In Illinois, a new law takes the authority to regulate deer populations away from the Department of Natural Resources.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed HB 3425, a provision allowing local governments to manage deer herds using methods other than hunting.

“There is great danger in a law that diverts wildlife management decision-making away from the state, which has the resources and expertise to make such decisions, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance President Bud Pidgeon said in Sentry. “Putting wildlife in the hands of local governments makes it easier for anti-hunters to strike against hunting, not to mention the fact that it creates a patchwork approach that will cripple successful wildlife management.”