Youth Hunting and Trapping License

Youth Hunting and Trapping License. (a) Before any youth under 18 years of age shall take or attempt to take any species protected by Section 2.2 of this Code for which an open season is established, he or she shall first procure and possess a valid Youth Hunting and Trapping License. The Youth Hunting and Trapping License shall be a renewable license that shall expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance. The fee for a Youth Hunting and Trapping License is $7. A Youth Hunting and Trapping License shall entitle the licensee to hunt while supervised by an adult who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois hunting license. A youth licensed under this subsection (a) shall not hunt or carry a hunting device, including, but not limited to, a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow unless the youth is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of an adult who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois hunting license. The Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, but shall not require any certificate of competency or other hunting or trapping education as a condition of the Youth Hunting and Trapping License. If a youth has a valid certificate of competency for hunting from a hunter safety course approved by the Department, he or she is exempt from the supervision requirements for youth hunters in this Section. (b) A Youth Hunting and Trapping License shall entitle the licensee to trap while supervised by an adult who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois trapping license. A youth licensed under this Section shall not trap or carry a hunting device, including, but not limited to, a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow unless the youth is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of an adult who is 21 years of age or older and has a valid Illinois trapping license. The Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the program, but shall not require any certificate of competency or other trapping education as a condition of the Youth Hunting and Trapping License. If a youth has a valid certificate of competency for trapping from a trapper safety course approved by the Department, then he or she is exempt from the supervision requirements for youth trappers in this Section. (Source: P.A. 100-638, eff. 1-1-19; 100-691, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)