Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

HB 1074 would change the definition of resident to require a permanent abode in the state, rather than actual residency. The bill also would authorize deer season to be set between Sept. 1 and Feb. 15. This was passed on to committee.

The chance to tag a velvet IL trophy.... awesome!!!

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Awesome?

Heres the full bill.

HB1074 -
Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Defines "resident" to require permanent abode in this State rather than actual residency. Requires domiciliary intent. Amends the Wildlife Code. Authorizes open deer season to be set between September 1 and February 15 .Provides that legal handguns need not be centerfire. Increases deer hunting fees. Authorizes DNR to set fees for processing and handling of applications and provides for the deposit and use of receipts. Amends the State Finance Act to create a special fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.


The date change is for the "open season" witch is GUN season and is only allowed now no more than 14 days between November 1 and December 31. With this passing they would be able to put the gun season ANYWHERE in between the dates of Sept. 1 and Feb. 15

Is this really awesome?

Illinois has a great deer herd and one of the reasons is the short 2 weekend gun season with no rifles allowed.

Im suprised by HB1074 as it has alot of different items in it. I for one hope it DOESNT pass.......

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Heres the other things that are being proposed for Illinois.

HB1161 Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that there shall not be a limit on the number of resident or non-resident archery deer hunting permits. Effective immediately.

SB0138 Amends the Wildlife Code. Permits deer hunters under age 18 to use crossbows during archery season (now, used only by handicapped persons).


Also the head of the DNR has said he wants the NR permits to go to $375.00 Add your hunting license to this and the NR will be paying in the neighborhood of 450 to hunt deer.

Crazy.................

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

While I totally agree, the others are certainly not what most of the IL sportsman want, despite outr protests and calls from many of us as well as those made by our Bowhunting State Orgs such as the UBI and the IBS.... we just can't seem to stop it. It is obviously ALL about money to the State. However, IF I have to put up with and accecpt some of these changes.... it will be lessoned IF I can get an extended bow season and the chance for a buck that I've always thought I would have to travel to Montana, Idaho, or Sask to tag. I guesss I'm desperately trying to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, one does have to wonder how many of these changes (IF they pass) will effect the quality of our herd??? It would do little good for me to get excited over the chance to hunt trophy bucks longer if they are going to be pounded and reduced significantly??? [&:]

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Count on it if all these pass.:(

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Yes, I am nowhere near as excited now as I was when I first read about the "extended archery season" in our local newpaper.... of course it gave NO mention of all the negative "fine print" that is also in these bills. Thanks DonK. for posting a LOT more details on this issue. It certainly doesn't give me any dreams of shooting a monster in velvet with all the potential damge to the herd and age structure our herd could suffer!!! [:@]

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

This does not sound good at all. Killing a deer in velvet would be awesome but I would rather go without if that means better hunting in Illinois. If they open the season up that long there is gonna be alot of damage done to the herd. There will be so many more out of staters coming here after the big boys. More pressure would lead to worse hunting. I think if they're gonna open up the NR cap they need to make it an earn a buck program.

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

What really scares me is what will they do with firearms season? They could conceivably open it up for 2 solid weeks and move it earlier in November.[:'(]

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

EXACTLY,... In fact IF we could ever do anything else with the gun season I would like to shove it into December like Iowa or Kansas.... not extend it or make it earlier or longer!!!

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Guys,

If you dont like whats being proposed then please SPEAK UP. A quick phone call letting them know how you feel on the issue can do wonders.

For HB1074 what I dont like is theres lots of stuff in there. Bills like this sometimes let things get through that where not intended. The part about the permanent residence is a good one (IMO) but the open season thing I dont like. I also dont like the line "Makes other changes" WHAT other changes?

HB1074 is from Representative Dan Reitz (D) 116th District and he can be contacted at
Springfield Office:
200-9S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1018
(217) 782-0945 FAX

District Office:
128 A West Main
Sparta, IL 62286
(618) 443-5757
(618) 443-3800 FAX
Randolph County


SB0138
If you dont like SB0138 then you can contact Senator Todd Sieben (R)
45th District
Springfield Office:
Senator 45th District
307 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0180

District Office:
137 South State Street
Geneseo, IL 61254
(309) 944-5681
(309) 944-1791 FAX

HB1161
If you dont like HB1161 then you can contact Representative Lisa M. Dugan (D) 79th District
Springfield Office:
260-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5981
(217) 557-7643 FAX

District Office:
135 S. Schuyler Avenue
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 939-1983
(815) 939-0081 FAX
kankakee County


As a Illinois resident you have a voice!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Great contact info Don, thanks for that. You can also find alot of these name and numbers on the IBS site. Let your voice be heard IL hunters!

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

exactly we didn't get to have the deer that we do by having a long gun season. My [brother in law] gives me h-ll about bow hunting, says that must of us just wound deer. now after I baged two 8's and a 10 in two years he went and bought him a bow for 30 bucks. now who is going to wound the deer. I liked it better when he played his little army/hunting games just during the short gun season.[:@]

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

I hunt the firearms season as well as bowhunt.I think the firearms season is just fine the way it is,and the bow season is long enough too.I pretty much hunt for the freezer,the trophy is a resultant bonus.I get so tired of all the emphasis put on racked deer in our state as well as others.Think back on the history of hunting and what it's really about.It's almost like the antlers give guys a testosterone boost or something.Leave it the way it is, it works.I think that charging non residents more for licence is a bunch of crap too,it will be reciprocated by the other states for Illinois residents.

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Now, why would you mess w/ success? We have a good thing going w/ how our seasons (bow/firearm) work here in IL. You can't have the firearm seasons coincide with the peak of the rut. I really hope they don't change the dates on our seasons.

Donk, thanks for the info.

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

I would really have no problem with the season starting in September if it would end as it used too on December 31st. I was talking to a buddy of mine who is a taxidermist. He told me every year a few guys offer him capes from big bucks that were shot during handgun season. Seems a few nice bucks that have shed are killed during this time because they are mistaken for does.:eek:

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Don;
Do you have any info on where these funds that are recieved by the state from license and permits sales are earmarked to be spent?
Are these sportsmen funds to be put back into the DNR and Conservation, DNR Land Acusition etc? Or are they to be spent on other areas not related to our natural resources?

RE: Changes for ILLINOIS!
 

Lady,

I do not know anything if they are going to earnmark funds for certain things. To be perfectly honest I dont trust our new governor one bit. The head of the DNR had a meeting a couple months back with some bowhunting group leaders. He told them flat out that now is the time to make money off our deer herd and he was going to try to raise the NR tags to 4 or 5 hundred dollars. Now he has come out and said he wants them at 375.

Bottom line is the state is hurting for money and they are going to use the deer herd as a way to help with their debt. They dont care what long lasting effects it may have on our sport................

A couple years ago when they raised the NR tags so high they where supposed to use those funds to increase hunting opportunitys around the state. Since Illinois is ranked 47 or 48th on public land access one would think that this would be a great thing to do. They rasied the rates and did not use the money the way people thought they would.

Also im sure you have been reading about all the layoffs they have done to the DNR staff??? Take a minute and read this article.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/021205...73CV.052.shtml

We need to get the politics out of our DNR. Get a game commison where they can make sound decisions that will help all involved. Right now a state legislator can just propose anything they want and if it passes it gets in............


Don