Keith Lusher 02.04.26
Illinois lawmakers are weighing a proposal that will considerably increase the variety of free looking permits obtainable to qualifying landowners, a transfer supporters say may assist enhance herd administration whereas giving property homeowners extra flexibility throughout deer and turkey seasons.
Senate Invoice 2924, launched by Neil Anderson, would amend the Illinois Wildlife Code to extend the variety of no-fee permits issued to resident landowners. Present legislation permits landowners to obtain as much as 4 free permits. Beneath the proposal, that complete would bounce to 10.
The invoice would authorize 5 archery season permits and 5 firearm season permits, all issued as either-sex permits. The permits may very well be used for deer, turkey, or mixture deer-turkey looking and could be legitimate on all farmland the landowner owns, leases, or rents, offered different rules are met.
The laws wouldn’t alter the present restrict on antlerless-only permits, which might stay capped at one allow throughout each looking seasons.


Acreage necessities would range based mostly on power losing illness presence. In counties the place the Illinois Division of Pure Assets has confirmed CWD circumstances, landowners would want to personal at the least 20 acres to qualify. In counties with out confirmed circumstances, the minimal acreage would enhance to 40 acres.
Supporters be aware that related landowner allow constructions exist already in neighboring states. Missouri, for instance, permits landowners to acquire a number of archery and firearms permits relying on acreage, together with extra antlerless alternatives for bigger properties.


The proposal comes simply days after a separate looking invoice was launched within the Illinois Home by Rep. Wayne A. Rosenthal. That measure would modify firearm rules throughout deer season by adjusting the variety of rounds allowed, additionally via modifications to the Wildlife Code.
If accepted, SB2924 would mark one of many largest expansions of landowner looking privileges in Illinois lately. The invoice has been launched however has not but superior via committee.

