Youth across Illinois can now obtain their Deer Permits at participating vendors in preparation for the upcoming 2017 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt, scheduled Oct. 7-9.
Interested youth must have a valid permit and be under the age of 18 to take part in the hunt. Additionally, hunters 16-18 are asked to have proof of a Habitat Stamp.
Each permit that is issued links to a single open county, and no more than one permit will be issued per hunter. Nearly all of Illinois’ counties are open this season, save for DuPage, Lake, Cook and part of Kane County.
In west central Illinois, open areas for 2017 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt include Big River State Forest (new in 2017); Mississippi River – Pool 18, Spoon River State Forest, Cedar Glen State Natural Area, Mississippi River Pools 21 and 22, Weinberg King State Fish and Wildlife Area including Scripps and Spunky Bottoms units, Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Sand Ridge State Forest, Oakford CA, Mackinaw State Fish and Wildlife Area, Mississippi River (Pools 22 and 24), Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area, Ray Norbut – Dutch Creek Unit, Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area, – Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (Upland Management Area only), Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Carlyle Lake – East Fork Unit, Eldon Hazlet State Park – North Allen Branch Unit,
To find out more about this year’s hunt, visit the IDNR website.
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