Local control gives anti's the edge
September 14, 2007 (Illinois)
A new Illinois law will endanger hunting by stripping the Department of Natural Resources of its authority to regulate deer populations.
On Aug 28, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed HB 3425. The provision will allow local governments to manage deer herds using methods other than hunting. A local government that conducts a DNR-approved study of alternative deer population controls in addition to hunting may now unilaterally implement the alternative methods deemed useful.
“There is great danger in a law that diverts wildlife management decision-making away from the state, which has the resources and expertise to make such decisions,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance President Bud Pidgeon. “Putting wildlife in the hands of local governments makes it easier for anti-hunters to strike against hunting, not to mention the fact that it 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.
Source: U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
Tags: U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Illinois DNR, Hunting Rights, Wildlife Management, Anti Hunters, Legislation
6 comments:
That is just simply stupid. How can a local branch of government possibly control the wildlife populatio? They don't have the means or the resources for such a task.
Where are people's heads these days?!
Othmar, Thanks for this story...though it is a frustrating one - especially considering that Illinois is one of North America's hot spots for deer. I fear this is a start down a long path that leads to an unfriendly jungle.
Othmar; Judging from the article you posted it sounds like this governor needs to be put out of office and leave well enough alone. The wildlife agency department will increase the quota on deer if there is a problem with over-population and the goverment just has to sit back and rake in the revenues from the license sold and the hunting equipment and out of state hunters coming in. What else could they want except complete control of all hunters and their guns which will be the next thing the'll go after.
That is bad news for Illinois Sportsmen and women. As if the gun laws weren't enough of a burden there already. I only hunt in Illinois once or twice a year and just for small game. I will definitely need to take a study the regulations from year to year to stay on top of changes.
I agree with all of you on the silliness of this decision and that politics are twisted. A new example of how twisted politics can be comes from Illinois. The very same governor that wants to put wildlife management under state control, obviously to give antis a better chance to fight hunters, has now signed a recommendation for the school boards that archery should be added to the education programs. Just when I was about ready to declare the Illinois governor a moron he did something that I wholeheartedly support.
-Othmar Vohringer-
That _is_ an interesting twist. My wife went to high school in Illinois. Part of her high school physical education program was archery. She also tells me that absence from school was excused during deer season. Of course, that is a very small town far, far away from Chicago.
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