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Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

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Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

Old 03-02-2008, 06:00 PM
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Default Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

Jeff Lampe
OUTDOORS

Friday, February 22, 2008

Forget budget woes. You want to know how bad things are in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources? DNR biologists aren't even in control of the deer herd any longer.

Oh, in theory they manage the world-class Illinois deer herd.

But in practice, the DNR has steadily lost a grip on the deer herd. Control has shifted to politicians, who seem hell-bent on killing more deer. And control has shifted to outfitters, who effectively manage much of the state's best timber.

Consider that later this year, a task force will meet to discuss deer-management issues. The present makeup of the group calls for legislators and members of various groups: outfitters, gun hunters, bowhunters, the insurance agency, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois State Police and conservation police.

But no deer biologists.

It's against that curious backdrop that the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic opens today at Bloomington's Interstate Center. The deer show runs through Sunday and more than 20,000 are expected to attend, lured in large part by the display of world-class bucks.

Among the monster racks expected are a 20-pointer from Knox County shot by firearm hunter Marty Sharp of Gilson, a 17-point LaSalle County bowkill bagged by Dave Gorisek of Mark and an 11-point Randolph County bruiser arrowed by archer Joel Eggers.

No doubt other amazing antlers will emerge. Every show includes surprises. In terms of quality of bucks, there's no better event in the United States.

But big bucks are also a big part of the reason DNR has lost its handle over the deer herd.

Based on 2006 numbers, there are 270 licensed outfitters in Illinois that control just over 1 million acres. Wildlife program manager John Buhnerkempe estimated at least another 1 million acres are tied up by non-licensed outfitters, those landowners who choose to book hunts on their own ground.

For those scoring at home, that's nearly 2 million acres tied up by outfitters versus 555,000 acres of public land in Illinois. No wonder more and more people are hunting with outfitters: projected numbers show 11,182 in 2006, up from 8,473 in 2005.

What are those hunters paying big bucks to hunt? Bucks. In 2005, outfitter clients shot 2,244 bucks and 2,598 does. Many of those does were no doubt shot in the late-winter antlerless season.

Break that down and you'll see outfitters are taking roughly one deer for every 207 acres and one doe for every 386 acres. Then again, one outfitter who controls 6,000 acres reported his clients shot eight bucks and no does.

Is it any wonder deer populations are increasing in places?

Is it any wonder selling more deer-hunting permits does not automatically lead to harvest increases?

"There are some big, broad issues we need to address as far as the future of deer hunting," Buhnerkempe said.

So what's the answer?

One obvious option is for outfitters to kill more does. Good luck enforcing that.

Another option is "Earn a Buck." In other words, hunters must kill a doe before shooting a buck, a proposal floated in legislation this spring.

On a case-by-case basis, earn-a-buck programs have worked to reduce deer overpopulation at places like Clinton Lake and, to a lesser degree, Jubilee College State Park. On a statewide level, it would be hugely contentious and difficult to enforce now that the DNR did away with check stations.

Another option is to continue educating landowners about their role in deer management. Spread the message: antlers are great, but to halt overpopulation we've got to control does.

Whatever the eventual answer, it seems sensible to seek the input of biologists who helped build the Illinois deer herd into the national attraction it has become.

Then again, one thing obviously lacking in Springfield these days is good sense.

DNR BUDGET CUTS: Wild talk of 40 percent cuts to the DNR budget and a 200-person reduction in head count spread like wildlife Wednesday before and after Gov. Blagojevich's budget address. Those claims appear to be misleading.

The spin out of Springfield is that four parts of DNR - the Illinois Natural History Survey, the Geological Survey, the State Water Survey and Waste Management and Resource Center - will be transferred to the University of Illinois. DNR spokesman Chris McCloud told Springfield outdoor writer Chris Young the shift accounts for the budget cut and the personnel reduction.

Maybe. Others are not so sure, since precise budget figures have been difficult to obtain. And many survey workers are already paid through the U of I.

What we do know is the proposed 2009 budget for DNR is $223.3 million - nearly $10 million more than last year. But that also includes $26.6 million less in general state tax revenue. To replace money from the general fund, the budget spends more from "dedicated funds" - a favorite Blagojevich shell game.

That reportedly includes $14.2 million from the Wildlife and Fish Fund -a $3.2 million increase from the current fiscal year. No doubt more details will emerge soon. Visit prairiestateoutdoors.com for the latest news on this and other outdoor-related subjects.


JEFF LAMPE is Journal Star outdoors columnist. Write to him at 1 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61643, call (309) 686-3212 or e-mail [email protected]
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:09 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

interesting read Germ Have you noticed the difference in there non residense fees compared to Kentuckys, WOW!!!
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:09 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

When that kind of money is involved and the politicians get their hands on it, IT DOESN"T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE.

Hopefully someone can get involved that knows something about the deer herd, and make some usefull rules, that will help control the herd. And in the long run keep the Illinois deer healthy and BIG.
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:12 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

ORIGINAL: bloodcreek

interesting read Germ Have you noticed the difference in there non residense fees compared to Kentuckys, WOW!!!
I bet in the next 5 years KY and OH triple at least.

It has to do with outfitters, ILL has more than anyone.
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:15 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

LOL......I've been saying it for a long time. QDM is not about a healthy deer herd, not legislative imposed QDM anyway. It's about MONEY. Always has been, always will be. We're becoming victims of our own creation.
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:49 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

ORIGINAL: Germ

ORIGINAL: bloodcreek

interesting read Germ Have you noticed the difference in there non residense fees compared to Kentuckys, WOW!!!
I bet in the next 5 years KY and OH triple at least.

It has to do with outfitters, ILL has more than anyone.

No doubt.

It is only a matter of time..........guys throw down $5,000+ for hunts every year without batting an eye. Why would anyone think they wouldn't throw in $1,000 just for a tag.

The days of hunting out of state for around $100 will soon be over.

If money is a problem for anyone out there who plans on hunting for many years to come I suggest they start saving now.

Sad, but true...................and we have no one to thank for it but ourselves.
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Old 03-02-2008, 06:50 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

ORIGINAL: mobow

LOL......I've been saying it for a long time. QDM is not about a healthy deer herd, not legislative imposed QDM anyway. It's about MONEY. Always has been, always will be. We're becoming victims of our own creation.
Amen.
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Old 03-02-2008, 07:01 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

It is sad, and i agree the non residence $$ will change in several years. Not to bring up leases again, but like i had stated in another thread, mine will probably slip away one of these days to heavy pockets and possably an outfitter.[&o]money talks and it is part of our hunting world plain and simple.
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Old 03-02-2008, 07:11 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

We had the outfitter discussion a few weeks ago, and I was led to believe by those I was arguing with that outfitters are the savior of the Illinois deer herd. Let's see what kind of discussion this read brings up. I'm interested to see how those of you involved in outfitters are going to twist this one.
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Old 03-02-2008, 07:12 PM
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Default RE: Ill Bucks are running the show, not DNR

Well, what we have he is a failure to communicate or better, educate. I'd say 99% of people don't live in the real world, if they did things would be different.
Just got done posting this somewhere else, it's a picture of our real world and where we fit into it. The topic is Shays' Rebellon, the time, just after the war for independence.

Let me boil the rebellion down. The vets came home from winning their independence and found that their money was only worth a quarter of its value. Their properties were seized and they were thrown in prison. They couldn’t even collect their pay of 22 cents a day for fighting. The creditors didn’t want the worthless money and wouldn’t collect it taking the people to court and their property. The people out of desperation fought for relief. The rebellion, so called by those who were now in power "the revolutionaries" who wouldn't stand for any such revolt in their country and smashed it quickly.

Many wondered why they ever fought for independence.

Later the assumption bill dealt another kick in the shorts to the people. The worthless notes that people sold for nothing trying to save them selves, and the notes they still held were going to be worth something after all, the government was intending onmaking them good only they didn't let the people know. Those thatdid went out and gathered up as much as they could from the people. Those that had already been gather were owned by those who oppressed the people already.The big money men made 40 million dollars clear profit off the deal put through by one of the sleaziest politicians ever, Alexander Hamilton. A man who thought the country couldn’t last unless the wealthy could make money by it. Soon after the rebellion even talking againstthose in powerlanded you in jail.
The deck has been stacked for a very long time, 99% of the people just don't know it.

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