Hunting
**Hunting by Permit Only**
Please refer to the specific Archery/Firearms/Waterfowl sections to determine what type of hunting is allowed at each site.
Thank you for your interest in the McHenry County Conservation District’s 2010 Hunting Program. The most frequently asked questions are answered in the following documents, so carefully review all the information before you contact us. If you find that you still have questions, please email your question to hunting@mccdistrict.org or call the District at 815-338-6223.
Major Changes to the Program for 2010
The application fee has been eliminated.
The new point system will be used in the lottery this year for the first time.
A 3-month archery season that includes one or two firearms seasons is available this year.
Four new sites have been added to the archery program.
Safety Education Requirements
The successful completion of a state hunter’s safety education course is a requirement of the program, regardless of age. To find out about class availability, call the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Safety Information Hotline at 800-832-2599 or check the IDNR website at dnr.state.il.us.
Packet Availability
If you don’t want to print the information and application from the website, you can pick up a packet at Brookdale, 18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock, from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday or at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday.
Notification of Selection Status
Applicants will be notified by mail of their status within 30 days of the application deadline. Those selected in the lottery will receive additional information at that time.
To view Harvest Statistics for the 2009 Hunting Season, click here.
Download a printable map of all hunting sites here. Please note: All hunting requires special permit.
Important Dates in 2010 Hunting Season
2010 Hunting Program Administrative Directive
The Board of Trustees of the McHenry County Conservation District does hereby designate the following Administrative Directive as the parameters and rules and regulations for the 2010 District Hunting Program. This is done in accordance with the requirements set forth in General Use Regulations Ordinance No. 03-415, Chapter II, Section 2, and Chapter III, Section 13 and Section 14.
HUNTING PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
The McHenry County Conservation District supports hunting practiced in a legal, responsible, safe, and ethical manner. Regulated hunting is the utilization of a renewable resource and fits within the definition and framework of conservation.
The District’s hunting program operates on the basis of three philosophies. The philosophies serve as the foundation of the program and are as follows:
Safety is the top priority of the hunting program. The highest standards of safety are demanded from all participants and staff involved in the program. Safety shall not be compromised.
Only ecologically self-sustaining wildlife populations are included in the scope of the program. The definition of “ecologically self-sustaining” is those populations naturally found in viable numbers on District sites. These are populations that, through their own natural reproductive rates, can sustain their population.
The District strives to integrate hunting into the list of recreational opportunities available on various sites it owns and manages. The activities of the hunting program will be tailored to prevent significant changes to the District-established pattern of public use on its sites.
GENERAL PARAMETERS
Types of Hunting Permitted
Archery Deer Hunting
Firearms Deer Hunting
Waterfowl Hunting
Fees
Fees will be collected for each hunting opportunity if the applicant is selected to participate in the program. Those fees will be due at the orientation meetings.
Fees are reduced for McHenry County residents. In the case of an archery or waterfowl partner group application, the in-county rate will be charged if 50% or more of the applicants are McHenry County residents. For example, if a waterfowl group contains six people and three of them live in McHenry County, the group will be charged the in-county rate. If only two of them live in-county (including the primary applicant), the group will be charged the out-of-county rate. This does not apply for firearms deer hunters.
No refunds will be given unless the District suspends hunting.
Archery Deer Hunting fee
Out of County |
McHenry County |
|
| Recreational: Three-month Season | $800 per zone |
$400 per zone |
| Recreational: Two-month Season | $500 per zone |
$250 per zone |
| Deer Reduction: Special Season Eastside | $200 per zone* |
$100 per zone* |
*Fee will be refunded if five or more deer are removed from one zone
Firearms Deer Hunting fee
Out of County |
McHenry County |
|
| First or Second Season | $150 Per Zone |
$75 per zone |
Combo Deer Hunting fee
Out of County |
McHenry County |
|
| First or Second Season | $800 Per Zone |
$400 per zone |
Waterfowl Hunting fee
Out of County |
McHenry County |
|
| Adult | $180 per opportunity |
$90 per opportunity |
| Youth | $10 per opportunity |
$5 |
Applications
A hunter may apply for all of the hunting programs listed above. However, an applicant’s name must appear on only one application for any given program. Applications can be mailed to or dropped off at the Brookdale office, 18410 US Highway 14, Woodstock, IL 60098. We are not accepting applications at the Prairieview facility.
Participant Selection
Participants will be selected by a lottery. The lottery will be based on a point system. See the section on each type of hunting for more information.
Mandatory Orientation Meeting
Every participant must attend the hunting program orientation meeting. For the archery program, the date is September 9; firearms October 28; and waterfowl October 6.
Waiver
All participants must sign a waiver of liability.
Evaluation
As identified in Ordinance 03-415, Chapter III, Section 14, an annual evaluation of the program will be conducted and presented to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees retains the right to eliminate hunting on any or all District sites.
Management
MCCD reserves the right to close sites to hunting for certain periods of time during the hunting season due to management activities. All participants will be notified prior to any closures.
GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
All participants must comply with all Federal and Illinois State rules and regulations, unless the District regulations are more restrictive.
Violation of any rule or exhibition of unethical conduct by a participant may result in revocation of that person’s District-issued hunting permit or a fine, or both.
No participants shall hunt without a District-issued hunting permit.
Participants may enter their assigned District site one and one-half hours before legal shooting time and must exit within one hour after legal shooting time.
To be eligible for a District-issued hunting permit, every applicant must show proof of possession of all valid licenses, stamps, and permits as required by Federal and Illinois State law. All hunting licenses, permits, tags, and numbers (except for archery tag numbers) must be included at the time of application for a District-issued hunting permit, or the application will not be accepted. The exception to this rule is for out-of-state applicants, who may wait to see which dates, if any, they are drawn for in the lottery before applying for a temporary Illinois State hunting license. Archery hunters must provide a copy of their deer tags at the orientation meeting.
To be eligible, all participants must show proof that they have successfully completed a state- or federally-approved hunter safety education course. No on-line hunter safety courses will be accepted. First time applicants must submit a photocopy of the applicant’s Hunter Safety Education card with the application. For more information about Hunter Safety Education, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at 800-832-2599 or www.dnr.state.il.us
No participants shall go on private property bordering any District hunting site without first notifying District police.
All participants must clearly display a District-issued parking permit on the dashboard of their vehicle. They must also carry with them their District-issued hunting permit while on the site.
All harvests must be reported. Rules for reporting are specific to each type of hunting and are listed in the Rules and Regulations for each hunting type. Failure to report harvests will result in the loss of hunting privileges for the next hunting season.
No participants shall be under the influence of or be in the possession of illegal drugs or alcohol while hunting.
All participants must use established or designated parking lots. No parking is allowed along county or township roads.
The District reserves the right to suspend hunting at any time in any area for any reason.
Any participant under the age of eighteen (18) years of age must be accompanied by a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older, who will be in the immediate area (100 feet).
Participants must have reached their ninth birthday by October 1of the current year to be eligible to hunt.
Non-permitted individuals are not allowed on the site.
Persons with disabilities may be allowed special privileges. Each case will be handled on an individual basis. The definition of a person with disabilities is as per state statutes.
Participants may harvest only those game animals designated on their permit.
It is unlawful to make available food, salt, mineral block, or other products for ingestion by wild deer or other wildlife. This includes but is not limited to any food plot, C’Mere Deer, Deer Cane, Deer Co cane, etc. This does not prohibit scents that are used for cover, masking, or attracting.
A participant’s failure to show up for their designated hunting event may prevent them from future hunting opportunities with the District.
For the purpose of this program, residency is defined as the official place of dwelling. Proof of residency is required. Acceptable forms are a copy of a recent utility bill or driver’s license.
All hunters must sign in and out when hunting on District property.
Blinds or stands provided by the District cannot be moved.
There will be no hunting or scouting Trail of History weekend, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and any other days specified by the District.
ARCHERY DEER
Parameters, Rules, and ApplicationFIREARMS DEER
Parameters, Rules, and ApplicationWATERFOWL
Parameters, Rules, and ApplicationsCOMBO DEER
Parameters, Rules, and Applications
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