Just in time for the real start of hunting in Illinois, here are some updates and tweaks on non-toxic shot requirements at Illinois public sites. Dove hunting and early Canada goose seasons open Saturday.
Here are the updates from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:
Non-toxic Shot Requirements in Effect at Additional Illinois Hunting Sites for 2018-19 Dove, Controlled Pheasant and Upland Hunting Seasons
SPRINGFIELD, IL – As they head to the field this fall, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) reminds hunters of new requirements for use of non-toxic shot at a number of IDNR sites for dove, controlled pheasant, and upland game hunting, effective for the 2018-19 season. Many IDNR sites have required use of non-toxic shot in recent years. Lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1991. Non-toxic shot is required for use at all IDNR sites for hunting waterfowl, coots, snipe, and rail. The 2018-19 Illinois Dove Hunting Season opens on Sept. 1. IDNR is implementing the required use of non-toxic shot during dove hunting season at these IDNR sites this year: Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (SFWA); Copperhead Hollow SFWA; Crawford County SFWA; Dixon Springs State Park; Edward R. Madigan SFWA; Harry Babe Woodyard State Natural Area (SNA); Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA; Kickapoo SRA; Lake Le-Aqua-Na SRA; Middle Fork SFWA; Pere Marquette State Park; Ramsey Lake State Park; Ray Norbut SFWA; Shelbyville SFWA; Siloam Springs State Park; Siloam Springs SP/Buckhorn Unit; Weinberg-King State Park. IDNR is implementing the required use of non-toxic shot for Controlled Pheasant Hunting at five additional sites this year: Des Plaines SFWA; Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison Co); Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA; Silver Springs SFWA; Mackinaw River SFWA. IDNR is also implement the required use of non-toxic shot for Upland Hunting seasons at a number of additional sites this year: Anderson Lake SFWA; Banner Marsh SFWA; Big Bend SNA; Bradford Pheasant Habitat Area (PHA); Crawford Co. SFWA; Cretaceous Hills SNA; Double T SFWA; Horseshoe Lake State Park (Madison Co.); Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA; Mackinaw SFWA; Marshall SFWA; Mautino SFWA; Sam Parr SFWA; Sand Ridge State Forest/Sparks Pond and Rollo; Sanganois SFWA; Victoria PHA; Whitefield PHA. IDNR reminds hunters to check Hunter Fact Sheets posted on the IDNR website for information on site-specific hunting season information and regulations, as other sites not listed above require non-toxic shot: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/FactSheets/Pages/default.aspx Additional information on hunting regulations in Illinois can be found in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2018-2019: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/HuntingTrappingDigests.aspx