Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is set to organize mentored archery deer hunting for both adults and youth at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area in Vermilion County. The event will take place from December 16 to January 3.

This initiative offers hunters access to sections of the recreation area that are typically off-limits for archery deer hunting. Eligible participants include adult and youth hunters with less than three years of deer hunting experience who have not previously been selected for the mentored deer hunt program. Hunters can apply for multiple hunts but are restricted to participating in only one if chosen for more than one.

Participants will be assigned a specific location through a lottery system and can hunt from Tuesday through Sunday during their designated week. The IDNR will allocate hunting locations equally between adult and youth hunters.

Each hunter is allowed to take one deer and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult mentor, who is responsible for providing guidance during the hunt. Mentors must be at least 21 years old, possess a current Illinois hunting license, and are expected to provide their own equipment. Ground blinds will be supplied by the organizers.

Interested individuals can submit their applications online until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 29. For inquiries regarding this mentored hunt, questions can be sent via email to dnr.mentoredhunts@illinois.gov.