on the land of another while engaged

6 in hunting or trapping thereon.

7 (y) It is unlawful to hunt wild game protected by this Act

8 between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before

9 sunrise, except that hunting hours between one-half hour after

10 sunset and one-half hour before sunrise may be established by

11 administrative rule for fur-bearing mammals.

12 (z) It is unlawful to take any game bird (excluding wild

13 turkeys and crippled pheasants not capable of normal flight

14 and otherwise irretrievable) protected by this Act when not

15 flying. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a person from

16 carrying an uncased, unloaded shotgun in a boat, while in

17 pursuit of a crippled migratory waterfowl that is incapable of

18 normal flight, for the purpose of attempting to reduce the

19 migratory waterfowl to possession, provided that the attempt

20 is made immediately upon downing the migratory waterfowl and

21 is done within 400 yards of the blind from which the migratory

22 waterfowl was downed. This exception shall apply only to

23 migratory game birds that are not capable of normal flight.

24 Migratory waterfowl that are crippled may be taken only with a

25 shotgun as regulated by subsection (j) of this Section using

26 shotgun shells as regulated in subsection (k) of this Section.

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1 (aa) It is unlawful to use or possess any device that may

2 be used for tree climbing or cutting while hunting fur-bearing

3 mammals, excluding coyotes. However, coyotes may not be hunted

4 utilizing these devices during open season for deer except by

5 properly licensed deer hunters.

6 (bb) It is unlawful for any person, except licensed game

7 breeders, pursuant to Section 2.29 to import, carry into, or

8 possess alive in this State any species of wildlife taken

9 outside of this State, without obtaining permission to do so

10 from the Director.

11 (cc) It is unlawful for any person to have in his or her

12 possession any freshly killed species protected by this Act

13 during the season closed for taking.

14 (dd) It is unlawful to take any species protected by this

15 Act and retain it alive except as provided by administrative

16 rule.

17 (ee) It is unlawful to possess any rifle while in the field

18 during gun deer season except as provided in Sections 2.25 and

19 2.26 and administrative rules.

20 (ff) It is unlawful for any person to take any species

21 protected by this Act, except migratory waterfowl, during the

22 gun deer hunting season in those counties open to gun deer

23 hunting, unless he or she wears, when in the field, a cap and

24 upper outer garment of a solid blaze orange color or solid

25 blaze pink color, with such articles of clothing displaying a

26 minimum of 400 square inches of blaze orange or solid blaze

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1 pink color material.

2 (gg) It is unlawful during the upland game season for any

3 person to take upland game with a firearm unless he or she

4 wears, while in the field, a cap of solid blaze orange color or

5 solid blaze pink color. For purposes of this Act, upland game

6 is defined as Bobwhite Quail, Hungarian Partridge, Ring-necked

7 Pheasant, Eastern Cottontail, and Swamp Rabbit.

8 (hh) It shall be unlawful to kill or cripple any species

9 protected by this Act for which there is a bag limit without

10 making a reasonable effort to retrieve such species and

11 include such in the bag limit. It shall be unlawful for any

12 person having control over harvested game mammals, game birds,

13 or migratory game birds for which there is a bag limit to

14 wantonly waste or destroy the usable meat of the game, except

15 this shall not apply to wildlife taken under Sections 2.37 or

16 3.22 of this Code. For purposes of this subsection, "usable

17 meat" means the breast meat of a game bird or migratory game

18 bird and the hind ham and front shoulders of a game mammal. It

19 shall be unlawful for any person to place, leave, dump, or

20 abandon a wildlife carcass or parts of it along or upon a

21 public right-of-way or highway or on public or private

22 property, including a waterway or stream, without the

23 permission of the owner or tenant. It shall not be unlawful to

24 discard game meat that is determined to be unfit for human

25 consumption.

26 (ii) This Section shall apply only to those species

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1 protected by this Act taken within the State. Any species or

2 any parts thereof, legally taken in and transported from other

3 states or countries, may be possessed within the State, except

4 as provided in this Section and Sections 2.35, 2.36, and 3.21.

5 (jj) (Blank).

6 (kk) Nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit the

7 Director from issuing permits to paraplegics or to other

8 persons with disabilities who meet the requirements set forth

9 in administrative rule to shoot or hunt from a vehicle as

10 provided by that rule, provided that such is otherwise in

11 accord with this Act.

12 (ll) Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit the

13 taking of aquatic life protected by the Fish and Aquatic Life

14 Code or birds and mammals protected by this Act, except deer

15 and fur-bearing mammals, from a boat not camouflaged or

16 disguised to alter its identity or to further provide a place

17 of concealment and not propelled by sail or mechanical power.

18 However, only shotguns not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller

19 than .410 bore loaded with not more than 3 shells of a shot

20 size no larger than lead BB or steel T (.20 diameter) may be

21 used to take species protected by this Act.

22 (mm) Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit the use

23 of a shotgun, not larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than a 20

24 gauge, with a rifled barrel.

25 (nn) It shall be unlawful to possess any species of

26 wildlife or wildlife parts taken unlawfully in Illinois, any

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1 other state, or any other country, whether or not the wildlife

2 or wildlife parts are indigenous to Illinois. For the purposes

3 of this subsection, the statute of limitations for unlawful

4 possession of wildlife or wildlife parts shall not cease until

5 2 years after the possession has permanently ended.

6 (oo) It is unlawful while deer hunting to possess or be in

7 close proximity to a rifle that is not a centerfire wildlife

8 rifle. ~~:~~

9 ~~(1) to possess or be in close proximity to a rifle that~~

10 ~~is not centerfire; or~~

11 ~~(2) to be in possession of or in close proximity to a~~

12 ~~magazine that is capable of making a rifle not a single~~

13 ~~shot~~.

14 (Source: P.A. 102-237, eff. 1-1-22; 102-837, eff. 5-13-22;

15 102-932, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)