Unfulfilled youth deer hunt permits can be used in firearm season
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Participants in Illinois’ youth firearm deer season in October will be able to use unfilled permits from the youth season during the first weekend of the regular firearm deer season in November, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, IDNR, reported.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The three-day youth firearm deer season, scheduled during the Columbus Day holiday weekend on Oct. 10-12 this fall, is open to young hunters who have not reached their 16th birthday prior to the hunt. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Youth who purchase the $10.50 permit for the youth season and are unsuccessful in taking a deer during the youth hunt will be able to hunt with that permit during the first segment of the regular firearm deer season, which this fall is scheduled Nov. 20-22.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"> “We want youth hunters to enjoy the excitement of deer season, and give them ample opportunity to bag a deer,” IDNR director Wayne Rosenthal said in a news release. “This suggestion came from hunters, and it is a great idea.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"> The youth permit plan is part of amended Illinois deer hunting regulations being proposed by the IDNR for implementation this fall. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">IDNR is also proposing elimination of the non-resident single antlerless-only over-the-counter archery deer permit. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">IDNR will submit an amended regulation to limit the sale of those permits only to hunters who have already obtained a non-resident combination (either-sex and antlerless) archery deer permit, beginning in 2016. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Non-resident single antlerless-only archery permits will be unavailable this fall, although an antlerless-only permit will still be available as part of the combination archery permit.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">IDNR is also considering amending regulations to have a bag limit for archery deer hunters. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A recent IDNR online survey regarding an archery deer bag limit showed broad support among those participating in the survey. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">More detailed questions on the bag limit idea will be included in the statewide IDNR deer hunter harvest survey in early 2016. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Our goals for managing the deer herd in Illinois are simple,” Rosenthal added. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“We want to provide hunters with opportunities to enjoy our hunting heritage and chances to harvest deer during the fall, while also promoting healthy deer and deer habitat, protecting landowner rights and enhancing public safety.”</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Hunters and others who are interested in Illinois deer management, and in commenting on IDNR deer regulations changes, can review proposed regulations on the IDNR website at http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/adrules/Pages/Proposed.aspx.</span></p>