Friday, May 6, 2005

If voting goes as expected, Fulton County residents can plan to see more license plates from Pennsylvania this fall. And from West Virginia, And Georgia. And from any other state with archers willing to pay nearly $500 to hunt whitetail deer.

That potential increase in non-resident hunters stems from a bill moving through the Illinois legislature. House Bill 1074 would increase the non-resident bowhunter quota from 15,000 to 20,000 and would increase the non-resident permit fee from $225 to $435.

Non-residents must also purchase a $50.75 license and a $5.50 habitat stamp, bringing the total cost to $491.25.

HB 1074 has already passed through the House. On Wednesday the bill passed out of Senate committee and is on second reading. Expectations are it will be put to a vote later this month. Officials at the Department of Natural Resources say any legislation needs to be in place before June 1, since that's the start of the non-resident application period.

Kevin Chapman, president of the Illinois Bowhunters Society, hopes there's still a chance to halt the bill. Chapman urges hunters to contact their senators to oppose the bill because he said the legislation circumvents DNR management, limits opportunities for resident hunters and caters mainly to wealthy non-residents.

"This is all about the Illinois Farm Bureau. They wanted this bill and the bottom line is the Farm Bureau is now managing the Illinois deer herd because they control the DNR and the legislature," Chapman said. "They got exactly what they wanted: high-dollar clientele coming into Illinois to hunt. "Now only the wealthy will be able to afford to come here to hunt and the little guys are squeezed out." Chapman said the fee increase could also impact Illinois hunters who travel to other states that have reciprocal fee structures. For instance, if you plan to rifle hunt for deer in Missouri this fall you might be asked to pay more as a result of HB 1074.

Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Sparta, who sponsored HB 1074, did not return a call Thursday. In other deer-related developments, check stations appear doomed. A comment period has passed for a plan to eliminate archery and firearm deer check stations. DNR officials say response was mixed, some speaking in favor of the plan, some against. "We're not planning on changing our proposal" based on comments, said John Buhnerkempe, head of the wildlife division.

For the change to become official, the rule still must be approved by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. JCAR is scheduled to meet May 17 and then again June 14.