I need to know about Illinois deer hunting License / Permit information for a non-resident.
I am from Arkansas and have been invited to hunt at cousin's farm in So. Illinois. They're covered up with deer and they want me to help clear them out!!!

How does the permit system work in Illinois....is there a quota system, or anything special I need to do early to get a license.
What steps do I need to take as a non-resident. Please help.

take a look at the DNR website http://dnr.state.il.us/

prices have gone up a considerable amount but you shouldn't have a huge problem getting a tag.

Are you bowhunting or gun hunting?

If your gun hunting non-residents cannot apply for the 1st draw for permits. Im not sure what county your hunting but you may have a problem depending on how many people apply there.

Archery permits can be bought through a phone in system. The IL Dnr site will have the information on when they go on sale. There is a cap for NR and they sell as first come first serve. The cap was at 12,800 or so and I beleive they are raising that to 15,000. If you plan on Archery hunting you can get a tag if you call when they go on sale. Last year they sold out in a couple days. They are talking about having discounted archery doe only tags that you will be able to get over the counter. Im not sure if that was passed yet or the price (i think it was like 25 or 50 dollars).

Good luck

Don

the regs have not changed yet as far as i know

Heres whats on a press release off the IL DNR site:

• Non-Resident Archery Deer Hunting Permits: The Department will provide up to 15,000 archery deer hunting permits to non-residents effective with the 2004 season. The non-resident permit quota has been 12,843 since the 2001 season. Demand for the permits has exceeded the number available each year. The increase in permits, combined with the state’s growing deer population, will provide added opportunity for hunters. The non-resident archery combination permits (allowing the harvest of one antlered and one antlerless deer) will continue to be issued through a toll free telephone reservation system that will open July 10. Non-residents buying a combination permit will also be able to purchase additional antlerless-only permits.

I assume you mean info on gun tags but will answer each in turn.

Gun tags are sold through a lottery system. NR applications will be available in July for the August draw. Depending on the county, you will have a 25-75% chance for a full season tag and a 100% chance for a second season-only tag. You will have a high chance at a muzzleloader tag if that is of interest to you.

Archery tags are sold via a phone-in system beginning the second Saturday in July. The 12,843 sold out in 5 days last year.

Combo tags in any draw(one either sex and one antlerless-only) should be $276(up from $226). A NR hunting license is about $50 and habitat stamp is about $6. Archery tags add another $13 for handling fee.

If I can be of other help, just let me know.

Good luck!

LLBUX
[email protected]

LLBux, have they finalized the $50 increase yet? Nothing official that I can see on DNR website just yet but lots of rumors both ways. What've you heard?

When i was in Springfield 2 weeks ago I was told the NR price increase was a rumor...............

I based my post on proposed legislation concerning a NR fee increase.

As several of you have noted, it is not yet in effect.

Good huntin'!

LLBUX

NR archery tags were gone in 4 days last year..