HB 4291 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

WILDLIFE CD-UAV TRACKING

Summary
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that tracking wounded wild birds or wounded wild mammals by use of unmanned aircraft is permissible under certain conditions, including that: (1) the wild bird or wild mammal is wounded when a properly licensed hunter has struck the animal with a projectile fired from a legal hunting device during the open season; (2) any person operating the unmanned aircraft has obtained permission from the public or private landowner, or the landowner's authorized representative, before launching or landing the unmanned aircraft from or on the landowner's property; (3) the person operating the unmanned aircraft does not possess or control a firearm, bow, or other implement whereby wildlife could be killed or taken while afield, whether acting singly or as a group of persons while the unmanned aircraft is in flight, except this prohibition does not apply to a person lawfully carrying a concealed firearm under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act if the concealed firearm is not used to take wildlife; and (4) the unmanned aircraft is operated in a manner that does not harass any wildlife. Exempts an operator of an unmanned aircraft that meets these conditions from hunting permit requirements if the operator is not the taker of the wounded animal. Effective July 1, 2027.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Last action Mar 27, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
0
Committee
3
Mar 27, 2026
Committee
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors