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State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, is the chief sponsor of
Senate Bill 710.
“We need to give our farmers the tools they need when they have
nuisance deer that are making an impact on the yield of their
crops. It’s been all over the state that we’ve had people
contacting us that we need to do something to change it,” Joyce
said.
Joyce said the legislation was realized after three or four
months of negotiations involving the Illinois Farm Bureau and
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He said the bill
provided for expanded permitting and additional tags in several
categories.
State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, applauded Joyce’s efforts.
“It’s just a big win for our farmers. On behalf of the farmers
that I represent, I just want to say thank you on their behalf,”
Fowler said.
Fowler said farmers in his district have lost tens of thousands
of dollars due to deer.
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, said deer caused heavy
losses for a major pumpkin grower in her district.
“Ten-percent of their crop was lost to deer the year before
last, 10% of all the pumpkins for their entire business,” Bryant
said.
Senators approved SB 710 Thursday by a vote of 51 in favor and
none opposed.
Joyce thanked the IDNR, the IFB and his fellow legislators for
coming together to support the measure.
“We had 29 bills and four resolutions dealing with deer damage
and deer population,” Joyce said.
Also Thursday, the Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee passed
House Bill 2340. The measure provides additional eligibility for
landowner deer permits without charge.
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