Illinois: rifle for varmint hunting?

[wlemay]

So I know that you can't use rifles for deer hunting in Illinois. But what about hunting varmints or nuisance animals? Can you legally use a rifle on them?

I know we have all sorts of pesky critters like coyotes, skunks, raccoons, opossum, squirrels, ground hogs, etc... there are even reports of feral hogs in Illinois.

I would like to know the state laws with regard to hunting these types of animals are: where / when are they legal to shoot, which require special permits, what methods of hunting are legal... stuff like that.

I have been having trouble finding info on this from the state website, so please post a link to this info for me. thanks!

A guy I used to work for had to dispatch two cows on his land; they became feral & he had to shoot them with his .270. I asked him about it and he said it was legal and the owner of the cows told him to go ahead and shoot them... the story intrigues me; any comments?

 

[Michael R.]

22 hornet. My dad has used it to kill 3 coyotes in the NW suburbs of Chicago. And to answer your question, I am sure you can use a rifle to kill varmints in IL.

 

[308win]

In the 60's we used everything from a .22Hornet to a .270.

 

[wlemay]

22 hornet. My dad has used it to kill 3 coyotes in the NW suburbs of Chicago. And to answer your question, I am sure you can use a rifle to kill varmints in IL.

In a residential area? That brings up another point that I have wondered about; if you have a problem animal or rabid animal on your property (in a residential area) can you dispatch it? I would think the answer is a solid "maybe" depending on the circumstances... But a NO for most...

I have a .223, I am confident it would waste any varmint that you would see in this area... I just would be extremely reluctant to use it because for one, there are houses around and second, I am 100% sure it would be illegal. A .22 is the biggest thing that I think you could use around here... the neighbor used to use it to do target practice in his back yard & the people at the end of the street fire shotguns every so often. Not sure how they get away with it (this is a really nice neighborhood with lots of up tight people who have 911 on speed dial).

I am sure that if I saw a raccoon foaming at the mouth, wandering around the house in the middle of the day it would be alright to pop it. I mean we have cats and a dog that go outside a lot; I would hate for them to get mixed up with a rabid animal! Although I think calling animal control first would be a good option... and just to avoid any legal trouble I would probably opt for one of my high power airguns or my bow.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Center-fire is legal for yotes, possum, groundhog, feral hog, and any other non game nuisance animal. Just goes to show the actual stupidity of the shotgun only laws in this and other states. ALL other states are exactly the same way that have shotgun only for game species. It has yet to be clear to me why it's OK to hunt a small animal such as a yote with a center-fire (and I have yet to see anything limiting cartridge/caliber such as .22cal center-fire only) but if you are after an animal well over 3 times the body size and weight, center-fires are suddenly "unsafe". It's a completely retarded law.

 

[wlemay]

Just goes to show the actual stupidity of the shotgun only laws in this and other states

I never got it either... for years I was under the impression that rifles are not to be used on ANY animals in IL. I just learned otherwise today...

I always assumed it had to do with the fact that rifle bullets travel a REALLLLY long distance... but then I wonder why other big-slow rifle cartridges are also illegal... It's great having idiots writing laws about subjects that they do not understand!

 

[Ranger J]

It's Illinois politics. That should tell you enough right there. I'm an ex Illinois resident.

RJ

 

[adelbridge]

I am sure part of the logic behind shotgun only is to give the deer a chance. 2011-2112 season harvested 49.8% of the does and 50.8% of bucks according to ILDNR.
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/IllinoisDeerHarvestTotals181,411During2011-12Seasons.aspx

Centerfire rifle probably wont cause any more accidents but when you have almost as many hunters in the woods as deer over harvesting is very easy. I am an ex IL resident and still hunt in Jefferson County. It is way different hunting IL than other parts of the country. Seriously by day three of shotgun season you are extremely lucky to see anything.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Seriously by day three of shotgun season you are extremely lucky to see anything.

By the end of day ONE of gun season deer are heading for nocturnal feeding in pretty much any state. Hunting here is little different than anywhere else in the country. You want to see a sea of orange in the field, hunt rifle season opener in Pa! The powers that be have always tried to say that the shotgun only rule was inducted as a safety thing. I find that completely bogus.