Deadline approaching for turkey hunters

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The second lottery deadline is coming up on January 12, 2009, for spring turkey hunters. The first lottery deadline was the first of December, which was for residents that have already applied and/or received a spring turkey permit in the past. The second lottery deadline is for first time applicants, non-residents, or rejected permits. There will be a third lottery deadline on February 9, which will be for anyone who does not have a permit or has only one permit. After March 9, there will be random daily drawings for those who do not have a permit or those who wish to purchase more than the one(s) they have. The permit will specify county and season in which to hunt. Hunters will be able to hunt gobblers or any hens with a visible beard. There is a three turkey bag limit this year. Randolph County hunters will have five seasons in which to hunt: 1st season- April 6-10, 2nd season- April 11-16, 3rd season- April 17-22, 4th season April 23-29, and 5th season- April 30-May 7. There is also a Resident Free "Property Only Hunting" permit that allows hunters to hunt all 32 consecutive days but restricts hunters to their own property and only allows a one turkey bag limit. The Randolph County Youth Hunt is March 28-29 and "is open to all Illinois residents who have not reached their 16th birthday." Hunters are required by law to cease using turkey calls from March 15 through the day before the first season, although this restriction does not apply to the participants in the youth hunt or their accompanying adults. To apply or for more information about all permits consult the DNR website at: www.dnr.state.il.us