"Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill to encourage bow hunters to harvest more deer," Representative David R. Leitch (R-Peoria) said today.
HB 5307 restores the ability of bow hunters to purchase an additional "either sex" permit for $15 rather than being forced to buy a full $26 combination permit.
"Archery hunters will now have the financial incentive to continue hunting, especially as their vacations near an end toward the end of the season," said Jeff Baile, a retired Department of Natural Resources Conservation officer who asked Leitch to introduce the bill.
"Now a bow hunter will be able to spend $15 for another single "either sex" permit, instead of the $26 previously. The DNR should enjoy more revenue and more deer taken yearly with the passage of this bill."
Senator Dale Risinger sponsored the bill in the Senate. Last year, Leitch and Risinger, at Baile’s urging, enacted legislation to extend deer hunting hours to a half-hour after sunset.
The bill will be effective January 1, 2011.