I'm glad you did that JW! Coming back to this thread this AM after it was brought back up the more I read through the different types of licenses Illinois has the more it appeared to me that might be the case. The key is that they have to have completed and passed a Hunters Ed Course. They also have an Apprentice License, as well as that license for those 16 and under that allows them to hunt that we were originally referring to and that's without taking Hunters Ed, but that is when they have to be accompanied by a licensed hunter. That amazes me because that is about the least restrictive a state can be and for it to be in Illinois where they even require a FOID card for a resident to have a gun of any type is really weird. Here is the key sentence in the regulations: "At age 17 years or when the youth chooses to hunt by themselves, they are required to successfully complete a Hunter Safety course approved by the Department prior to being able to obtain their own full Hunting license and subsequently hunt by themselves." That sure leaves a kid that is very young to be by themselves. I started back in the early 50s before I even got into first grade, but I had taken one of the first NRA offered Hunters Ed Courses and hunted with my Dad. Even though I was well versed in safety, etc. I'm sure my Dad wouldn't have allowed me out by myself at that young age.