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| Public Act 097-0132 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning wildlife.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section | ||||
3.8 as follows:
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(520 ILCS 5/3.8) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.8)
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Sec. 3.8. Migratory waterfowl areas; geese.
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(a) On any property operated under a Migratory Waterfowl | ||||
Hunting
Area Permit (Commercial) where the principal use is to | ||||
take wild geese,
it is the permit holder's duty to ensure all | ||||
of the following but only during
Canada goose season:
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(1) That no person takes wild geese except from a blind | ||||
or pit.
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(2) That no person establishes or uses any blind or pit | ||||
for the taking
of wild geese within 200 yards of any other | ||||
blind or pit or within 100
yards of the boundary of the | ||||
property on which the blind or pit is located.
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(3) That no person establishes or uses any blind or pit | ||||
for the taking
of wild geese within 200 yards of any | ||||
wildlife refuge boundary or public
road right-of-way | ||||
adjacent to any State or Federal waterfowl refuge.
If a | ||||
blind or pit has been established for more than 10 years | ||||
and it was
believed by both the landowner and the | ||||
Department during that time to meet
the minimum yardage | ||
requirements of this paragraph (3), then the blind or pit
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may remain in place even though a survey or other evidence | ||
may indicate
that the minimum yardage requirements are not | ||
met.
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(b) On any property where the principal use is to take wild | ||
geese in
Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Union and | ||
Williamson Counties,
other than property operated under a | ||
Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Area
Permit (Commercial), all of | ||
the following restrictions shall be observed but
only
during | ||
Canada goose season:
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(1) No person may take wild geese except from a blind | ||
or pit and it
shall be illegal to take or attempt to take | ||
geese from the base of standing
timber except when | ||
immediately adjacent to an open field.
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(2) No person may establish or use a blind or pit | ||
within 100 yards of
the boundary of the property on which | ||
the blind or pit is located unless
the minimum yardage | ||
requirement cannot be met, in which case one pit or
blind | ||
may be permitted only if there is a minimum of 200 yards | ||
between that
pit or blind and the nearest pit or blind.
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(3) No person may establish or use a blind or pit for | ||
the taking of wild
geese within 200 yards of any wildlife | ||
refuge boundary or public road
right-of-way adjacent to any | ||
State or Federal waterfowl refuge.
If a blind or pit has | ||
been established for more than 10 years and it was
believed | ||
by both the landowner and the Department during that time | ||
to meet
the minimum yardage requirements of this paragraph | ||
(3), then the blind or pit
may remain in place even though | ||
a survey or other evidence may indicate
that the minimum | ||
yardage requirements are not met.
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(4) No more than the number of persons allowed by
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administrative rule may occupy or attempt to take wild | ||
geese
from any blind or pit at the same time.
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(c) On any property operated under a Migratory Waterfowl | ||
Hunting
Area Permit (Commercial) where the principal use is to | ||
take wild ducks,
it is the permit holder's duty to ensure that | ||
no person establishes or uses any blind or pit for the taking | ||
of wild ducks within 100 yards of the boundary of the property | ||
on which the blind or pit is located unless there is consent | ||
from the landowner of the adjacent property. | ||
This subsection (c) shall only apply to property located in | ||
Alexander County, Union County, Williamson County, or Jackson | ||
County. | ||
(Source: P.A. 90-435, eff. 1-1-98; 91-582, eff. 8-14-99.)
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