News

June 7, 2007 (Illinois)


Legislation that will endanger hunting by stripping the Illinois Department of Natural Resources of authority to regulate deer populations passed both legislative bodies and is moving to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s desk.

Illinois sportsmen should contact Gov. Blagojevich and ask him to veto HB 3425. The provision will allow local governments to manage deer herds using methods other than hunting. Under the bill,a local government that conducts a DNR-approved study of alternative deer population controls in addition to hunting may unilaterally implement the alternative methods deemed useful.

House Bill 3425, sponsored by Rep. Karen May, D-Highland Park, will divert wildlife management decision-making to local governments and away from the state. The dangerous bill will remove authority from wildlife professionals and creates a patchwork approach that will cripple successful wildlife management.

House Bill 3425 creates a slippery slope. Today, the call is for local control of deer herds, but anti-hunters will run with the concept and advocate local management of all hunting and trapping.

House Bill 3425 passed the House of Representatives on April 17, by a vote of 70 to 40. It passed the Senate on May 31, by a vote of 33 to 23.

Take Action! Illinois sportsmen should ask Gov. Blagojevich to veto HB 3425. Let him know that it will create a patchwork approach to wildlife management that will take authority away from wildlife experts. To contact the governor, call (217) 782-0244 or use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs.  For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.