CCW during archery hunting

[Ranger]

So...  I had thought this was changed to be legal.  Now realize it hasn't.  What are odds we could get it changed?

Situation:  Got some videos of guy in the immediate area of where my wife hunts.  Posted on Facebook.  Learned he and his son attacked and left a different landowner who confronted them for dead last year.  Wife worried about being attacked while deer hunting.  She's a good shot with her crossbow; but it is slow to reload.

[THE KING]

If you're talking about carrying your firearm in accordance with the conceal carry act while hunting then yes.  The law changed and you are allowed to carry.  

 

The law changed in I believe 2022. It was part of the FOID Modernization act. 

[THE KING]

 Section 27. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Sections 2.11, 2.26, 2.33, and 2.34 as follows:
(520 ILCS 5/2.11) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.11) Wild Turkey. 
No person while attempting to so take wild turkey may have in his possession any other gun unless in 
accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
(520 ILCS 5/2.26) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.26) Sec. 2.26. Deer hunting permits.
No person may have in his or her possession any firearm not authorized by administrative rule for a 
specific hunting season when taking deer unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
(520 ILCS 5/2.33) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.33) Sec. 2.33. Prohibitions.
(n) It is unlawful for any person, except persons who possess a permit to hunt from a vehicle as 
provided in this Section and persons otherwise permitted by law, to have or carry any gun in or on any 
vehicle, conveyance or aircraft, unless such gun is unloaded and enclosed in a case, except that at field 
trials authorized by Section 2.34 of this Act, unloaded guns or guns loaded with blank cartridges only, 
may be carried on horseback while not contained in a case, or to have or carry any bow or arrow 
device in or on any vehicle unless such bow or arrow device is unstrung or enclosed in a case, or 
otherwise made inoperable unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

[Ranger]

She'd like to carry her kimber micro 380 while she crossbow hunts during archery season.  Would that be legal?

[Euler]

Anything that you can carry with a CCL is legal with a CCL.

[John Q Public]

Just be careful of prohibited areas which could be in your hunting area. Also, if you are hunting someones land, be sure to gain permission from the land owner to carry on his/her property. I know if they gave permission to hunt, this should be a given, but CYA and ask anyway.

[Ranger]

Thanks!  Local conservation officer had told me it'd be illegal to ccw during archery season.  I thought he was wrong; but wasn't confident.

 

It is on our land.

Edited August 29, 2024 at 03:04 AM by Ranger

[John Q Public]

Well, I thought this had been resolved, but I wanted to check what the IDNR had to say about the issue. This is still on the DNR website, and affirms what the Conservation Police told you. 

 

Check this:

 

https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/hunting/documents/concealedcarryqna.pdf

[John Q Public]

I could swear that it had been changed, I know I read that it had, but the DNR still has this on the website. If someone has an updated version, please let us know... otherwise, we have been giving out some bad information. 

 

1) May a person possessing a valid Illinois Concealed Carry Permit carry a concealed firearm when deer or turkey hunting? Under the current regulations, Concealed Carry Permit holders are not allowed to possess any firearm, including a concealed firearm, when deer or turkey hunting unless the firearm carried is legal for taking the species being hunted. For example, an archery deer hunter would not be able to carry any firearm, whether concealed or not, when archery deer hunting. However, if a concealed carry permit holder is hunting deer during the legal “firearm” deer seasons, he/she may carry a concealed firearm, but only if that firearm is of the legal type for firearm deer hunting. It is not unlawful for a Concealed Carry Permit hunter to possess a concealed firearm in their vehicle. The specifications for legal deer hunting handguns can be found on page 17 of the 2013-2014 Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations at the following link; http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/HuntingTrappingDigests.aspx

 

 

Edited August 29, 2024 at 05:34 PM by John Q Public

[THE KING]

On 8/29/2024 at 12:30 PM, John Q Public said:

I could swear that it had been changed, I know I read that it had, but the DNR still has this on the website. If someone has an updated version, please let us know... otherwise, we have been giving out some bad information. 

Read my response to the OP. The DNR  website is not law.  I did quote the actual wildlife statute which is state law.  

 

👍

[John Q Public]

I see that King, but there is some ambiguity there. One is that we have CO going by their DNR rules, which is a problem if they jam you up, even if it just wrecks your hunt. The other thing is what about something other than deer or turkey? There are other animals you can take with a bow in Illinois and if they are not called in the law then what? Maybe I'll reach out and see if I can get some more input on this. 

[THE KING]

I hear ya John Q. Sounds like the DNR officers need to be educated on the law and they need to update their website.  

Let us know what you find out.  

Thanks 

[John Q Public]

Will do, I have/had some great friends at the IDNR. I have found these are some of the best in LE and not out to jam you up, but if they have directives that are  outdated/incorrect I know they will correct it, if directed. heck even if they know their own directives are incorrect, most will not try to enforce them. 

 

King, if/when I get something I will share it with you and on the forum. Most of the guys I know are now retired though...  Hey, I'm getting old.

[THE KING]

On 8/29/2024 at 1:15 PM, John Q Public said:

. Most of the guys I know are now retired though...  Hey, I'm getting old.

I resemble that remark. 🤣

[Ranger]

Thanks for all your help on this!

[Ranger]

Please provide an update when you can.

[John Q Public]

I spoke with my retired friend and he said they are directed to enforce the rules as per the  DNR website. I have a call out to someone still on the job, but he hasn't responded yet. He usually responds quickly, so I'm thinking he doesn't want to go on the record with anything other than the DNR rules. I do know this, most DNR people are great, but if I carried during deer or turkey, I would have a copy of the wildlife code with me. If you are taking other game with a bow.....? I think you might get jammed up, if the DNR wanted too.

[JTHunter]

On 8/29/2024 at 12:44 PM, John Q Public said:

I see that King, but there is some ambiguity there. One is that we have CO going by their DNR rules, which is a problem if they jam you up, even if it just wrecks your hunt. The other thing is what about something other than deer or turkey? There are other animals you can take with a bow in Illinois and if they are not called in the law then what? Maybe I'll reach out and see if I can get some more input on this. 

 

Exactly.

What about CC when hunting rabbits, quail, or pheasant with a shotgun? 🤔

[John Q Public]

I don't see anything that would prevent you from having you PC with you in hunting with other means...  aka shotgun. The way I read it is the only restriction call out is no Bow + CCL + Turkey, or deer. 

 

So the way I'm reading it during shotgun season, you could carry your shotgun, and cc. This is strange and I haven't read the full text of the wildlife code in a while. 

 

Like a said earlier, there seems to be a bit of ambiguity here. The Widlife code also uses the term. "Administrative rule," which they might try to use to tie the Wildlife code to the DNR "Administrative rules?"

 

Lots of grey there.

 

JQ

[THE KING]

It shall be unlawful to take wild turkey except by use of a bow and arrow or a shotgun of not larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge with shot size not larger than No. 4, and no person while attempting to so take wild turkey may have in his possession any other gun unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

 

The above is from 520 ILCS 5/2.11 and my interpretation is that you can have your EDC whether you are hunting with bow or shotgun. 

[THE KING]

 The standards and specifications for use of guns and bow and arrow for deer hunting shall be established by administrative rule.

    No person may have in his or her possession any firearm not authorized by administrative rule for a specific hunting season when taking deer unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

 

The above is from 520 ILCS 5/2.26

This seems vague, but they talk about guns and bows and go on to call out "a specific hunting season ". My impression is that a specific hunting season would include either gun or bow.  

I'd be curious what the "legislative intent " is from the legislative discussions when this was changed. 

[JTHunter]

On 9/2/2024 at 1:35 PM, THE KING said:

 I'd be curious what the "legislative intent " is from the legislative discussions when this was changed. 

 

Or, is it possible that the legislators are idiots, or didn't actually read the bill(s) and their restrictions?  Or did they intend to make things sufficiently confusing so that some hunters would NOT carry or to catch some hunters in violation to "make examples" of them? 🤔 🤪

[howie]

I just sent a note to my local CO.  Will post when he replies.

[howie]

Chatted briefly this morning with my local conservation officer.  He was well aware of the change regarding CCW and hunting, confirmed it was legal to carry concealed while hunting.  He also wanted to know who said it was illegal to do so.

 

So, according to him, you're legal to carry while hunting with your CCL.

 

Hope this helps.

[John Q Public]

That's great, but then they need to update their website and the wildlife codes, which is the written law. 

[Euler]

Perhaps the issue is whether IDNR has updated its policies and informed its officers vs whether there are some officers/offices who intend to arrest anyone despite carrying not being illegal.

Clearly the web site administrators aren't in the loop if the policies have been updated to reflect the law.

Edited September 4, 2024 at 01:24 AM by Euler

[Ranger]

I would definitely feel better if DNR website and all CPOs were clear that CCW is legal while archery deer hunting.  Pragmattically, I think my state's attorney wouldn't prosecute; but would be much better not to have to worry about it.  Probably wouldn't look good if wife charged with violation whether tossed out or not.

[ragsbo]

I agree it would be best if the powers that wanna be would be straight forward ; but you have to remember that they DO NOT want you to have a gun let alone carry it. Look at the crap they passed and signed into law, and the circle horse manure throws they are going through to try to keep you from your constitutional rights

[max503]

The game warden who checked me out this spring while turkey hunting on public property congratulated me on exercising my right to CC (It showed up when he ran my license).  I had a 380 and he did not ask to see it.

Edited September 9, 2024 at 08:44 PM by max503

[max503]

On 9/2/2024 at 1:35 PM, THE KING said:

 The standards and specifications for use of guns and bow and arrow for deer hunting shall be established by administrative rule.

    No person may have in his or her possession any firearm not authorized by administrative rule for a specific hunting season when taking deer unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

 

The above is from 520 ILCS 5/2.26

This seems vague, but they talk about guns and bows and go on to call out "a specific hunting season ". My impression is that a specific hunting season would include either gun or bow.  

I'd be curious what the "legislative intent " is from the legislative discussions when this was changed. 

That sounds perfectly clear to me.  It says you can carry your CC weapon while hunting.