Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt

• Youth Opportunity Hunt Dates
• Disabled Youth Hunter Permits
• Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt Areas and Dates

• Please review the application information on the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program Permits web page in addition to these instructions to ensure that you have a complete understanding of all application procedures. 
  
• For the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunt (IYPH) the application must be in the name of the young hunter. The application must also contain correct information for the young hunter.
• Young hunters must be between the ages of 10-17 inclusive on the date of the youth hunt.
• Each young hunter MUST be accompanied by a non-hunting supervisory adult. Young hunters with a valid Illinois Hunting or Sportsmen's License must be accompanied by a supervisory adult at least 18 years of age. Resident hunters born on or after January 1, 1980 must have successfully completed the Hunter Safety Education Course provided by the Department of Natural Resources to obtain a Hunting or Sportsmen's License.
• Young hunters may also hunt with a valid Youth Hunting License and be supervised by a parent, grandparent or guardian who is 21 years of age or older and who has a valid Hunting or Sportsmen's License except as indicated in the Special Note below.

Additional hunting opportunities during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday periods are available to young hunters on controlled pheasant hunting areas. On these additional days young hunters under age 18 hunt for free when accompanied by a paid adult hunter. Each young hunter must be accompanied by a paid adult hunter. The days available are listed with the applicable hunting areas on this page. Hunters need to use the "Youth Opportunity Dates Only" on-line controlled pheasant hunting application when applying for a youth opportunity hunt date. 

Disabled young hunters with Standing Vehicle Permits may apply for an IYPH Permit for Des Plaines, Eldon Hazlet, and Moraine View where special vehicles are available to assist with the hunt. Disabled young hunters, as defined by law (520 ILCS 5/2.33), may apply to the IDNR's Office of Law Enforcement (217) 782-6431 for a Standing Vehicle Permit.

• Special Note: The IL Youth Pheasant Hunts at Edward Madigan SP, Clinton Lake SRA, Eldon Hazlet SP, Johnson Sauk Trail SRA, Mackinaw River SFWA, Pere Marquette State Park and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex are afternoon only hunts held in conjunction with Youth Wingshooting Clinics in the morning. Young hunters with a permit for the youth hunt must have successfully completed an approved Hunter Safety Education Course to be eligible to participate in a wingshooting clinic/youth pheasant hunt at the areas listed in this special note.  To participate in the youth pheasant hunt, young hunters must also participate in the wingshooting clinic. Wingshooting instruction during the clinic will be provided by IDNR & National Sporting Clays Association Certified Wingshooting Instructors. Shotguns, shotshells, clay targets, shooting glasses and ear protection will be provided for the wingshooting clinic. Shotguns and shotshells will also be provided for the youth hunt as required. Young hunters may bring their own shotgun for both the wingshooting clinic and the youth pheasant hunt.

• Special Note: Since the Illinois Youth Pheasant Hunts at Pere Marquette State Park and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex will be held in early spring, reserved permits for these hunts will not be available until winter. A news release about the Pere Marquette and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex Youth Hunts will be issued prior to permits becoming available on-line.