HB4563 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 36764 JAG 66874 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4563

Introduced 1/31/2024, by Rep. Dave Severin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.26-1 new

Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code, the Department of Natural Resources shall issue nuisance deer removal permits to: (1) a person who owns or leases 1,000 or more acres of land in an unincorporated area of the State, produces agricultural products on that land, and is experiencing demonstrable damage to land or agricultural products due to nuisance deer that reside on the land; or (2) a tenant of the landowner who has been granted permission by that person to apply for a nuisance deer removal permit on that person's behalf. Provides that the number of deer permitted to be taken, the number of days for which the deer may be taken, and the total number of persons who may take deer under the permit shall be based on the number of acres of land owned. Provides that a nuisance deer removal permit shall not allow the taking of deer during any archery, firearm, muzzleloader only, special Chronic Wasting Disease, late winter, or youth firearm season. Provides that the Department shall encourage persons issued a nuisance deer removal permit to use the deer taken under the deer removal program for human consumption or for donations to zoos or other facilities where the deer can be used to feed animals. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning wildlife.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by adding Section 2.26-1 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.26-1 new)

Sec. 2.26-1. Nuisance deer removal permits.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Department shall issue nuisance deer removal permits in accordance with this Section to:

(1) a person who owns or leases 1,000 or more acres of land in an unincorporated area of the State, produces agricultural products on that land, and is experiencing demonstrable damage to land or agricultural products due to nuisance deer that reside on the land; or

(2) a tenant of a person described in paragraph (1) who has been granted permission by that person to apply for a nuisance deer removal permit on that person's behalf.

(b) The Department shall issue nuisance deer removal permits to eligible persons as follows:

(1) if the person described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) owns or leases at least 1,000 but less than 5,000 acres of land in an unincorporated area of the State, then the Department shall, upon application, issue to that person or that person's tenant a nuisance deer removal permit that authorizes up to 2 individuals to collectively take up to 20 deer from that land during the 35 days following the date of the permit's issuance;

(2) if the person described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) owns or leases at least 5,000 but less than 10,000 acres of land in an unincorporated area of the State, then the Department shall, upon application, issue to that person or that person's tenant a nuisance deer removal permit that authorizes up to 4 individuals to collectively take up to 30 deer from that land during the 45 days following the date of the permit's issuance; and

(3) if the person described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) owns or leases 10,000 or more acres of land in an unincorporated area of the State, then the Department shall, upon application, issue to that person or that person's tenant a nuisance deer removal permit that authorizes up to 6 individuals to collectively take up to 50 deer from that land during the 50 days following the date of the permit's issuance.

(d) A nuisance deer removal permit issued under this Section shall not allow the taking of deer during any archery, firearm, muzzleloader only, special Chronic Wasting Disease, late winter, or youth firearm season.

(e) The Department shall encourage persons issued a nuisance deer removal permit under this Section to use the deer taken under the nuisance deer removal program for human consumption or for donations to zoos or other facilities where the deer can be used to feed animals.

(f) The disposition of carcasses of deer taken under this Section shall be at the discretion of the permit holder. Inedible deer parts, such as the hides and antlers, must not be retained and must be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Mortality Act and the rules adopted under that Act. Permits authorizing the lethal removal of deer shall allow the use of shotguns with deer slugs or, if deemed safe by the Department, centerfire rifles (.243 caliber or larger). A permit holder who has huntable properties may be denied future nuisance deer removal permits under this Section if the permit holder does not manage deer population problems through hunting. The Department shall encourage the holder of a permit issued under this Section to allow hunting on the permit holder's property and to encourage the taking of female deer.

(g) An agricultural producer who has been issued a nuisance deer removal permit must report annually to the Department the number, age, and sex of the taken deer, as well as the manner in which the permittee disposed of the deer carcasses.