98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2013 and 2014 HB5514

Introduced , by Rep. John D. Cavaletto

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.30 from Ch. 61, par. 2.30

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that trapped beaver, river otter, weasel, mink, or muskrat may be killed with a .22 caliber or a smaller rifle. Effective immediately.

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A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning wildlife.

2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4 Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Section

5 2.30 as follows:

6 (520 ILCS 5/2.30) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.30)

7 Sec. 2.30. It shall be unlawful for any person to trap or

8 to hunt with gun, dog, dog and gun, or bow and arrow, gray fox,

9 red fox, raccoon, weasel, mink, muskrat, badger, and opossum

10 except during the open season which will be set annually by the

11 Director between 12:01 a.m., November 1 to 12:00 midnight,

12 February 15, both inclusive.

13 It is unlawful for any person to take bobcat in this State

14 at any time.

15 It is unlawful to pursue any fur-bearing mammal with a dog

16 or dogs between the hours of sunset and sunrise during the 10

17 day period preceding the opening date of the raccoon hunting

18 season and the 10 day period following the closing date of the

19 raccoon hunting season except that the Department may issue

20 field trial permits in accordance with Section 2.34 of this

21 Act. A non-resident from a state with more restrictive

22 fur-bearer pursuit regulations for any particular species than

23 provided for that species in this Act may not pursue that

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1 species in Illinois except during the period of time that

2 Illinois residents are allowed to pursue that species in the

3 non-resident's state of residence. Hound running areas

4 approved by the Department shall be exempt from the provisions

5 of this Section.

6 It shall be unlawful to take beaver, river otter, weasel,

7 mink or muskrat except during the open season set annually by

8 the Director, and then, only with traps. Trapped beaver, river

9 otter, weasel, mink, or muskrat may be killed with a .22

10 caliber or a smaller rifle.

11 It shall be unlawful for any person to trap beaver or river

12 otter with traps except during the open season which will be

13 set annually by the Director between 12:01 a.m., November 1st

14 and 12:00 midnight, March 31, both inclusive.

15 Coyote may be taken by trapping methods only during the

16 period from September 1 to March 1, both inclusive, and by

17 hunting methods at any time.

18 Striped skunk may be taken by trapping methods only during

19 the period from September 1 to March 1, both inclusive, and by

20 hunting methods at any time.

21 Muskrat may be taken by trapping methods during an open

22 season set annually by the Director.

23 For the purpose of taking fur-bearing mammals, the State

24 may be divided into management zones by administrative rule.

25 It shall be unlawful to take or possess more than the

26 season limit or possession limit of fur-bearing mammals that

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1 shall be set annually by the Director. The season limit for

2 river otter shall not exceed 5 river otters per person per

3 season. Possession limits shall not apply to fur buyers,

4 tanners, manufacturers, and taxidermists, as defined by this

5 Act, who possess fur-bearing mammals in accordance with laws

6 governing such activities.

7 Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the taking or

8 possessing of fur-bearing mammals found dead or

9 unintentionally killed by a vehicle along a roadway during the

10 open season provided the person who possesses such fur-bearing

11 mammals has all appropriate licenses, stamps, or permits; the

12 season for which the species possessed is open; and that such

13 possession and disposal of such fur-bearing mammals is

14 otherwise subject to the provisions of this Section.

15 The provisions of this Section are subject to modification

16 by administrative rule.

17 (Source: P.A. 97-19, eff. 6-28-11; 97-31, eff. 6-28-11; 97-628,

18 eff. 11-10-11; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)

19 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

20 becoming law.