Deer hunting seasons conclude with hunters in Illinois taking He made the trip for us. Provides that notwithstanding any provision of the Code, it is unlawful to take a deer with a rifle in a county of the State with a population of 500,000 or more. My grandad used to say only reason you cant see China is because the earth curves. Only to visit on a work assignment. In Michigan, there have been numerous deer hunting regulations that have been successful. Legislation listing for the Illinois General Assembly. The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches.. Which might reduce the population marginally. During this time, you are allowed to use any caliber of rifle that is legal for deer hunting in Illinois. The newly-approved firearms must still abide by site-specific regulations and uselegal ammunition. Deer are permitted to hunt it in the majority of states, and it is a suitable hunting cartridge. and our These lighter rifles join the list oflegal hunting firearms, which includes slug-ammunition shotguns, muzzleloading rifles and centerfire handguns. Illinois will be the last state to allow only shotguns when the new law takes effect on January 1, 2023. Owners who applied for a lease before September 1, 2022 will not be able to take it forward. How much authority do conservation police officers and game wardens have. Rifles for Deer Hunting in Illinois? What recent amendments to the On June 15, 2022 at 6:56 am, June J said: I lived in Illinois for 20 years. Politics aside, what are some of my best options? Hunting deer is a time-honored way to spend time with friends and family outside. This is one of the most commonly used firearms in hunting. Although the use of centerfire single-shot rifles may appear strange to some, it is important to remember that these rifles are specifically designed for hunting deer. On June 15, 2022 at 10:55 am, Longbow said: Deer hunting? Bill Lees red flag gun safety plan, Sixth Circuit Strikes Down Bump Stock Ban, Washington State Assault Weapons Ban Is Now Law, Why Nearly All of Americas 400 Million Guns Have Got To Go: A Brief Response to Russ Baker, Pistol Sights Under Various Lighting Conditions, Philadelphia Police Officer Shoots Man With His Own Gun While Trying To Secure It. What constitutes the illegal baiting of deer in Illinois? According to the NRAs report, ten states require only shotguns to be used during firearm hunting seasons. The governor is likely to sign the measure soon. The food was amazing, the land was beautiful, will definitely be coming back. Linkedin, Your email address will not be published. Illinois deer hunters will soon have more tools available to them during the hunting season after the signing of a recent law. ** See footnote below. The list of approved cartridges includes .45-70 Government and .450 Bushmaster. House Bill 4386, signed by Gov. Pritzker on May 27, allows for the use of centerfire, single-shot rifles for deer hunting in the firearm set as set by the director of natural resources every year. 19-21 and Dec. 2-5Youth Firearms HuntOct. Single shotmeans a gun that is either manufactured or modified toonlybe capable of holding a total of one round in the magazine and chamber combined. The calibers we are talking about will give me the opportunity to have a lighter weight gun without any increase in recoil.. To hunt deer, hunters must first plan their hunt in the area where they will be hunting. Absolutely no bottleneck cartridges considered . Acceptable cartridges must be available as a factory load, with the published ballistic tables of the manufacturer showing a capability of at least 500 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle.. Rifle Bill Proposed in Illinois for Deer Hunting Representative Brandon Phelps (Democrat of Harrisburg Illinois), Chairman of the Illinois Sportsmen's Caucus introduced HB5978. Non-Resident applicants may apply for and receive a maximum of one Nonresident Combination Archery Deer permit during a license year. Under the new law, hunters in Illinois will be able to use lighter rifles for deer hunting. What states allow 223 for deer hunting? While rifles are far more accurate and have a much broader range than shotguns, both are effective for deer hunting. Rifles chambered in the soft shooting .350 legend will likely become a very popular choice for hunters, especially youth, in Illinois. Rifle Hunting in Illinois Deer Hunting Laws. "It's the same ammunition that's been legal to hunt deer with a pistol or revolver. A bill, introduced as HB 4386 and sponsored by state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, paved the way for the new rules by allowing certain centerfire, single-shot rifles to be used for deer hunting. Pyramyd Air has this interactive guide that shows airgun laws by state and what types of game animals can be harvested with airguns. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, and West Virginia require larger bullets to be used to hunt game. The measure could soon be signed by the governor. In Illinois, deer hunting is permitted during the months of October 1-January 16, muzzleloading is prohibited from December 10-12, firearms are prohibited from November 19-21, and youth firearms hunting is permitted from October 9-11. The allowance of centerfire rifles for deer hunting in Illinois is a substantial change to longstanding laws that limited deer hunters to the use of slug shotguns, muzzleloaders, or handguns. Additionally, the law makes it illegal, during deer hunting season, to possess or be in proximity of a non-centerfire rifle or a magazine capable of making a rifle not a single shot. It is not uncommon for White-tailed deer to roam freely throughout the state, making this an excellent hunting opportunity. Join the list to receive special offers and updates! deer hunting is a popular pastime in Illinois, and the rifle season offers hunters a chance to bag a big buck. Illinois allowing single-shot rifles next year, what are some good caliber options? B. Pritzker pushed for this law change. So as I understand this .450 socom and .350 legend are still not allowed for use in Illinois correct? Whitetail hunters across the state of Illinois will soon be able to use rifles for deer hunting (**starting the fall of 2023**). 350 Legend case is too long. Just how corrupt and venal are Illinois politics? I was comfortable supporting it.". For additional information, please Deer Hunting Skip to main content Agencies Services The new law amends Sections 2.25, 2.26, and 2.33 of the Wildlife Code and adds two new sections to the Code, 1.2aa and 1.2bb. Not really sure if it passed completely yet or just introduced. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Illinois HB2549 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly - LegiScan There are virtually no bottleneck cartridges out there that are legal to use in IL for deer hunting, 300 Black Out is about all that comes to mind. Coyotes may be hunted on private property by dogs, archery devices, any type of handgun, any type of legal rifle, including large capacity semi-automatic rifles, and shotguns with any type of shell. I'm on the opposite side of this argument. Can you hunt deer with a handgun in Illinois? - Good hunting .350 legend will be the closest to a traditional .30 cal rifle performance. 1-Jan. 16MuzzleloaderDec. In Illinois, the new hunting law allows for a single shot with one shell or a rifle with one shell. I will be using a 350 legend and not the traditional slug. Single shot means a gun that is either manufactured or modified to hold only one round in the magazine and chamber combined, according to a fact sheet issued by the Department of Natural Resources. More decisions to take into account but the choice is yours to make . Small shot can travel 200 to 350 yards, larger shot can travel more than 600 yards and slugs can travel more than 800 yards. Yes, some hunters will complain that they are seeing less deer and the IDNR needs to restrict hunting methods. Deer hunting in Illinois will soon be legal with rifles. Im in the Democratic caucus, and not many Democrats probably file deer hunting rifle bills, and it took some work. Dale walks with a cane as he approaches his 70th birthday. J.B. Pritzker on May 27. Single shotdoes not include a rifle in the possession of a person who is also in possession of or in close proximity to a magazine that would allow the rifle to be capable of holding more than one round or a revolver. Can I use a centerfire rifle for hunting in Illinois? Tags: Deer, Hunting, Illinois DNR; Hand-Picked For You. This will bring more people to the forest.. HB 5978 - WLF CD-DEER HUNT-RIFLES-AMMO Amends the Wildlife Code. not having the detachable magazine in possession or close proximity. New Illinois proposal opens door for potential Nov. 1 rifle season Hunting Deer Without A Permit Is A Serious Offense In Illinois The barrel of a handgun shall be at least 4 inches. i had a .300 blackout barrel build for my tc contender for ill pistol deer hunting back in 2018. For a tube-fed lever or pump action, just put a full-length plug rod in the tube so it wont accept any rounds. I never once saw a Illinois State Police Occifer while taking that route (which was fortuitous as I was quite often in violation of several Illinois state firearm laws). House Bill 1309 . For additional information, please review the following list of frequently asked questions and answers. County 2020 2021 2022 . With 22LR, you can take down small to medium-sized animals with short to medium ranges. Im not buying any new rifle, my Knight Elite has been most excellent. Purchase over the counter at a License Vendor. For me, I love having the options but I know a lot of people are going to complain, especially the bow hunters. Pedal Kayaks: What Do You Need? Hunting deer with a rifle is still illegal in Illinois, but that will change Jan. 1 when administrative rules issued by the Department of Natural Resources will go into effect that will allow deer hunting with center-fire single-shot rifles of certain calibers. A gun shall be considered a single shot if there is no magazine in the possession of or in close proximity to a hunter in the field, and the gun can only hold a total of one round. Farmed it since 1850s. Some hunters engage in deer drives while others engage in group hunting. A table of preliminary Illinois firearm deer harvest totals by county for the first weekend of the 2022 season, and comparable totals for 2020 and 2021, can be found below. Rifle bill signed into law. The Illinois State Congress passed a bill, which was signed by the governor to allow single shot rifles for deer hunting in the 2023 season. All Rights Reserved. I've heard Henry makes a really good 350 Legend. Will Illinois allow rifles for deer hunting? Illinois has been a shotgun only state since deer hunting resumed there in 1957 following a temporary moratorium that lasted 56 years. When the new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, Illinois will leave the rapidly dwindling list of shotgun-only and muzzleloader deer states, including Maryland, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Ill does suck for a lot of reasons. Often asked: How Many States Is The Ar-15 Banned For Hunting? I still do not understand the reasoning behind it being single-shot. The sheer speed and power of some of the new rifles soon to be legal in Illinois are in a category by themselves when compared to traditional shotgun slugs and muzzleloading equipment. Whitetail hunters across the state of Illinois will soon be able to use rifles for deer hunting (**starting the fall of 2023**). I will also mix it up when I hunt in IA with straight-walled cartridge firearms, like my 45-70 or 500 Auto Max. Centerfire, single-shot rifles approved for deer hunting in Illinois - WQAD More deer equal lower overall habitat health, which equals bucks that are not reaching their full potential due to lack of prime browse and stressors that come with an overpopulated carrying capacity. Landowner Programs This bill has been around for awhile though -- not sure how fast things get done down in Springfield, and just like that . it is dead.. oh well. to a single shot can take many forms, including but not limited to: You can view the IL DNRs FAQ webpage on this topic at here. Whether youre hunting deer on the hunt or looking for smaller game in the off-season, these rifles can provide a variety of advantages. Deer zones are areas of the state where the season dates and regulations differ from year to year. If I could reload for it ammo with the same effective performance as factory ammo (but I can not and no one else can for that matter) I would buy a 20 gauge Savage 220. Up until now, it was shotgun slugs only, which means you were pretty much limited to a hundred yards or so. As a bow and muzzleloader hunter it's hard work on public when you're competing against guys shooting deer from up to 1000 yards away or with thermal scopes. The bill was signed by Gov. Rifles Allowed for Illinois Deer Hunting, With a Catch 223 diameter bullet or an AR-15 rifle. Just hope everyone actually reads the rules. Hunting with a shotgun presents several disadvantages for many hunters the felt recoil of a 12-gauge, or even 20-gauge alone, can be too much for some. The .300 Blackout and .44 WCF are also on that list, along with a half-dozen other bottleneck rounds, but most of the approved rifle rounds are straight-wall cartridges. Here we have no weapon specific seasons, and I wish they'd introduce it. But this doesnt just open the doors to all rifles. Those who go hunting as young as children will benefit from a gentler recoil, according to him. Although several of the soon to be legal rifles will have the capacity to shoot much further than a couple hundred yards, in general, most of them are around or under the 200-yard range. If you want hardest hitting, the 450 will beat the 350 any day. Some may argue that rifle hunting in Illinois will be detrimental to the overall deer herd.. In other states that allow such ammunition (often referred to as straight-walled) for deer hunting, popular calibers include the .350 Legend, .444 Marlin, .450 Bushmaster and .45-70 Govt. For those in Illinois who are simply rejoicing at the fact that they get to shop for a new centerfire deer gun, Henry Repeating Arms is one of several companies that makes a solid single-shot rifle; its a simple break-action design with an external hammer thats dependable, can accept an optic (via Weaver 82 mounts or a Picatinny rail). or modifying the receiver or internal magazine of the rifle. As a fan of muzzleloading and single shot rifles, the new Illinois deer hunting changes aren't a huge issue for me, but the rules still don't allow me to take out my .30-30 lever action. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the legal calibers for single-shot rifles are: These caliber specifications are the same that hunters may be familiar with for handgun deer hunting in previous years. One of the most popular guns that our clients use at the lodge is the Savage 220 bolt-action slug gun. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2023. E-Mail me today for more information at Zach@HeartlandLodge.com or call 217-982-4039. A non-resident hunting license, as well as a permit and habitat stamp, are required if you are not a resident of the state. Illinois HB2549 2021-2022 Amends the Wildlife Code Permits deer hunting with a rifle Provides that current ammunition and caliber restrictions on handguns that may be used for hunting deer also apply to rifles Provides that current restrictions limiting deer hunting to persons having a firearm deer hunting permit to taking deer only during the period from 12 hour before sunrise to 12 hour . Instagram Starting January 1, 2023, Illinois will allow deer hunters to start using rifles to deer hunt. To get an idea, consider that at one time in the recent past, multiple former IL governors were charged with one criminal offense or another. During firearm season, a light, single shot rifle can help you ensure that your first shot is successful. Hunting deer has evolved over time, and you have a variety of firearms to choose from. Today I read about rifles being allowed in Illinois but one of the caliburs was a necked down .30 with 1.4" less. Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Centerfire rifle hunting isn Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB2783, The Best Deer Hunting Ammo For Straight-Wall Rifle Cartridge States, https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Documents/IDNR-DeerPrelimHarvest-Feb2021.pdf. Amazing how much it has changed just in my 20 years of hunting. Youngsters who go hunting may benefit from having gentler recoil. I can see both sides. If there is a three-round capacity, it is possible to use many bolt-action rifles, lever guns, and semi-automatics with restricted magazines for hunting. Airgun Hunting Laws by State | Legal Hunting | Pyramyd Air Illinois is home to a large population of deer, and hunters are able to take advantage of this during the rifle season. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, single-shot rifles may be used to hunt deer in a caliber meeting the laws criteria. The season typically runs from the first week of November through the first week of December. But we were always warned with .22s as kids on back stops even though the next farmhouse was 1/2 a mile away. HB 2783 passed the full IL House (100-10-1) and now moves on to the Senate. (The Center Square) - Deer hunters may soon have more firearm options in Illinois. Is guess I can move. He filed this bill on February 11, 2016. I would prefer lighter recoil, myself, hunted for years with a TC Contender in 44 Magnum, so shot placement is key to me. Single-shot rifles will now be allowed for Illinois deer hunting, but with an important caveat. And I know it can only be shot in some single shot mode. Yeah, with that case length restriction, Ill just stick with my muzzle-loader. It sounds like outfitter control is the direction of the future of hunting if something doesnt change. That is again if they are in the legal deer hunting calibers. 1.2aa. On January 1, 2023, a new Illinois law (Public Act 102-932) authorizes hunters to use centerfire, single-shot rifles in certain calibers for deer hunting, in addition to the already authorized shotgun, handgun, muzzleloading rifle, or bow and arrow seasons. A legal deer permit allows one deer to be killed in a bag. I hate the politics in my state. A deer hunter may recoil more like a shove than a hard blow, according to Dale. Traditional bolt action rifles, on the other hand, do not currently have the same range as modern weapons. Couldnt agree more. It is legal to hunt deer with a rifle in the surrounding states of Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan and Arkansas. Multiple deaths, dozens of injuries in dust storm crash on Interstate 55. I've never heard about these two types of rounds and really couldn't find anything on the ole interweb. Taking mower out for drive at 4 a.m. leads to DUI arrest for Mike Shannon, legendary Cardinals broadcaster, dead at 83, Massive dust-storm crash shuts Interstate 55 for miles, Routt struggles forward after the loss of a second classmate. For additional information, please review the following list of frequently asked questions and answers. Makes me sick that its so hard for residents to find places to hunt. A gun shall be considered single shot if there is no magazine in the possession of or in close proximity to a hunter in the field and the gun can only hold a total of one round.. "I had a number of constituents who wanted to hunt with rifles, and others who thought it took some of the difficulty of hunting away because rifles are more accurate. "In the legislative process, those who have not been around hunting lean on the advice of individuals who hunt as well as the DNR," Davidsmeyer said. But as mentioned in the question about types of rifles, notice the part about modified rifles. What Hunting Season Is Coming Up Illinois? Winchester Ammunition. The Deer Management Plans goal is to manage deer populations in Illinois for the long-term benefit of the deer, the people, and the states economy. Northern Illinois has conservatives too, but the closer to Chicago you get, the crazier the politics. According to hunter-ed.com, some centerfire bullets can travel several miles. Our guide Mike was absolutely the best! **No hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in his/her possession, may harvest more than two antlered deer during a year, including the youth, archery, muzzleloader and firearm . Many are particularly annoyed with the limitation to single-shot firearms since hunting shotguns in the state are currently allowed to hold three rounds. I used to have 300+ acres to hunt and now that gets leased up for more than it should cost to pay the loan on owning the damn thing. But deer were simply taken for meat and my grandad always left some border rows of corn in to keep the deer and pheasant healthy. I heard straight walled rifles were recently passed in the house with 100% of the votes and has been moved to the senate. House Bill 4386, signed by Gov. While there are several single-shot centerfire rifles available that are designed for hunting in a bevy of calibers, allowing a three-round centerfire capacity would potentially open up the use of many bolt-action rifles and lever guns for hunting, as well as semi-autos with restricted magazines. The new law effectively eliminates Illinois as an island where rifle hunting for deer was illegal. Facebook On June 15, 2022 at 11:47 am, Herschel Smith said: Oh Im not saying you need to make five shots with a semi-, Im just saying if thats the gun youve got, why not be allowed to use it?