Section 650.66  Special Hunts for Young Hunters

a)         Statewide regulations shall apply, except as noted in parentheses, at the following sites by special permit allocated through the regular statewide drawing.  Shooting is allowed from elevated tree stands, except as noted in parentheses.  Applicants must not have reached their 18^th birthday by the start of the season.  Only one tree stand is allowed per person.  Tree stands must comply with restrictions listed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 510.10(c)(3) and must be portable.  Tree stands may be set up the day before the hunt and shall be removed the day after.  All tree stands must be marked with a site assigned identification number.  Check-in, check-out and report of harvest is required. 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (first season only; public hunting area only, except area north of Route 13 is closed to firearm deer hunting)

Lake Le Aqua Na State Park (hunting from Department established ground blinds only; first season only; supervisors may hunt; submission of all deer heads within 48 hours after harvest on site is required to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease)

b)         Statewide regulations shall apply, except as noted in parentheses, at the following sites by special permit issued by site office.  Applicants must not have reached their 18^th birthday by the start of the season.  Check-in, check-out and report of harvest is required.

Lost Mound Unit – Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, including Stewardship Park and Eagles Landing (DNR owned) (First season only; supervisor may hunt; a special permit from United States Fish and Wildlife Service is required; contact the refuge for specific hunt details).

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18660, effective November 2, 2022)