Illinois Administrative Code
Title 17 - CONSERVATION
Part 650 - WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING BY USE OF FIREARMS
Section 650.20 - Statewide Deer Permit Requirements
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) All deer hunters must have a current, valid Firearm Deer Permit. Fees for deer permits are as follows:
Either-sex - $25
Bonus antlerless-only - $17.50
Antlerless only for Special Hunt Areas with antlerless-only hunts - $25
Either-sex - $300
Bonus antlerless-only - $25
Antlerless-only for Special Hunt Areas with antlerless-only hunts - $300
Fees:
Either-sex (full, 1st or 2nd season) - $25 regardless of residency
Antlerless-only (full, 1st or 2nd season) - $17.50 regardless of residency
One-day standby permits - $5 regardless of residency
Resident either-sex - $25.50
Resident antlerless-only - $18.00
Nonresident either-sex - $300.50
Nonresident bonus antlerless-only (hunter has obtained, for the current year, a firearm either-sex permit or has a valid landowner firearm either-sex permit) - $25.50
Nonresident antlerless-only (hunter has not obtained a firearm either-sex permit for the current year) - $100.50
b) A permit is issued for one county or special hunt area and is valid only in the county, where permission to hunt has been obtained from the property owner, or special hunt area stated on the permit. During the First Lottery and Second Lottery, applicants who receive an either-sex permit in a county or special hunt area are eligible for a bonus antlerless-only permit for that county or special hunt area (with the exception of special hunt areas offering antlerless-only hunts). During the Third Lottery, antlerless-only permits remaining in the quota will be made available to resident applicants regardless of whether those applicants already possess an either-sex permit, but nonresident applicants must have a firearm either-sex permit in order to obtain an antlerless-only permit. For permit applications and other information write to:
Department of Natural Resources
(Firearm or Landowner/Tenant or Non-Resident)
Deer Permit Office
P.O. Box 19227
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9227
c) Applications from Illinois residents for participation in the First Lottery Drawing will be accepted through April 30 of the current year. Nonresidents may not apply to participate in the First Lottery Drawing. Applications received after April 30 will not be included in this lottery. Permits will be allocated in a computerized random drawing. Permits will be issued as either sex, antlerless only, or antlered only. A maximum of one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit shall be issued per person. Applicants for free landowner/tenant permits (see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 528) are not eligible to participate in the First or Second Lottery Drawings. Landowners who receive permits in the First or Second Lottery Drawing are not eligible for landowner permits for the firearm deer season during the hunt year. Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a non-resident of Illinois for a resident deer permit.
d) Applicants must complete all portions of the current year permit application form. Incomplete or incorrect applications will be returned along with the applicant's permit fee for correction or completion if received in the Permit Office prior to the deadline established in subsection (c).
e) Applicants must check the second-season box if they agree to accept a second-season permit upon being rejected for a full-season permit.
f) Applicants must check the antlerless-only box and provide the appropriate fee to apply for an additional antlerless-only permit. Antlerless-only permits will be issued until the antlerless-only quota is filled for a given county or special hunt area.
g) Permits for counties and special hunt areas with unfilled quotas after the First Lottery Drawing will be allocated in a Second Lottery Drawing. This drawing is open only to nonresident applicants and to Illinois residents who were not previously issued firearm permits for the current hunting season. Illinois residents will be given preference for permits allocated in the Second Lottery Drawing. Applications for the Second Lottery Drawing will be accepted through June 30 of the current year. Applicants may also apply for remaining antlerless-only permits by checking the antlerless-only box and providing the appropriate fee. A list of unfilled counties and special hunt areas will be announced upon becoming available after the First Lottery Drawing. Applicants must apply on a current year Firearm Deer Permit application form. A maximum of one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit shall be issued per person.
h) A Third Lottery Drawing will be held during which any Illinois resident (regardless of any other deer permit they may have) may apply for one or more either-sex and/or antlerless-only permits for counties or special hunt areas with unfilled quotas. Nonresidents may also apply, but must have received an either-sex permit in order to obtain an antlerless-only permit in this drawing. Applications for the Third Lottery Drawing will be accepted through the third Friday in August of the current year. A list of unfilled counties and special hunt areas will be announced upon becoming available after the Second Lottery Drawing. Applicants must apply on a current year Firearm Deer Permit application form. All applications for the Third Lottery will be processed individually (i.e., no group applications will be processed).
i) Permits remaining after the Third Lottery Drawing will be available over-the-counter (OTC) from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) beginning the third Tuesday in October on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits will be sold until quotas are exhausted, or until the close of the firearm deer season, whichever occurs first. Persons may purchase one or more permits during this period, subject to availability. Persons purchasing OTC deer permits must supply all necessary applicant information to the agents in order to properly complete the permit.
j) Hunter preference in obtaining a permit during the First Lottery Drawing will be given: to individuals that applied for an either-sex permit in the previous year's First Lottery Drawing who were rejected because the quota was depleted in their county choices. Preference will not be granted to applicants who received a full-season either-sex permit but who did not receive an antlerless-only permit. Persons with lottery preference will have first chance at receiving available either-sex permits. The following criteria must be met to obtain a preference in the First Lottery Drawing:
k) Applications may be accepted at the counter window of the permit office; however, permits for the First Lottery, Second Lottery and Third Lottery Drawing will be mailed. In-person, mail-in and electronic applications will receive equal treatment in the drawings.
l) Permits are not transferable. For the purpose of this Section, "transfer" means the modification or changing, by the Department or any other person, individual or group of the name or the location on an issued permit to another person or location.
m) A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail, then there will be no charge. The procedures for obtaining a replacement license are detailed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520.50. Monies derived from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.
n) The periods for accepting applications for the First and Second Lottery periods may be extended if applications are not available to the public by April 1. A news release will announce the extension of the application periods.
o) Refunds and Cancellations