Illinois Administrative Code
Title 17 - CONSERVATION
Part 650 - WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING BY USE OF FIREARMS
Section 650.30 - Statewide Requirements for Hunting Devices
Universal Citation: 17 IL Admin Code § 650.30
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 52, December 27, 2024
a) Any combination of legal hunting devices in this subsection (a) may be used to take, or attempt to take, deer provided the devices are legal for the specific season as follows:
1) Shotgun, loaded with slugs only, of not
larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3
consecutive slugs; or
2) A single
or double barreled muzzleloading rifle of at least .45 caliber shooting a
single projectile through a barrel of at least sixteen inches in length;
or
3) Centerfire revolvers,
centerfire single-shot handguns, and centerfire single-shot rifles as specified
in 520 ILCS
5/2.25; or
4) On private land only, archery equipment as
defined by 17 Ill. Adm. Code
670.30 may be used during
firearm deer season while hunting with a valid firearm deer permit.
b) Standards and specifications for legal firearm ammunition are:
1) For
shotguns and muzzleloading firearms, the minimum size of the projectile shall
be .44 caliber. A wad or sleeve is not considered a projectile or a part of the
projectile.
2) For handguns and
rifles, the firearm ammunition as specified in
520 ILCS
5/2.25.
3)
Non-expanding, military-style full metal jacket bullets cannot be used to
harvest white-tailed deer; only soft point or expanding bullets (including
copper/copper alloy rounds designed for hunting) are legal
ammunition.
c) Standards and specifications for use of muzzleloading firearms are as follows:
1) A muzzleloading firearm is defined as a
firearm into which the projectile is incapable of being inserted from the
breech end.
2) Only black powder or
a "black powder substitute" such as Pyrodex may be used. Modern smokeless
powders (nitrocellulose-based) are an approved black powder substitute only in
muzzleloading firearms that are specifically designed for their use.
3) Only percussion (cap or primer),
wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or electronic ignition may be used.
4) The following shall constitute an unloaded
muzzleloading firearm:
A) removal of
percussion cap/primer;
B) removal
of prime powder from frizzen pan with frizzen open and hammer all the way
down;
C) removal of prime powder
from flashpan and wheel unwound;
D)
removal of prime powder and match with match not lit; or
E) removal of the battery from the electronic
ignition.
d) It shall be unlawful to use or possess any other firearm or ammunition in the field while hunting white-tailed deer except as provided in the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. [430 ILCS 66 ]
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Illinois may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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