Section 670.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         All archery deer hunters must have a current, valid Illinois archery deer permit.  Archery deer permits (except landowner/tenant hunting permits and nonresident permits issued to clients of outfitters as detailed in Section 670.20(c)) will authorize the holder to hunt in any of the open counties of the State, on property where permission to hunt has been obtained from the property owner.  Nonresident archery deer permits issued to outfitter clients who received a permit based on the preference given to outfitter clients are valid only on property controlled by the outfitter used to gain preference.

b)         Resident Permits

1)         Resident archery deer permits are available over-the-counter (OTC) from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) as combination permits, each consisting of one either-sex permit and one antlerless-only permit, or as a single antlerless-only permit.  The fee for a resident archery combination permit shall be $25; a resident archery single antlerless-only permit shall be $15.  While there is no limit to the number of archery deer permits that an individual resident may purchase, no one may harvest more deer than allowed by the restrictions prescribed in Section 670.40.  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a nonresident of Illinois for a resident deer permit. 

2)         In addition to the permits listed in subsection (b)(1), resident hunters have the option of purchasing a maximum of one resident single either-sex permit for a fee of $15.  Applicants must submit an application to the Permit Office using the official current Resident Single Either-Sex Archery Deer Permit application form by September 1.  Applications are available from the DNR website at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov.  Applications submitted on forms from previous years will be returned.  Applicants must complete all portions of the permit application form.  Incomplete applications and fees will be returned.  Each applicant must submit a personal check or money order with an individual's application.

c)         Nonresident Permits

1)         A limited number of nonresident archery deer permits is available as combination permits, each consisting of one either-sex permit and one antlerless-only permit.  The fee for the nonresident combination archery deer permit shall be $410.  Nonresident hunters may apply June 1 through June 30 via DNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.  Applicants may apply for and receive a maximum of one nonresident combination archery deer permit during a license year. (Note:  Receiving nonresident landowner archery deer permits does not preclude the recipient from also applying for and receiving the regular nonresident combination archery deer permit.)  The number of nonresident combination archery deer permits shall be limited to 25,000, with clients of outfitters currently permitted by the Department of Natural Resources given preference in the drawing for the first 7,500.  Clients of permitted outfitters should contact the outfitter prior to applying to receive a certification number to be used in the application process to verify their outfitter client status.  Permits will be allocated using a computerized, random lottery drawing conducted after June 30.  If the number of eligible outfitter clients in the drawing is less than 7,500, all remaining permits will be allocated to the remaining applicants until the quota is reached.  If the number of eligible outfitter clients in the drawing exceeds 7,500, those outfitter clients unsuccessful in obtaining one of the first 7,500 permits will compete against non-client applicants for the remaining permits.  Up to six individuals may apply for nonresident combination archery permits as a group.  Groups must identify a group leader, and all applicants must provide the same group leader information at the time of application.  If applying for permits given preferentially to clients of outfitters, all group applicants must also provide the same outfitter certification number.  Permits available after the lottery will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants who have not previously received a combination permit for the current deer season. 

2)         Nonresident single antlerless-only archery deer permits may be purchased as "bonus" permits for a fee of $25 by nonresident hunters who have previously obtained either a nonresident combination archery deer permit or a nonresident landowner archery deer permit.  The bonus nonresident single antlerless-only archery deer permit will be available over-the-counter (OTC) from license vendors for a fee of $25.  Eligible nonresident hunters may purchase these bonus permits without limit.

3)         Nonresident hunters who have not previously obtained a permit described in subsection (c)(2) may purchase nonresident single antlerless-only archery deer permits OTC from license vendors for a fee of $100.  Nonresident hunters may purchase these permits without limit.

4)         Nonresidents may not purchase a combination archery deer permit after September 30 if they have previously purchased any single antlerless-only archery deer permit for the current deer season.

5)         Nonresident youth may purchase a resident archery combination permit OTC for the same fee as resident Illinois hunters ($25).  For purposes of this Section, "youth" is defined as those hunters who have not reached their 18^th birthday prior to the beginning of the current year archery deer season (October 1).

d)         Hunters purchasing archery deer permits must supply all necessary applicant information to the license vendor in order to properly complete the permit.

e)         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.

f)         A $3 service fee will be charged for replacement permits issued by DNR, except that there will be no charge for permits lost in the mail.  The procedures for obtaining a replacement license are detailed in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520.50.  Monies from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

g)         Refunds and Cancellations

1)         A refund shall be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted, or for an application that has been submitted, under the following circumstances:

A)        The applicant for a permit was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit in the lottery for which the applicant applied; or

B)        Upon the request of the permit holder, a permit was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor or the applicant.  The permit that was issued in error and the request for a refund must be delivered to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

C)        Upon the return of an issued permit to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the issued permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (g)(1)(C) if the permit is returned or postmarked after the first day of the season listed on the permit.

2)         A permit shall be cancelled if a refund is approved pursuant to subsection (g)(1)(B) or (C).  Once a permit has been cancelled, the cancelled permit shall not count towards the total number of permits that an applicant may obtain for the hunting season that the cancelled permit was so issued.

3)         Upon the request of a permit holder, a refund may be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted under the following circumstances:

A)        A medical condition or death of the permit holder that prevented the permit holder from hunting.  A death certificate or medical documentation showing that the permit holder was unable to or advised not to hunt may be required by the Department before any refund is issued.  Requests must be made before the last day of the season that the permit was issued and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refunds shall be issued under this subsection if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois after the last day of the season listed on the permit; or

B)        The permit holder was unable to travel or use the permit that was issued due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration that resulted in a danger to the health or safety of the permit holder had they attempted to use the issued permit.  Requests must be made within 60 days after the start of the season for which the permit was issued and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (g) (3)(B) if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked 60 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit. 

C)        A permit that was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor, or the applicant, if the permit is returned to the Department before the last day of the season for which the permit was issued.

(Source:  Amended at 46 Ill. Reg. 18703, effective November 2, 2022)