§715.20. Statewide Turkey Permit Requirements

a)         All turkey hunters must have a current, valid Fall Shotgun Wild Turkey Hunting Permit.  Lifetime licenses issued after August 15, 2006 shall not qualify a nonresident of Illinois for a resident turkey permit.  All hunters, except those exempted by Section 3.1 of the Wildlife Code [520 ILCS 5] are also required to obtain a hunting license before hunting wild turkey.  Fees for fall shotgun turkey permits are as follows:

 

1)         Permits issued via lottery by Permit Office:

Illinois Resident Lottery Permit − $15

Nonresident Lottery Permit − $125

 

2)         Over-the-Counter (OTC) Permits sold by license vendors pursuant to subsection (f); all prices include vendor's issuing fee:

Illinois Resident OTC Permit − $15.50

Nonresident OTC Permit − $125.50

 

b)         Permits are issued for a specific county or area and are valid only in the county or area designated on the permit.  Applications for wild turkey permits shall be completed and submitted by visiting one of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' license vendors, by applying on-line at www.dnr.illinois.gov, or by writing to:

 

Department of Natural Resources – Fall Shotgun Turkey

One Natural Resources Way

P.O. Box 19446

Springfield IL  62794-9446

 

c)         Applicants must supply all information necessary to complete the application. Incomplete applications shall be rejected and fees returned.  Each applicant must submit payment for his/her individual application at the time of application.  Permits are allocated via computerized lottery drawings held in Springfield, Illinois.  Permits are not transferable.  For the purpose of this Section, "transfer" means the modification or changing, by the Department or any other person, individual or group, of the name or location of an issued permit to another person or location.  Not more than 6 applications may be submitted for group hunters.

 

d)         Applications shall be accepted from residents only from the date on which they became available through the first Monday in July for the First Lottery.  Applications received in the permit office after the first Monday in July shall be included in the next computerized drawing.

 

e)         Permits not issued during the first computerized drawing shall be available in a second computerized lottery drawing.  Applications for this drawing will be accepted through the seventh Monday after the initial First Lottery Drawing. Applications received after this date will be rejected and all fees for that application will be refunded. All hunters not receiving a permit in the first computerized drawing and non-residents may apply at this time for the available permits.  Illinois residents will be given preference for permits allocated in the Second Lottery Drawing.

 

f)         Permits not issued during the second computerized drawing shall be available OTC from agents designated by the Department (pursuant to 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2520) beginning the fourth Monday after the second lottery deadline on a first-come, first-served basis.  Permits will be sold until quotas are exhausted, or until the close of the season.  Persons may purchase one or more permits during this period, subject to availability, except that no one may exceed the limit of two permits in total, including landowner permits.

 

g)         A $3 service fee shall be charged for replacement permits issued by the Department, except when permits are lost in the mail, no charge will be made.

 

h)         It shall be unlawful to:

 

1)         Submit applications before the second computerized lottery drawing for more than one permit for the same person.  Violation is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.9);

 

2)         Apply for or receive more than two permits for the fall gun turkey season.  Violation is a Class B misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.9); or

 

3)         Provide false and/or deceptive information on a permit application form.  In addition to criminal charges, individuals found guilty of violating this Section shall have their application rejected, permit revoked, and fees forfeited.  Violation is a Class A misdemeanor (see 520 ILCS 5/2.38).

 

i)          Refunds and Cancellations

 

1)         A refund shall be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted, or for an application that has been submitted, under the following circumstances:

 

A)        The State managed or owned site for which the permit was issued was closed due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration or any other emergency circumstance that resulted in the Department closing access to the hunting site, park or area.  Issued permits shall be cancelled by the Department.  This subsection (i) shall include, but is not limited to, closure of State parks, fish and wildlife areas, and recreation areas by the Department as a response to a Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation or executive order;

 

B)        The applicant for a permit was unsuccessful in obtaining a permit in the lottery for which the applicant applied; or

 

C)        Upon the request of the permit holder, a permit was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor or the applicant.  The permit that was issued in error and the request for a refund must be delivered to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

 

D)        Upon the return of an issued permit to the Department before the first day of the season listed on the issued permit.  Permits shall be considered delivered to the Department if the permit is received or postmarked before the first day of the season listed on the permit.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (i)(1)(D) if the permit is returned or postmarked after the first day of the season listed on the permit.

 

2)         A permit shall be cancelled if a refund is approved pursuant to subsection (i)(1)(A), (C) or (D).  Once a permit has been cancelled, the cancelled permit shall not count towards the total number of permits that an applicant may obtain for the hinting season that the cancelled permit was so issued.

 

3)         Upon the request of a permit holder, a refund may be issued by the Department for a permit that has been granted under the following circumstances:

 

A)        A medical condition or death of the permit holder that prevented the permit holder from hunting.  A death certificate or medical documentation showing that the permit holder was unable to or advised not to hunt may be required by the Department before any refund is issued.  Requests must be made within 90 days after the start of the season that the permit was issued for and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refunds shall be issued under this subsection if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois 90 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit; or

 

B)        The permit holder was unable to travel or use the permit that was issued to him or her due to a national or State issued emergency or disaster declaration that resulted in a danger to the health or safety of the permit holder had they attempted to use the issued permit.  Requests must be made within 60 days after the start of the season for which the permit was issued and must accompany the return of the permit to the Department at its headquarters in Springfield, Illinois.  No refund shall be issued under this subsection (i)(3)(B) if the request or permit is delivered or postmarked 60 days after the first day of the season listed on the permit.

 

C)        A permit that was issued due to an error of the Department, the OTC point-of-sale vendor, or the applicant, if the permit is returned to the Department before the last day of the season for which the permit was issued.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12792, effective September 24, 2021)