IDNR shares updates about upcoming hunting seasons
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR, shares the following information:
Remaining Firearm Deer Permits
Illinois firearm and muzzleloader deer permits are still available over-the-counter from DNR Direct license and permit vendors: through Dec. 2 for firearm and through Dec. 9 for muzzleloader-only deer hunting (or until quotas are exhausted).
Find a vendor at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx.
Find counties with permits available at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/AvailableDeerTurkeyPermitsbyCo....
Resident Archery Deer and Fall Turkey Permits
Resident combination archery deer permits, resident antlerless-only archery deer permits, and resident archery fall turkey hunting permits are available over-the-counter from DNR Direct license and permit vendors.
Find a vendor near you at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx.
Non-Resident Deer and Turkey Permits
The remaining non-resident 2012-2013 Illinois combination archery deer permits, as well as non-resident antlerless-only archery deer permits and non-resident archery fall turkey permits, are available over-the-counter from DNR Direct license and permit vendors.
Find a vendor at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/LicensePermitVendors.aspx
Late Winter and CWD Deer Special Hunt Area Applications
Hunters may apply online through Nov. 26 for site-specific permits for designated IDNR special hunt areas for the late winter and CWD deer hunts.
The online application system will be available through the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.
Statewide Archery, Firearm, Muzzleloader, and Late-Winter/CWD Seasons CWD Sampling
Deer hunters statewide are encouraged to allow samples to be taken for chronic wasting disease, CWD, testing from adult deer they harvest.
IDNR reported that one of the locations which is serving as a CWD sampling station, taking samples from entire deer or deer heads through Jan. 20, 2013, is Union Campground Venison Processing, 5565 State Highway 146E, Anna, phone 618-697-0039, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sundays.
Test results will be posted by hunter phone number on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/cwd/.
Spring Turkey Applications
Resident hunters can now apply for the first lottery for 2013 Illinois spring wild turkey season permits online.
Go to the IDNR website for more information at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkeyHunting.aspx.
The application deadline for the first lottery for 2013 resident spring turkey permits is Dec. 1.
Non-residents can apply for 2013 Illinois spring wild turkey permits beginning Dec. 4.
Spring Youth Turkey
Spring youth turkey special hunt Area online permit applications will be accepted online from Jan. 15, 2013-Feb. 18, 2013.
For more information on 2013 spring turkey hunting: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/turkey/Pages/SpringTurkeyHunting.aspx.
Spring youth turkey season county permits will be available over-the-counter from IDNR license/permit vendors beginning on March 5, 2013.
Apply for Outdoors Access for Youth Turkey Hunting
The Illinois Recreational Access Program, IRAP, is taking applications from young hunters for 2013 spring turkey hunting.
Youth hunters will be assigned a hunt site in one of the 23 counties in which private property has been leased by IDNR.
Most assigned hunting areas are at least 40 acres in size and all have been evaluated for turkey activity and the high possibility of a good hunting experience for the youth.
Eligible youth hunters must be under the age of 16 at the time of the hunt and must have completed a hunter safety education course.
Applicants can apply for two of the three turkey seasons for which IRAP has leased sites for the spring of 2013: youth season, third season and fourth season.
For more information, go to www.dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/irap. Youth are encouraged not to miss out and apply early.