HB2339 amends the Illinois Wildlife Code’s deer-hunting provisions, with a focus on deer management and chronic wasting disease (CWD). The bill preserves the existing framework for taking deer with specified firearms, bow and arrow, and muzzleloading rifles, while clarifying and expanding the Department of Natural Resources’ authority to set seasons, bag limits, county-specific open seasons, and special harvest periods through administrative rule.
The bill adds a new requirement that if the Department is using its sharpshooting program to manage CWD in a county and no cases have been identified in that herd for the preceding three calendar years, the Department must end that program in that county, though it may reinstate it if CWD is later found again. It also allows unused gun deer permits from a regular season to roll over, without additional cost, for use during a separate harvest period held within six months of issuance, subject to the applicable management restrictions. The bill continues to require annual reporting to the General Assembly on deer management programs, including the number of surplus deer taken, disease findings, and the disposition of harvested deer.
Impact
HB2339 changes Section 2.25 of the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/2.25) by refining deer-hunting rules and adding statutory limits and reporting requirements tied to deer management and chronic wasting disease control. It affects the Department of Natural Resources’ authority to administer firearm, bow, muzzleloader, and special harvest seasons, and it imposes a new statutory trigger for ending county-level sharpshooting programs after three disease-free years. The bill also creates a permit rollover mechanism for unused gun deer permits, which may affect hunters, permit holders, and DNR season administration.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed the Illinois House 107-0 and the Senate 55-0, indicating unanimous support in both chambers. The voting record suggests the measure was viewed favorably as a wildlife-management and disease-control bill rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, and the unanimous votes suggest limited contention. The main policy issue embedded in the bill is how aggressively the state should use sharpshooting to manage chronic wasting disease: the bill requires the Department to stop that program in a county after three consecutive years without identified cases, but allows it to restart if the disease returns. A secondary point is the permit rollover provision, which benefits hunters by allowing unused tags to be used later without extra cost, while still preserving DNR management restrictions.