Firearm Hunting Program

2023-2024 Season Updated Rules

2023- 2024 BCCD Hunt Calendar

Firearm Hunt Lottery Entry Form 

The lottery will be held at noon on Friday, July 28th, 2023 between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm at the BCCD office located at 603 North Appleton Road.  Please Note:  Entrants must demonstrate proof of having a Hunter Safety Certificate/Card to be eligible for this hunting program.  Complete information about the BCCD firearm deer hunt program: rules, procedures, firearm hunting dates, and other important aspects of this hunting program is available in the Boone County Conservation District Archery & Firearm Hunt Programs Information guide .

Purpose of Firearm Hunt Program – Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

The Boone County Conservation District Board of Trustees expanded its deer hunting program to include a firearm hunt in 2014 as a measure to assist the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in their efforts to effectively control the prevalence and spread of this infectious disease.  The BCCD is an agency established to preserve, protect and enhance important conservation lands within its jurisdictional boundaries.  Unlike the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the BCCD is not a wildlife management agency.  The responsibility of wildlife management lies with state and federal agencies.The BCCD is encouraging hunter participation as a means of assisting the State of Illinois with this critical wildlife issue.  Hunters can help address the many concerns associated with CWD by harvesting deer, getting the deer they harvest tested for CWD, and helping to manage deer density in Boone County where this disease has been persistently found since 2003.  Our objective is to hunt, harvest, and help in the fight against this very serious threat affecting the health of our local deer population.  If you firearm hunt in Illinois, please consider participating in this program.

Firearm Qualification

The BCCD has established a firearm qualification procedure as part of its risk management protocol for this program.  Firearm qualifications have been arranged to occur at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department range located next to the Illinois Department of Transportation equipment yard off Illinois Highway 76, just north of Squaw Prairie Road.

Firearm Qualification Dates for 2023

1. Saturday, August 26th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
2. Sunday, August 27th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
3. Wednesday, August 30th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
4. Thursday, August 31st from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
5. Tuesday, September 5th, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
6. Inclement Weather Re-Scheduling Date: Thursday, September 7th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Note: Depending on the number of participants, we may expand the number of qualification dates/times.

2023 BCCD Firearm Hunting Dates

Firearm Program Firearm Hunt Participation Fees

Currently, there is one fee for all three firearm hunts.  The fee schedule is:

Adult Boone County Resident Fee:                $55

Youth Boone County Resident Fee:               $25

Adult Out-of-County Resident Fee:               $80

Youth Out-of-County Resident Fee:              $35

Program Participant Volunteers:    Credited fee reduction**

See rules/hunting criteria for details about obtaining a credited fee reduction.

All participants will be required to pay a small fee to cover the qualification expenses.

Entry Forms

Entry Forms can be completed and submitted from the BCCD website.  Applicants need to complete all the required information on the entry form to be eligible.  The forms can also be completed and submitted by stopping in at the BCCD office and completing the entry form in person.  Please Note:  ONLY Entries submitted from the BCCD website will be sent a verification e-mail to confirm it was received. All entry forms must be received before 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 24th, 2023 to be eligible for the lottery drawing held on Friday, July 28th, 2023 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the BCCD Administration Office located at 603 North Appleton Road in Belvidere.