ILLINOIS (KFVS) – Legislation aimed at giving hunters more freedom to manage the deer population in Illinois has officially cleared both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly with unanimous support.
House Bill 2339 requires the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to end its sharpshooting program used to manage chronic wasting disease if no cases have been found in the previous three calendar years.
House Bill 2340 makes landowner deer permits more accessible in counties where chronic wasting disease has been found.
Under the bill, permits would be issued for free to Illinois residents who own at least 20 acres of land, resident tenants who farm at least 20 acres of commercial agricultural land and people with qualifying ownership interests in that land.
According to the bill, this change helps those who are directly impacted by deer overpopulation to better manage it in the area and protect their property.
Both bills now await Governor JB Pritzker’s signature.
The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).
“These proposals are the result of feedback and conversations with constituents, including landowners, hunters, and farmers, who are seeing the costly effects of the growing deer population in their communities,” Senator Fowler said in a news release. “This legislation provides common-sense tools to manage that growth while ensuring taxpayer resources are used more efficiently.”
He said both pieces of legislation are focused on improving local control, supporting responsible conservation efforts and protecting landowners and local farmers.
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