Section 685.20  Statewide Deer Permit Requirements

a)         All eligible youth hunters must have a current, valid "Youth Deer Hunt Permit" ($10).  The Youth Deer Season is only open to hunters who have not reached their 18^th birthday prior to the opening date of the season.  Hunters must have an apprentice or youth hunting license, or they must have completed a State-approved Hunter Education course and have a hunting license, unless exempt.  Pursuant to the statewide youth-only deer hunting season Pilot Program created in Section 2.26 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5], the following will apply to all Youth Deer Hunt Permits beginning with the 2020 Youth Deer Season:

1)         Youth Deer Hunt Permits 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.

2)         On or after January 1, 2023, the Department may analyze the effects of the Pilot Program on the Youth Deer Season, including its effects on hunter participation, hunter satisfaction, hunter distribution and deer harvest.

3)         If the Department finds, after thorough analysis, negative impacts to wildlife management associated with the Pilot Program, the Department may amend this Part to prohibit the statewide use of Youth Deer Hunt Permits and resume issuance of county-specific permits.

b)         Youth Deer Hunt Permits will be available for sale over-the counter (OTC) from agents beginning the first Tuesday in August through the last day of the Youth Deer Season.  Hunters may purchase only a single permit (either-sex).

c)         For the applicant to be eligible to receive a Youth Deer Season Permit ($10), applicant must not have had his or her deer hunting privileges suspended or revoked in this State pursuant to Section 3.36 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5/3.36].

d)         Recipients of the Youth Deer Season Hunt Permit shall record their signature on the permit and must carry it on their person while hunting.

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 shall be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail there will be no charge.  Monies derived from this source will be deposited in the Wildlife and Fish Fund.

g)         Permits issued for the Youth Deer Hunt season will not be counted in the number of gun permits a person can receive for the Firearm and Muzzleloader-Only Deer Season.

h)         Hunting without a valid permit is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.24).

i)          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)        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

B)        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 (i)(1)(B) 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 (i)(1)(A) or (B).  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 for which that cancelled permit was 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 within 90 days after the start of the season that the permit was issued for 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 90 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

B)        The permit holder was unable to travel or use the permit that was issued to him or her 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 (i)(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 45 Ill. Reg. 12740, effective September 24, 2021)