Archery deerhunting season kicked off last weekend, and for those planning an outing, theres a new regulation to know before heading to the. At itb, we only hunt our farms for three weeks during the illinois archery seasonthree weeks. Also offers peak rut crossbow hunting to qualified hunters in search of an illinois trophy whitetail buck. Read more 2083343700 illinois crossbows are legal for all hunters in the entire archery season. Now you can change its mode from safety to shooting. Illinois opens archery seasons to crossbow hunting for all. Specific crossbow hunting requirements remain in effect for a portion of the season. Previously, the law only allowed hunters to hunt with a crossbow if they were 62 and older or if the hunter obtained a doctors note due to physical disability. Take your hunt to the next level with a powerful, dependable crossbow from dicks sporting goods. Backwoods whitetails outfitters illinois crossbow hunts for any archery hunter that prefers to use a crossbow, has an injury or handicap. The buck wasnt a big one, but he was a good way to end the 201220 archery season and fill the freezer.
Scorpyd orion, trophy ridge hammerhead broadhead, black eagle executioner arrows. The dnr may issue a crossbow permit or a special permit to take game with a modified bow to a person with a valid hunting license to take a deer during an open deer season, if the person is certified as having permanent or temporary disability, as defined in wildlife conservation order 5. Crossbow use is not allowed in the red oak unit during the archeryonly bear season oct. Crossbows may be used to take bear during the early bear season, early muzzleloader season in the northern zone, regular firearms seasons in the northern and southern zones, and the late muzzleloader season in the southern.
Illinois law continues to allow use of a crossbow throughout the entire archery season by persons age 62 or older and handicapped persons who are issued crossbow permits by the idnr. Oct 21, 2015 from the record harvest of 2005, illinois deer numbers have slipped. While many of our neighboring outfitters start bringing hunters on october 1, we wait till the end of october to start hunting our farms. Hunters in illinois may use crossbows during archery hunting seasons, including the. Plus, it would allow crossbow use during all archery seasons except for the. While we could hunt the entire deer hunting season, we choose to focus on just one. Archery turkey hunting during a firearm season when and where it is legal to archery turkey hunt during any gun deer season, archery turkey hunters must. One significant change allows all archery hunters the op tion of using a crossbow during certain dates see below.
Hunters in kentucky can use a crossbow during rifle season. Of that total, bucks comprised 49 percent of the overall harvest. The illinois archery season opens each year on october 1 and runs through the middle of january. The buck wasnt a big one, but he was a good way to end the 201220 archery season and fill the. The past two seasons saw a significant decline from the 2012 total of 180,811 deer killed by illinois hunters. The second illinois gun season that starts two weeks after the first and lasts for 4 days. Many illinois outfitters use this entire season to book hunters which could mean as many as 15 groups hunting the same farm in a given season. Illinois hunters can use crossbows during archery seasons. Sb 1467 would allow hunters to use a crossbow during illinois official bowhunting season. To get started with the crossbow hunting, you just need to know the basic rules of archery because operating the crossbow is very easy as its like a shotgun.
Archery deer season information including season dates and how to apply. Jul 15, 2012 the crossbow season is only going to be open for roughly half of the illinois archery season. Jul 28, 2015 crossbow refinement continues for 2015, from the quality of the components especially the triggers to overall construction. On the crossbow side, refinement continues, from the quality of the components especially the triggers to overall construction. Us crossbow regulations select a stateprovince from the map to see regulations related to it. You do, however, need to carry a valid id with a current picture and date of birth at all times while hunting. For comparison, the two traditional firearm seasons in. Sep 15, 2017 get ready to use your crossbow in illinois this archery season. If there is something that you are unsure of or disagree with, please contact the illinois department of natural resources directly. New illinois law lets anyone use crossbows in archery deerhunting. Nov 08, 2015 in il crossbow season starts after the first weekend of december so for now i will get my hunting fill from members stories on this forum. The lawful possession of rifles to take furbearing mammals and game mammals other than deer shall hunting with crossbows recent changes to illinois law 520 ilcs 52. Oct 06, 2015 the new law took effect in august, and to implement it in time for the 2015 16 archery deer season, the illinois department of natural resources filed an emergency amendment to the states.
Sep 18, 2017 illinois opens archery seasons to crossbow hunting for all crossbows can be used to hunt deer and turkey in illinois thanks to a new state law that was signed last week. Crossbow hunting rule changes 2017 illinois hunter. Deer hunting season illinois archery season illinois. Aug 26, 2012 illinois crossbow season the longanticipated open crossbow archery season officially opens december 3, 2012 and runs through january 20, 20.
General crossbow usage builds change february 9, 2019 illinois, chicago sun times. Crossbow hunting regulations in illinois disclaimer. Jul 28, 2015 engineers now endeavor to soften the compounds demeanor and produce a bow that not only generates ample speed, but is also a pleasure to draw and shoot. Now your crossbow is ready for shooting the bolt, make sure its not facing anyone, and your shooting area is marked. About 670,000 deer in 2015, 650,000 in 2014, and 645,000 in 20. Hunting with crossbows recent changes to illinois law 520 ilcs 52. Crossbow deer hunting could begin next year outdoornews. Direct the dnr to initiate a crossbow season, but this amendment specifies that the season must be concurrent with the 2014 and 2015 archery deer seasons. Crossbows approved for mo deer, turkey archery season. Crossbow regulations north american crossbow federation.
Springfield, il hunters in illinois may use crossbows during archery hunting seasons, including the illinois archery deer season and the illinois fall turkey. Previously, individuals were only able to use a crossbow for the taking of game if they had a physical. On the other side, the illinois bowhunters society and the united bowhunters of illinois both sternly opposed the legislation. Shop a great selection of crossbows from trusted brands like barnett, tenpoint, ravin and more. The new law took effect in august, and to implement it in time for the 2015 16 archery deer season, the illinois department of natural resources filed an emergency amendment to the states archery deer rule 17 illinois administrative code 670. The muzzleloader only gun season, which also lasts for 4 days and takes place around the 10th of december. Sep 14, 2017 the 201718 season dates for archery deer and fall turkey archery hunting in illinois are oct. If i am reading correctly the illinois dnr has dropped the maximum draw weight from the current regulations. We will now allow eligible youth who want to take advantage of the new crossbow regulation to do so if the youth is under the direct supervision of. This past 201415 season saw a harvest similar to the 2014 season, with another 2percent dip.
Aug 26, 2012 illinois law continues to allow use of a crossbow throughout the entire archery season by persons age 62 or older and handicapped persons who are issued crossbow permits by the idnr. New state law allows all hunters in illinois to use crossbows. Illinois crossbow law change governor pat quinn recently signed legislation allowing expanded use of crossbows during the illinois archery deer and fall archery wild turkey hunting seasons. In illinois, only hunters over the age of 62 can use a crossbow. Legal for physically challenged hunters during archery season. Jan 24, 2015 using tulip bulbs for bait during new jerseys winter bow season. Illinois retailers and the crossbow manufacturers are extremely excited and anticipate a rise in sales. Read on for the latest hits and misses from bow manufacturers. Both of these allow you to hunt with a crossbow during the archery season according to the crossbow hunting regulations in illinois. View up to date information on how illinois is handling the coronavirus disease 2019 covid19. Bowhunters harvested 61,079 deer, up from 57,929 during the 201718 archery season. Two seasons ago during the 2014 season, illinois deer hunters harvested 148,569 deer. After those seasons end, the dnr can establish a crossbow season that it deems best.
Crossbows may be used during the following seasons. Overall harvest up slightly in the 201920 seasons january. Crossbows also legal for handicapped persons by permitto hunt with a crossbow during an archery season, you must also have a valid archery permit as well as a hunting license and a proper tag. In 2015, west virginia hunters got their taste of crossbow hunting. The season is expected to open december 3rd, the second monday after thanksgiving, and after the firearm deer season. Crossbow hunting in illinois is legal without restrictions throughout the entire archery season. General crossbow usage builds change february 9, 2019 illinois, chicago suntimes. Illinois legalizes crossbows during archery season crossbow. A legally permitted archery hunter may use a crossbow from the second monday following thanksgiving through the end of the archery hunting seasons. Bowhunting privilege is not required for use of a crossbow at any time. Illinois had a bill pass its house that would allow crossbows in archery season. Illinois hunting, fishing, camping news, adventures, and. Illinois hunters harvested 145,804 deer this past 2014 2015 season, the illinois department of natural resources reported.
Deer harvest for this past season was very similar as to the season prior 202014 when 148,569 deer were harvested. Illinois crossbow regulations excalibur crossbow forum. Bruce rauner signed a bill that amends the illinois wildlife code to repeal restrictions on the use of crossbows during archery hunting seasons. For more information on laws and regulations on crossbow hunting visit the idnr website. Details can be found herein 2017, governor pat quinn signed legislation making it legal for everyone, not only the disabled, to hunt with a crossbow during both archery deer season as well as fall archery wild turkey season. Using drones to interfere with legal hunting it is unlawful to use a drone in a way that interferes with another persons lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life. A series of regulation changes have been made for illinois crossbow deer hunting over the.
Hunters in illinois may use crossbows during archery hunting seasons. Illinois crossbow season on the way dan stefanich outdoors. Deer hunting season illinois archery season illinois gun. The dnr may issue a crossbow permit or a special permit to take game with a modified bow to a person with a valid hunting license to take a deer during an open deer season, if the person is certified as having permanent or temporary disability, as. Percent change in harvest from 2015 to 2016 in administrative. May 12, 2015 twohour gobblers i faced had good reasons for not coming in sooner.