The Illinois Department of Natural Resources today announced that additional methods would be legal methods to take deer during the upcoming 2017 season. The IDNR Director said “These new approved methods will allow more hunters a chance to harvest a deer, and will provide DNR with much needed revenue. Illinois is well known nationwide for its deer herd, and allowing all types of weapons will allow hunters regardless of their weapon preference to hunt in Illinois”” Effective this season, a hunter will be required to buy a separate permit for every weapon type according to the DNR press release. The weapon type and resident permit costs are as follows:
Shotgun $25
Rifle $25
Archery $25
Handgun $25
Crossbow $25
Compound bow $25
Traditional bow $25
Air gun $25
Bow gun (archery equipment that fires any explosive projectile $25
Spear/club/sling bow (primitive handmade weapons only $25
There will be no limit on the number of permits available or the number each hunter may purchase. DNR biologists using computer models have determined that is unnecessary that hunters will self regulate. “When hunters stop seeing deer in the area that they hunt, they will quit buying permits and quit hunting, it is a supply and demand situation. When the supply runs out the demand will go down on its own” said IDNR Deer biologist.