DeerDestroyer wrote:38 For Me. Enjoy it More each season. Question for You Geodehunter..There in Illinois I noticed that the second part of the archery season You now can use a crossbow. Is everyone still under the same 200# maximum draw weights as the regulations stated for those past 62 years of age or handicapped or can You use higher poundage crossbows now? Just curious as I use an Exomax. Would love for the DNR there to take those restrictions off.
I'm on full disability so I can use my crossbow the full archery season. I have a special permit that I have to carry with me when I hunt. You are correct we can only have a max draw weight of 200lb. I to wish they would lift the poundage. Sure would like to have a Matrix 355. Here is the info from the IDNR.
A legally permitted archery hunter may use a crossbow from the second Monday following Thanksgiving through the end of the archery hunting seasons also certain disabled persons with a special crossbow permit (see page 37 of the Hunting and Trapping Digest) or persons 62 years of age or older with photo ID (no special crossbow permit required) can hunt with crossbows. These individuals may hunt game species with crossbows during seasons allowing the use of archery equipment.
Crossbows shall:
•have a minimum peak draw weight of 125 pounds and a maximum peak draw weight of 200 pounds.
•have a minimum overall length (from butt of stock to front of limb) of 24 inches.
•have a working safety.
•be used with fletched bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches in length (not including point).
•use broadheads that may have fixed or expandable cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum 7/8 inch diameter when fully opened. Broadheads with fixed cutting surfaces must be metal or flint-chert-or obsidian-knapped; broadheads with expandable cutting surfaces must be metal.
•NOT use electronic tracking systems utilizing radio telemetry.