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If passed, HB4621 would allow Illinois residents receiving SNAP benefits to qualify for a free deer tag. Image by Tony Campbell

An Illinois lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow Illinois residents receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program to get a free deer tag. Rep. Dave Severin, a republican from the 116th district in southern Illinois, introduced HB4621 on Feb. 3, 2026. If the bill passes, qualifying individuals would be able to take one deer during one open season with a bow or gun, without paying a fee for the permit.

Illinois’ deer permitting process is fairly complex, at least as eastern whitetail states go. Most firearm permits are issued via lottery, and the application for a resident either-sex firearm permit is $29. Residents can generally purchase archery permits over the counter. Resident combination archery permits, which are good for one deer of either sex and one antlerless deer, are $26, and an archery permit for one antlerless-only deer is $15.50.

A non-resident Illinois archery permit, meanwhile, is $411. Non-resident permits are awarded first by lottery, and then leftover permits can be purchased in person, pending availability. Illinois has long been regarded as one of the best states in the country for trophy bucks. Though some say the deer hunting there now pales in comparison to the glory days of years ago, the Land of Lincoln is still ranked second in the nation by Boone and Crockett for trophy whitetails. The largest hunter-taken non-typical buck of all time was shot by Luke Brewster in Edgar County, Illinois, in 2018.

SNAP is a taxpayer-funded program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide food benefits to low-income families. In Illinois, a family of four can be eligible for a gross monthly SNAP benefit of $994 if their maximum monthly gross income doesn’t exceed $4,421 (or $5,358 for those on disability or older than 60). SNAP recipients must meet some work and citizenship requirements as well. The assistance can be used to purchase most foods (though there’s been recent scrutiny on soda and other sugary foods) and items such as seeds and plants for gardens, but not for pet foods, vitamins, alcohol, tobacco, or other nonessentials.

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