520 ILCS 20/ Wildlife Habitat Management Areas Act.

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520 ILCS 20/0.01

(520 ILCS 20/0.01) (from Ch. 61, par. 217.9)

Sec. 0.01.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Wildlife Habitat Management Areas Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

520 ILCS 20/1

(520 ILCS 20/1) (from Ch. 61, par. 218)

Sec. 1.

When used in this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.

"Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.

The term "hunting rights" includes both hunting and trapping in season,
unless the latter privilege is specifically reserved by the owner, tenant,
or other person in control thereof.

(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

520 ILCS 20/2

(520 ILCS 20/2)

Sec. 2. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296. Repealed by P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)

520 ILCS 20/3

(520 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 61, par. 220)

Sec. 3.

The director, on behalf of the Department, may cancel any such
agreement; (a) upon 60 days written notice to the lessor, when in the
judgment of the Department the use of the lands is no longer needed or
desired; (b) in case the owner or owners desire to sell the property and
the sale cannot be consummated subject to the agreement, provided the
director is satisfied; the principal object of such sale is not to convert
to private use hunting rights which have been made more valuable through
the utilization of the property for the purposes herein stipulated; and (c)
in case the lessor becomes dissatisfied with the project and files a
written request to the director for such cancellation.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/4

(520 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 61, par. 221)

Sec. 4.

Every Wildlife Habitat Management Area shall comprise at least 600
acres of contiguous farm lands, or a combination of tillable lands and farm
woodlots suitable for the protection and propagation of species of small
game ordinarily found upon, or in the immediate proximity of such lands,
and the owners or persons having legal control thereof have agreed to
cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of such a project thereon.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/5

(520 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 61, par. 222)

Sec. 5.

Not more than one-third of the total acreage of such a project may
be set apart as State Game Refuges of such size and number as the
Department may determine, wherein no hunting shall be permitted. These
safety zones shall be posted as provided for by Section 8 of this Act.
The remaining two-thirds or more shall be open to hunting and trapping.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/6

(520 ILCS 20/6)

Sec. 6. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409. Repealed by P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)

520 ILCS 20/7

(520 ILCS 20/7)

Sec. 7. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296. Repealed by P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)

520 ILCS 20/8

(520 ILCS 20/8)

Sec. 8. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409. Repealed by P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)

520 ILCS 20/9

(520 ILCS 20/9)

Sec. 9. (Repealed).

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409. Repealed by P.A. 97-916, eff. 8-9-12.)

520 ILCS 20/10

(520 ILCS 20/10) (from Ch. 61, par. 227)

Sec. 10.

In the event the Department deems it desirable to remove surplus
game from the property for stocking elsewhere, the Cooperator, or a member
of his family, or an employee, shall be given preference as an agent of the
Department to trap surplus game in such numbers as determined by the
Department, for which the trapper shall be paid a price per head as may
from time to time be agreed upon. In the event no such person desires
appointment as an agent to trap surplus game, the Department shall have the
right to make other arrangements as deemed advisable.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/11

(520 ILCS 20/11) (from Ch. 61, par. 228)

Sec. 11.

If the Cooperator is willing to leave a strip or strips of grain
or hay stand in suitable places for game food, nesting cover, or travel
lanes, or to delay mowing of hay, the Department may reimburse the
Cooperator at a price mutually agreed upon in advance of the harvest
period.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/12

(520 ILCS 20/12) (from Ch. 61, par. 229)

Sec. 12.

The owner or tenant of a tract of land on which a refuge area
safety zone has been established, or any member of his family or duly
authorized employee, is privileged to go upon such area any time of the
year in connection with the normal and customary management of the farm,
without dog, firearm, or bow and arrow providing no attempt is made to
drive or disturb game.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/13

(520 ILCS 20/13) (from Ch. 61, par. 230)

Sec. 13.

Hunters shall be limited to a number agreed upon as reasonable
with respect to the game population. The volume of hunting shall be agreed
upon by the Department and the Cooperators.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/14

(520 ILCS 20/14) (from Ch. 61, par. 231)

Sec. 14.

Hunters shall at all times respect the rights of cooperating
farmers, and shall not injure or destroy their livestock or property in any
manner. Trees or shrubs shall not be mutilated or cut, nor shall berries,
fruits or nuts be picked on or within such refuge area, except by
permission of the owner or person in legal control of the property. Springs
and streams shall not be contaminated or polluted in any manner.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/15

(520 ILCS 20/15) (from Ch. 61, par. 232)

Sec. 15.

Should a dog inadvertently enter a refuge area, it may be
recovered by the owner, or person in control, by entering the refuge area
without firearms or bows and arrows.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/16

(520 ILCS 20/16) (from Ch. 61, par. 233)

Sec. 16.

Should a seriously wounded game bird or game animal enter a refuge
area, the hunter who wounded it, if he wishes to retrieve it, shall report
to a duly commissioned officer or authorized agent of the Department, who
may investigate, accompanied by the hunter without firearms or bows and
arrows, and if the bird or animal is found to be seriously crippled it may
be secured by the officer or agent and turned over to the hunter.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/17

(520 ILCS 20/17) (from Ch. 61, par. 234)

Sec. 17.

Until clearly evident that rigid supervision is no longer needed,
each cooperative area will have at least one supervisory officer, temporary
or otherwise, appointed by the Director, on duty at a conveniently located
telephone on or adjacent to the area. All participating farmers will be
informed of the location and telephone number of the officer. These facts
are to be posted at each parking area to inform hunters or other interested
parties. Check in stations may be located with the supervisory officer, and
the station may be used to control the number of hunters on any Cooperative
Area and to collect a nominal fee for operation of the area.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/18

(520 ILCS 20/18) (from Ch. 61, par. 235)

Sec. 18.

At the Department's discretion, in lieu of other charges, a fee in
addition to the regular license may be charged by the Cooperators, in
return for which the hunter will receive a permit to hunt on Cooperative
areas. Any surplus of funds collected over the cost of the program is to be
used for farmer-hunter benefit (directly or indirectly to the hunter) by
benefiting the farmer and creating good will for the hunting program.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/19

(520 ILCS 20/19) (from Ch. 61, par. 236)

Sec. 19.

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, it is unlawful for any
person, except by special permission of a duly authorized representative of
the Department, to enter or go upon a Wildlife Habitat Management Area
Refuge Safety Zone, during any open season for the hunting of game, or to
enter or go upon such a refuge at any time of the year with firearms, or
bows and arrows, or traps, or dogs, or to permit a dog or dogs under his
control to enter any refuge. The Department, however, is hereby empowered,
by adopting a suitable regulation to prohibit a person or persons from
entering or going upon any such refuge, or all such refuges, at any or all
times of the year should it deem such action advisable.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2296.)

520 ILCS 20/20

(520 ILCS 20/20) (from Ch. 61, par. 237)

Sec. 20.

In connection with their official duties, it is lawful for any
member of the Department, or any employee or duly appointed agent thereof, to
go upon a Wildlife Habitat Management Area, restricted or open, at any time
of the year with or without firearms, traps, or dogs.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

520 ILCS 20/21

(520 ILCS 20/21) (from Ch. 61, par. 238)

Sec. 21.

It is unlawful to resist any officer or agent, of the Department
when he is attempting to arrest a person for violation of any property
damage laws of this State, or any law of this State intended to protect
farm livestock, or human life, or for any violation occurring on lands
leased by the Department or under its control.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1409.)

520 ILCS 20/22

(520 ILCS 20/22) (from Ch. 61, par. 239)

Sec. 22.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty
of a petty offense.

(Source: P.A. 77-2519.)