SA, I already know for a fact that outiftting is growing in this area and others and I am not in the Golden Triangle. Far from it. There are several guides around here that are leasing/buying up as much ground as possible one leasing in excess of 8,000 acres and several farmers I know are thinking of opening up shop too as soon as they think they can guarentee the business to take more ground out of production for animal habitat. It will happen, I don't know how much more it will happen but it will.

One would think that the high prices would keep NR's from coming in but most who are using the outfitters don't seem to care about another 100-200 bucks, as long as they are getting what they paid for which is a "good" hunt that hopefully ends in a big buck. I personally don't like the thought of $500 dollar tags to hunt in Illinois and could think of alternative measures to raise funding for the DNR (And have seen some interesting ones for other organizations in the state) but fortunately I am not King so what I want can't happen. I also don't think unlimted either sex tags are a good idea either (Prefer DNR have the right to regulate the herd how Biologists see fit, not pencil pushers in Chicago land see fit).

Pike County isn't the only county producing great bucks but I do understand what you are saying about their odd success rate with very poor (According to QDM principles) ratio's. Other parts of the state are not in the same situation as far as extreme unbalanced. From what the long time locals have told me this area has balanced out a lot since they put the two buck maximum in however many years ago that was. i have heard the same from other areas of the state that are not as known for Trophy bucks all though they still have some big ones.. The local Archery Check stations were telling me that they had never seen so many big bucks and does like they did this year.. It's a shame that they are elminating this because they couldn't get someone to collect the data... There were check stations that hadn't been visited by the DNR for 2 years.

I know it is happening but whether it will continue to happen with the IL DNR raping the NR is the part that I am questioning. Only time will give us the answer to that.

That all depends on the hunters. I can tell you of 9 that I hunt with locally that have said they won't go back anymore. I am speaking from the perspective of the person that is going to have to pay the prices and I can tell you that after this year that I just won't do it, nor will several others that I have talked to. I don't know what kind of indication that is. Only time will answer that question. I am sure there will still be a lot of people willing to spend the money to go up there and hunt but I am also sure that they are excluding a major portion of their market base. So anyway you go about it there is going to be less guys willing to go up there and spend the money. Less hunters going doesn't look like a whirlwind for the outfitters. Three years ago it took several weeks for the tags to sell out. Two years ago it took 8 days. Last year it took 8 hours. That tells me there isn't just an unlimited numbers of hunters trying to get in and the price increase is going to have an effect on that IMO. To what extent it will have an effect is the question.

Well guys I think I will stay just accross the river from Pike county on the Missouri side. We have monster bucks over here to and it only cost me like 17.50 for 2 ewither sex tags and 5.00 apiece for unlimited doe tags. If you guys want to come to the midwest I believe out of state tags cost 175.00 unless you live in IL,IA, KS, or OK. Missouri Conservation department started penalizing people from those states due to the high prices for out of state tags. So if you live in one of those states there is a 75.00 surcharge on top of that 175.00. Still seems cheap comared to rich mans hunting states.

Senator Sieben filed yet another amendment on HB1074 today (5/13). Senate Amendment #4 calls for graudating the NR deer permit fees from $325 in 2005, to $375 in 2006 and $425 in 2007. The cap will remain at "no less than 20,000.

This amendment will have to go through the rules committee... onto the full senate floor for approval, and then back to the house again... before going to the governor.

What is not included in the NR permit fee is the required annual NR hunting license cost is $50.75 (5 day = $28), application fee of $13, habitat stamp of $5.50 which is an additional $69.25.

Of this passes in its current form, a NR deer hunter would pay $494.25 to hunt deer in Illinois in 2007.

1sagitarius

Thanks for the update!

Do you have a link to your source for that info? The Ill legislature website only says that an amendment was filed but no detail. Trying to keep watch on the situation from 700 miles away is a bit tough.

Negotiations successful on hunting, Thursday, April 21, 2005

Illinois Farm Bureau negotiations helped move forward bills impacting non-resident deer archery permits and county stormwater commissions in the General Assembly last week. Lawmakers worked to meet last Friday’s deadline for passing legislation on third reading in their respective chambers.

IFB believes compromise wording added to HB1074 will move state archery permit restrictions closer to IFB policy, according to Kevin Semlow, IFB director of state legislation.

Under the amended HB1074, the number of non-resident deer archery permits would increase to a minimum of 20,000 from the current 15,000. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) also could increase the cost of a non-resident archery permit up to $435 each, compared to the current $225.

The IFB board agreed to the compromise after Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Steeleville) committed to a revisit of the issue later, Semlow explained. Reitz agreed to re-examine the restriction on non-resident archery permits after accurate information is obtained on the number of non-residents who apply for archery permits this hunting season.

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.

The 4th amendment to HB 1074 passed yesterday, May 19.

The amended HB 1074 may be voted on today, May 20.

That will bring fees up a bit and increase NR cap to 20,000.

It will then have to go back to the House for a vote.

Thanks for the update Arnie!

At this point, I just wish they would make a final decision and get on with things. I also think that a graduated increase makes more sense.

Hopefully this will stabilize things.

Today the amended motion to make tags $325 this year with increases over next three years passed. It further allocates no less that 20,000 tags for this year and subsequent years.

The amended bill now goes back to the House.