Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has announced a reduction in permits for controlled pheasant hunting for the 2024 season. This decision affects several sites in the northern part of the state, where fewer permits will be available.

Hunters are advised to consult the permit calendar on the controlled pheasant hunt website to check for permit availability. The affected sites include Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area in Will County, Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area in Kendall County, Iroquois County State Fish and Wildlife Area, Kankakee River State Park in Kankakee County, Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area in Henry County, and Green River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Lee County.

A significant factor contributing to this change is a pheasant die-off at the Des Plaines Game Propagation Center. The reduced number of birds means that the original quotas established for these sites cannot be met. Consequently, IDNR has adjusted the number of permits per site to ensure sufficient birds are released for each permit sold during the controlled hunts.

Testing has been conducted on the birds for disease vectors, and treatment is currently underway. It is important to note that the disease found does not affect humans or dogs.

For those planning to participate in these hunts, acquiring a reserved controlled pheasant hunting permit is mandatory. Additionally, hunters at Des Plaines, Johnson Sauk Trail, Silver Springs, and Green River must use non-toxic shotshells. It is crucial that only non-toxic shotshells are possessed when hunting at these locations.