DNR-DEER MGMT PLAN

104th Regular Session Introduced by Li Arellano and 2 co-sponsors

DNR must weigh economic damage and deer-related public safety when crafting deer herd management plans, including season length and bag limits.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

SB 1544 — DNR — Deer Herd Management Plan (summary)

Status and sponsor (as introduced)
- Bill: SB 1544 (amendment to the Illinois Wildlife Code, 520 ILCS 5/2.25)
- Introduced: February 4, 2025 (sponsor: Sen. Li Arellano, Jr., as introduced version)
- Current action: Referred to committee(s) for review (see legislative docket for up-to-date status)

Purpose / intent
- Require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to explicitly consider economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer when developing any deer herd management plan. The requirement applies to plan elements such as season length and bag/possession limits.

Key provisions
- Amends Section 2.25 of the Wildlife Code to add an explicit directive: “Any deer herd management plan established by the Department, including length of seasons and bag and possession limits, shall take into account economic damage and public safety concerns caused by deer.”
- Does not, in the text provided, specify particular mitigation actions, funding, or thresholds; rather it imposes a planning and decision-making criterion on DNR rulemaking and management plans.

What would change / who is affected
- Department of Natural Resources: must document and weigh economic damage (e.g., agricultural crop loss, landscaping damage, municipal costs) and public safety concerns (e.g., deer–vehicle collisions, disease risks) when setting hunting seasons, bag limits, and similar management measures.
- Hunters and hunting organizations: potential changes to season timing, duration, and bag/possession limits in areas where economic or safety concerns are found — could result in expanded, restricted, or targeted harvests depending on findings.
- Farmers, property owners, and local governments: may see increased responsiveness from DNR to localized deer-related damage or safety hazards.
- General public/roadway safety stakeholders: may benefit if management plans place greater emphasis on reducing collision risk or other safety threats.

Procedural / timeline notes
- The bill text adds a statutory planning criterion rather than prescribing specific operational changes; implementation would occur through DNR administrative rulemaking and the department’s management plans and could vary by region or season.
- No effective date or funding provisions are specified in the amendment text provided—changes would take effect according to the bill’s enacted effective date and through subsequent DNR actions.

Potential impacts and considerations
- Could lead to more localized or aggressive harvests (special seasons, targeted culling, or permit changes) in areas documented to have economic loss or safety risks from deer.
- May require DNR to develop or expand damage- and safety-assessment methods, data collection, and stakeholder outreach.
- Balancing wildlife conservation objectives, hunter access, public sentiment, and landowner interests will be central to implementation; legal and logistical questions (e.g., how “economic damage” and “public safety concerns” are measured and documented) may arise during rulemaking.

For the latest status, committee referrals, and any companion measures or amendments, consult the legislative docket or the General Assembly’s bill tracking resources.