Illinois bills involving deer sharpshooting program, landowner permits expected to be signed into law

Springfield — Measures designed to give hunters a bigger role in managing the state’s deer herd passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly by unanimous votes.

House Bill 2339, which requires DNR to end its sharpshooting program used to manage CWD if no cases have been found in the previous three calendar years, and House Bill 2340, which makes landowner deer permits more accessible in counties where CWD has been found, both passed on May 21.

Both pieces of deer legislation now await Governor JB Pritzker’s signature.

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Under HB 2340, 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.

Both bills were 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,” Fowler said. “(This legislation) provides common-sense tools to manage that growth while ensuring taxpayer resources are used more efficiently.”