Bill > HB5439

This bill amends the Wildlife Code to provide Illinois resident landowners and tenants with deer, turkey, and combination hunting permits without charge, with the total number of permits and their fees to be determined by administrative rule. Specifically, resident landowners who own at least 40 acres and resident tenants who rent at least 40 acres for commercial agricultural purposes will receive these permits for free to hunt on their owned or rented land, respectively. For deer permits, this includes one either-sex and one antlerless-only permit for both the firearm and archery seasons. The bill also introduces provisions for free deer permits for Illinois residents owning at least 20 acres in counties with identified chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases in the deer population, provided they hunt only on their own land. Furthermore, it clarifies that permits must be carried by the hunter at all times, along with documentation proving their eligibility as a landowner, tenant, or other specified entity. The bill also limits individuals to receiving only one either-sex and one antlerless-only deer permit for each of the firearm and archery seasons. Finally, it updates definitions for terms like "bona fide landowner" and "tenant" and introduces a new definition for "captive-reared" wildlife.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5439&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104