Illinois hunting: No standby permits for deer hunting public sites or for controlled pheasant hunting

File photo from last year of a pheasant in snow. | Dale Bowman

There will be no standby permits for the controlled pheasant hunting program or for deer hunting at Illinois’ public sites. That’s probably the biggest news to come out this week as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources rolled out pandemic-related protocols for various public hunting activities.

Here are two of the announcements. The top one is for the controlled pheasant hunting program (the breakdown for public-site deer hunting is below that):

The IDNR announcement for the controlled pheasant hunting program:

IDNR Announces Illinois Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program Changes for 2020-21 Season

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced changes to controlled pheasant hunting for the 2020-21 hunting season. The changes, health and safety protocols implemented in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, will provide greater protection to both the hunting public and site staff during the season.

Standby Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permits will not be available this hunting season. Pheasant hunters will need to acquire a Reserved Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permit to hunt on controlled pheasant hunting sites. Reserved Controlled Pheasant Hunting Permits can be acquired through the online reservation system available on the Controlled Pheasant Hunting website at this link: https://dnr2.illinois.gov/controlledhunt/. To make acquiring a reserved permit more convenient, hunters will be able to reserve a permit until 12:00 noon the day before a hunt date.

On IDNR-operated sites, the daily fee for permits acquired online for controlled pheasant hunting is $30 for resident hunters and $35 for nonresident hunters. The daily permit fee applies to each individual hunter. Hunters are required to pay for permits acquired online over a secure system using a major credit card. A transaction fee of $1.00 for a single hunter or 2.25 percent of the permit fee for multiple hunters will be assessed for each permit, except for permits for the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt. Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt Permits are issued at no cost.

All but one of the controlled pheasant hunting sites have ample reserved permits available for all days of the controlled hunting season. Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt permits are also available for all but one controlled pheasant hunting site. Hunters are encouraged to make the necessary planning adjustments now to hunt on the sites on the hunt dates desired.

Hunter check station procedures will also change on controlled pheasant hunting sites as part of health and safety protocols. Hunters are advised to wear an appropriate face covering and maintain appropriate social distance when in the hunter check station area. Hunters should also pay attention to advisory signs with information about check-in procedures. Check-out procedures will also change at many controlled pheasant hunting sites this season. Check-out procedures will be announced during the registration process.

Special note for the 2020-21 hunting season: Non-toxic shotshells are required when hunting at Des Plaines SFWA, Horseshoe Lake SP, Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA, Mackinaw River SFWA, Silver Springs SFWA, Chain O’Lakes SP, Eldon Hazlet SRA, Green River SWA, Johnson Sauk Trail SRA, and Wayne Fitzgerrell SRA. Hunters are reminded when hunting at any of these sites that only non-toxic shotshells may in possession.

Here is the longer IDNR announcement for deer hunting at public sites:

IDNR Sets Health and Safety Procedures for Deer Hunting at State Sites

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced changes to 2020-2021 deer hunting procedures at state sites. The changes, health and safety protocols implemented in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, will provide greater protection to both the hunting public and site staff during the season.

Hunters should follow all public health guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, including wearing masks when social distancing cannot be achieved and refraining from congregating in parking lot areas. Through responsible actions, hunters can help ensure that site hunting programs continue to offer Illinoisans healthy outdoor recreation opportunities.

The following changes in regulations will apply to IDNR sites participating in the deer hunting program:

1. No standby deer hunting will occur on state sites for the 2020-2021 hunting seasons. Deer hunting during the Firearm, Muzzleloading Rifle, CWD, and Late Winter Deer Seasons on state sites where special permits are issued through the regular statewide drawing will be limited to those persons already in possession of a site permit at the beginning of the season. In the past, standby drawings were held to fill unmet quotas or allow additional hunters to go afield once others had harvested deer. These drawings often resulted in crowded conditions at site offices.

Sites impacted include:

Argyle Lake State Park
Lowden-Miller State Forest
Big River State Forest
Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area
Castle Rock State Park
Marseilles Fish and Wildlife Area
Chain O’Lakes State Park
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Franklin Creek State Natural Area
Moraine Hills State Park
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area/Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area
Morrison-Rockwood State Park
Green River State Wildlife Area
Rock Cut State Park
Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County)
Starved Rock State Park
Iroquois County State Conservation Area
White Pines Forest State Park
Jubilee College State Park
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
Kaskaskia River Fish and Wildlife Area

2. Check-In, Check-Out, and Harvest Reporting procedures will be modified for the 2020-2021 hunting seasons to eliminate crowding and maintain social distancing. On state sites where hunters are required to check in, check out, and report their deer harvest on-site, IDNR site staff will implement changes to keep IDNR employees and hunters safe. Modifications will include either: a) a drive-through check-in/check-out procedure in which hunters remain in their vehicle for the entire process or b) an unstaffed check station where hunters park and sign themselves in and out and report harvest. Upon arriving on-site, hunters should report to the normal check station and follow instructions as posted or as given by site staff. The 5:00 a.m. check-in time will be waived; hunters need only check in before going afield. Note: On many sites, self check-in and check-out procedures are already in place. On these sites, hunters will continue to follow the normal routine as posted.

Sites impacted include:

Anderson Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Marseilles Fish and Wildlife Area
Argyle Lake State Park
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area
Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area
Big River State Forest
Miller-Anderson Woods State Natural Area
Buffalo Rock State Park/Blackball Mines Nature Preserve
Mitchell’s Grove State Nature Preserve
Cache River State Natural Area
Moraine Hills State Park
Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area
Morrison Rockwood State Park
Chain O’Lakes State Park
Mt. Vernon Propagation Center
Cypress Pond State Natural Area
Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area
Deer Pond State Natural Area
Randolph County State Recreation Area
Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area
Rend Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Dublin Highlands Pheasant Habitat Area
Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Ferne Clyffe State Park
Sam Parr State Park
Fort de Chartres State Historic Site
Sandy Ford State Natural Area
George S. Park Memorial Woods State Natural Area
Sangchris Lake State Park
Giant City State Park
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area/Heidecke State Fish and Wildlife Area
Skinner Farm State Habitat Area
Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County)
Starved Rock State Park
Iroquois County State Wildlife Area
Trail of Tears State Forest
Jubilee College State Park
Turkey Bluffs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Kaskaskia River Fish and Wildlife Area
Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area
Kinkaid Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Washington County State Recreation Area

3. The procedure for Special Hunts for Disabled Hunters will be modified for the 2020-2021 deer hunting seasons. Interested hunters should contact the appropriate site office for more information regarding disabled hunt permit applications and deadlines. Disabled hunters must possess a Class P2A disability card in order to be eligible for the drawing. Hunters are strongly encouraged to bring a non-hunting partner. Hunters selected for these opportunities will be contacted in advance of the hunt by IDNR site staff to arrange for payment of permit and selection of blind or hunting location, if applicable. For protection of the hunting public and IDNR staff, those hunters requesting transportation to/from their hunting location or assistance with removing harvested deer from the field will be required to undergo a COVID-19 screening and wear a face covering, unless they have a medical exemption. This screening will include answering a brief survey and submitting to a temperature check.

Sites impacted include:

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
Spoon River State Forest
Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Alexander County)
Starved Rock State Park
Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area
Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
Jubilee College State Park
Wolf Creek State Park
Rock Cut State Park

4. There will be no in-person drawings/assignments for blind locations or hunting zones/areas. On state sites where permitted hunters are assigned to a specific zone, area, or location within the site, site staff will select hunting locations for all hunters prior to the start of the hunting season and notify hunters of their assignment by mail or upon arrival at the check station. There will be no traditional zone or area selection gatherings, which could result in hunters gathering in large groups.

Sites impacted include:

Chain O’Lakes State Park
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area
Starved Rock State Park
Moraine Hills State Park

5. Mandatory in-person, pre-season orientation meetings will be suspended for the 2020-2021 deer hunting seasons. In lieu of these meetings, hunters may be provided with relevant site orientation or safety information before the beginning of the season by mail. Alternatively, sites may post, or provide hunters with, necessary orientation or safety information upon check-in on the first morning of the hunt.

Sites impacted include:

Castle Rock State Park
Moraine Hills State Park
Chain O’Lakes State Park
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Jubilee College State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Marshall State Fish and Wildlife Area