Persons born on or after January 1, 1980 must have proof of a valid hunter safety education certification in order to obtain an Illinois Hunting License.
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Military veterans may receive a Hunter Safety Card by completing the online self-study portion of Hunter Safety requirements, without taking the field day portion of the course. To obtain a Hunter Safety Card, veterans must provide their online hunter safety voucher and military duty documentation (DD214). Mail to: IDNR Safety Education Section, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL. 62702-1271.
A hunting license is required for anyone who hunts within Illinois. License fees vary according to the hunter's age and the type of license, and whether the hunter is an Illinois resident. Hunting licenses are valid for one year, however there are 'lifetime licenses' that are also available for Illinois residents. For more information on Illinois Hunting Licenses, please consult the IDNR website at dnr.state.il.us.
In addition to the required hunting license, you may need to purchase permits or tags depending on the species you are hunting and the area where you are hunting. You can find out more about these requirements when you purchase your hunting license, or you can visit the IDNR Website for more information.
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It is unlawful to hunt or trap any species, except migratory waterfowl, during the gun deer season in counties open to gun deer hunting when not wearing 400 square inches of solid blaze orange plus a hat. It is unlawful to hunt upland game (pheasant, rabbit, quail or partridge) when not wearing a hat of solid blaze orange.
For a more complete listing of Illinois hunting license laws, hunting regulations, or hunter education requirements, please consult the Illinois Hunting Information page, available on the IDNR website at www.dnr.state.il.is.