Illinois hunters will have the additional option of using certain types of handguns during this year’s regular hunting season, in addition to the shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles previously allowed.

In other years, the use of handguns was restricted to a special handgun-only season from Jan. 16 to 18 to help reduce the population of surplus deer, said Carol Knowles, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which regulates hunting in the state.

Illinois government recently passed legislation allowing the additional opportunity to be presented to hunters.

“Many hunters have asked for a change, we’ve tried to provide that for them,” Knowles said.

The new regulations will allow any hunter with a permit for the firearm deer season to use center-fire revolvers or center-fire single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger, with a minimum barrel length of four inches. Hunters can take a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle and/or a handgun with them during this season, held Nov. 21 to 23 and Dec. 4 to 7.

Knowles said the new regulations differ from those used in the special January season and will allow for a wider variation in the types of handguns allowed. In addition, the department of natural resources will continue its handgun-only season.

Also in place is a muzzle-loader-only season from Dec. 12 to 14, for which thousands of permits are readily available. There also will be an archery season that began Oct. 1 and ends Jan. 15, with breaks during firearm season.