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HB4693 • 2026
WILDLIFE-TRAP MEASUREMENT
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
WILDLIFE-TRAP MEASUREMENT
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
Assigned to Agriculture & Conservation Committee
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr.
WILDLIFE-TRAP MEASUREMENT
Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB4693 Select Language × The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate™ service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein. Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet. The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website. NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate™ menu bar at the top of the window. 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Full Text of HB4693 Home Legislation Full Text HB4693 - 104th General Assembly Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Select Menu Bill Status Full Text Votes Witness Slips Printer Friendly Version Introduced Printer Friendly Version Introduced Open PDF 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB4693 Introduced , by Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 520 ILCS 5/2.33a from Ch. 61, par. 2.33a Amends the Wildlife Code. In a provision concerning trapping, replaces references to "leghold" with "foothold". Provides that the diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap. Effective immediately. LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b A BILL FOR HB4693 LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b 1 AN ACT concerning wildlife. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing 5 Section 2.33a as follows: 6 (520 ILCS 5/2.33a) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.33a) 7 Sec. 2.33a. Trapping. 8 (a) It is unlawful to fail to visit and remove all animals 9 from traps staked out, set, used, tended, placed or maintained 10 at least once each calendar day. 11 (b) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use, or 12 maintain a foothold leghold trap or one of similar 13 construction on land, that has a jaw spread of larger than 6 14 1/2 inches (16.6 CM), or a body-gripping trap or one of similar 15 construction having a jaw spread larger than 7 inches (17.8 16 CM) on a side if square and 8 inches (20.4 CM) if round. The 17 diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of 18 the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap. 19 (c) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use, or 20 maintain a foothold leghold trap or one of similar 21 construction in water, that has a jaw spread of larger than 7 22 1/2 inches (19.1 CM), or a body-gripping trap or one of similar 23 construction having a jaw spread larger than 10 inches (25.4 HB4693 - 2 - LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b 1 CM) on a side if square and 12 inches (30.5 CM) if round. The 2 diameter of traps shall be measured from the inside edges of 3 the outer most portion of the jaws of the trap. 4 (d) It is unlawful to use any trap with saw-toothed, 5 spiked, or toothed jaws. 6 (e) It is unlawful to destroy, disturb or in any manner 7 interfere with dams, lodges, burrows or feed beds of beaver 8 while trapping for beaver or to set a trap inside a muskrat 9 house or beaver lodge, except that this shall not apply to 10 individuals who are acting pursuant to the provisions of 11 Section 2.37 or as provided for by administrative rule. 12 (f) It is unlawful to trap beaver or river otter with: (1) 13 a foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction having 14 an inside a jaw spread of less than 5 1/2 inches (13.9 CM) or 15 more than 8 1/2 inches(21.59 CM) 7 1/2 inches (19.1 CM) , or (2) 16 a body-gripping trap or one of similar construction having a 17 jaw spread of less than 7 inches (17.7 CM) or more than 10 18 inches (25.4 CM) on a side if square and 12 inches (30.5 CM) if 19 round, except that these restrictions shall not apply during 20 the open season for trapping raccoons. The diameter of traps 21 shall be measured from the inside edges of the outer most 22 portion of the jaws of the trap. 23 (g) It is unlawful to set traps closer than 10 feet (3.05 24 M) from any hole or den which may be occupied by a game mammal 25 or fur-bearing mammal except that this restriction shall not 26 apply to water sets. HB4693 - 3 - LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b 1 (h) It is unlawful to trap or attempt to trap any 2 fur-bearing mammal with any colony, cage, box, or stove-pipe 3 trap designed to take more than one mammal at a single setting. 4 (i) It is unlawful for any person to set or place any trap 5 designed to take any fur-bearing mammal protected by this Act 6 during the closed trapping season. Proof that any trap was 7 placed during the closed trapping season shall be deemed prima 8 facie evidence of a violation of this provision. 9 (j) It is unlawful to place, set, or maintain any foothold 10 leghold trap or one of similar construction within thirty (30) 11 feet (9.14 m) of bait placed in such a manner or position that 12 it is not completely covered and concealed from sight, except 13 that this shall not apply to underwater sets. Bait shall mean 14 and include any bait composed of mammal, bird, or fish flesh, 15 fur, hide, entrails or feathers. 16 (k) (Blank). 17 (l) It is unlawful for any person to place, set, use or 18 maintain a snare trap or one of similar construction in water, 19 that has a loop diameter exceeding 15 inches (38.1 CM) or a 20 cable or wire diameter of more than 1/8 inch (3.2 MM) or less 21 than 5/64 inch (2.0 MM), that is constructed of stainless 22 steel metal cable or wire, and that does not have a mechanical 23 lock, anchor swivel and stop device to prevent the mechanical 24 lock from closing the noose loop to a diameter of less than 2 25 1/2 inches (6.4 CM). 26 (m) It is unlawful to trap muskrat or mink with (1) a HB4693 - 4 - LRB104 18386 WRO 31828 b 1 foothold leghold trap or one of similar construction or (2) a 2 body-gripping trap or one of similar construction unless the 3 body-gripping trap or similar trap is completely submerged 4 underwater when set. These restrictions shall not apply during 5 the open season for trapping raccoons. 6 (Source: P.A. 103-37, eff. 6-9-23.) 7 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 8 becoming law. Footer Disclaimer This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. Read About Cookies ILGA.GOV 2026 ILGA.gov | All Rights Reserved | ADA | Disclaimers | Learn This site is maintained for the Illinois General Assembly by the Legislative Information System, 705 Stratton Building, Springfield, Illinois 62706. Contact ILGA Webmaster ILGA.gov uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse ILGA.gov you consent to our use of cookies. 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