Hunting in Illinois: 3 Things to Know Before Applying for a Hunting Permit for Your Kids

It is illegal to take your kids hunting in Illinois when they don't hold their own state issued hunting permit, which would be a shame, because Illinois has some excellent youth oriented hunting seasons.

In order to get a hunting permit, children like adults, must attend a safety education class, although when they do so isn't quite as strictly regulated as adults.

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Here are three things to know about hunting with children in Illinois, including how they can obtain the mandatory Hunter Education Certificate of Competency, which is issued by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

1. Sign Up for a Free Class
In order to receive an Illinois certificate of competency and a graduate patch, young hunters will need to complete a minimum of 10 hours of instruction and take a final exam. Classes are free, however, and taught by the state.

During the classes, which are taught at a sixth-grade level, students learn about safety and state regulations pertaining to hunting. At the end of the course, children must complete and pass a field exam to be given the state certificate.

2. Children Age 10 or Less Require Adult Supervision
The classes are geared towards youth between the ages of 12 and 18, but can be attended by children under that age. However, if your child is less than 10 years old, a parent or guardian must accompany them to the class. In order to find out when classes are held, check the Illinois DNR website:

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3. Apprentice Hunting License
In 2006, Illinois passed a new law in an effort to recruit more hunters that allows children to hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter for one year before they are required to take the mandated hunter safety course.

However, the law has proven to be confusing, and unless you are hunting on private lands, it is best that children enroll in the safety courses before they begin hunting as obtaining a permit for one of Illinois' special youth hunting seasons can prove difficult without it, Prairie State Outdoors, a website devoted to outdoor pursuits in Illinois, reports.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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