515 ILCS 5/20-5
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 515 - FISH|515 ILCS 5/ - Fish and Aquatic Life Code.|Article 20 - Licenses And Permits - Exemptions

 (from Ch. 56, par. 20-5)Sec. 20-5. Necessity of license; exemptions.(a) Any person taking or attempting to take any fish,  including minnows for commercial purposes, turtles, mussels, crayfish, or  frogs by any means whatever in any waters or lands wholly or in part  within the jurisdiction of the State, including that part of Lake  Michigan under the jurisdiction of this State, shall first obtain a  license to do so, and shall do so only during the respective  periods of the year when it shall be lawful as provided in this Code.  Individuals under 16, blind residents or residents with a disability, or individuals fishing at  fee fishing areas licensed by the Department, however, may fish with sport  fishing devices without being required to have a license.  For the purpose of this  Section  an individual is blind or has a disability if that individual has a Class 2 disability  as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act. For purposes  of this Section an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card issued under  the Illinois Identification Card Act indicating that the individual named on  the card has a Class 2 disability shall be adequate documentation of a  disability.(b) A courtesy non-resident sport fishing license or stamp may be issued  at  the discretion of the Director, without fee, to (i) any individual officially  employed in the wildlife and fish or conservation department of another  state or of the United States who is within the State to assist or  consult or cooperate with the Director or (ii) the officials of other  states, the United States, foreign countries, or officers or  representatives of conservation organizations or publications while in  the State as guests of the Governor or Director.(c) The Director may issue special fishing permits without cost to  groups of hospital patients or to individuals with disabilities for  use on specified dates in connection with supervised fishing for therapy.(d) Veterans who, according to the determination of the Veterans'  Administration as certified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, are at  least 10% disabled with service-related disabilities or in receipt of total  disability pensions may fish with sport fishing devices  during those periods of  the year it is lawful to do so without being required to have a license,  on the condition that their respective disabilities do not prevent them  from fishing in a manner which is safe to themselves and others.(e) Each year the Director may designate a period, not to exceed 4 days  in duration, when sport fishermen may fish waters wholly or in  part within the  jurisdiction of the State, including that part of Lake Michigan under the  jurisdiction of the State, and not be required to obtain the license or  stamp required by subsection (a) of this Section, Section 20-10 or  subsection (a) of Section 20-55. The term of any such period shall be  established by administrative rule.  This subsection shall not apply to commercial fishing.(f) The Director may issue special fishing permits without cost for a  group event, restricted to specific dates and locations if it is determined by  the Department that the event is beneficial in promoting sport fishing in  Illinois.  (Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)