And You Think You Have It Bad???

[TLC]

you really want to complain about your state?

Deer task force makes recommendations
January 07, 2009 at 10:32 AM
BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Complete report
Click here to read the complete report of the Joint Task Force on Deer Population Control.


SPRINGFIELD – The Joint Task Force on Deer Population Control (JTF) has made final recommendations on ways to manage the deer population, provide additional deer hunting opportunities, and reduce deer/vehicle accidents throughout the state. The recommendations include extending portions of some deer seasons, expanding educational outreach efforts, and making certain seasonal permits more readily available for longer periods of time to the public.

“I want to thank the members of this task force and the public, for their dedication to this important issue,” said IDNR Acting Director, Sam Flood. Managing the state’s deer population is an ongoing responsibility, and I commend this group for its well thought out, data driven recommendations to better manage populations,”

The JTF recommends that the rate of deer/vehicle accidents be used as the objective to guide deer management and to judge the success or failure of the management programs. The specific target rate (both statewide and at the county level) was set at halfway between the minimum and maximum rates measured during the period 1994 through 2007. The statewide target rate corresponds to a 14% decrease in the accident rate from the statewide peak observed during 2003.

The Joint Task Force on Deer Population Control was created by House Joint Resolution 65 of the 95th General Assembly, with the mission “to examine and make recommendations on ways to manage the Illinois deer population”. The Task Force consisted of 15 members including members of the General Assembly (or their appointee), state agencies including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and constituent groups. The JTF met 4 times between April and October 2008, and conducted a series of 6 public meetings around the state to seek public comment about changes that were being considered.

The JTF recommends the following changes in Illinois deer management:

That deer permits for the antlerless-only Late-Winter Season be made available to hunters over-the-counter (OTC) at license vendors throughout the state, rather than through the current application and lottery system;
That counties included in the Late-Winter Deer Season be categorized into two groups for permitting purposes, based upon their deer population status: (a) counties that are slightly above goal levels, in which only one permit could be purchased; and (b) counties that are significantly above goal levels, in which an unlimited number of permits could be purchased.
That the length of the Late-Winter Deer Season be extended from 3 to 9 days.
That permits for the regular Firearm Deer Season which remain unallocated after 2 lottery drawings be sold OTC on a first-come, first served basis until the end of that season.
That the length of the first segment of the regular Firearm Deer Season be extended from 3 to 4 days, beginning on a Friday and ending on a Monday.
Expansion of educational outreach programs relating to deer, including creation of a new web site (“Living with Illinois Deer”); increased support for the Sportsman Against Hunter program (venison donations); support for some type of Hunter Access Program to improve hunter access to private lands; working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to enhance traffic safety programs related to deer-vehicle accidents; and working with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office to develop materials related to deer for the Drivers’ Safety program.
Formation of a task force to review programs designed to reduce crop damage by deer.
The recommendations are currently being reviewed by IDNR wildlife staff to determine feasibility and a timetable for implementation. None of the changes recommended by the JTF require new legislation; all could be accomplished via administrative rule.

for those that think their DNR's are stupid, this is what we deal with. couple more quicj facts for ya.......

#1 largest US auto insurer, State Farm Global Headquarters is located in Bloomington, Il.
#2 largest US auto insurer, All-State Global HQ who is located in Northbrook, IL (Chicago Suburb).

 

[cornfed]

You'll still have it good compared to Iowa.The insurance agencies have been crying about the so called over population of deer in iowa for years.They have forced the DNR to have all kinds of special seasons and regulations to try and control the deer population.If the sportsmen don't stand up the good old days of deer hunting in Iowa may be over.Don't worry the rich out of staters will still be able to buy their big bucks off of the limited hunting leases(not talking about you Big Fin).Our late season deer control antlerless deer season starts tomorrow and runs the rest of the month where tags are still availiable.First come first served over the counter and I believe there are 5000 or so left in the state.Speak up or get used to it,money talks.

 

[Big Fin]

you really want to complain about your state?

The JTF recommends that the rate of deer/vehicle accidents be used as the objective to guide deer management and to judge the success or failure of the management programs. The specific target rate (both statewide and at the county level) was set at halfway between the minimum and maximum rates measured during the period 1994 through 2007.

Wow, I never thought I would see the day that wildlife management decisions were implemented for the meet the allowable number of deer-car collisions.

If that isn't grounds for a big sigh of WTF, I don't know what is.

Sorry to hear that TLC.

 

[TLC]

cornfed, was at all but one of the meetings. not a single thing that was said(recommended by hunters)was implemented, let alone listened to.

Big Fin, knew the politicians were crooked here. just never realized how STUPID they were. there's a few of us that are checking into any connection between flood and the insurance companies.

DUMBASSES!!!

 

[280rem]

TLC, Just another black eye for your state government if you ask me! Maybe who ever is the highest bidder will have control of your deer herd! Illinois needs an outdoorsman in office probably more so than any other state. We finally got one!

 

[1_pointer]

IMO this is an example of what is to become of game management in the Midwest. Just fly over the Midwest, every little patch of 'woods' has a house or three in them. That in conjunction with a smaller percentage of the population that hunts and the above is what you'll get. The 'semi-rural' lifestyle is what lots of folks are looking for in these areas. Then you add in the loss to large corporations or subdivision of family farms and this is what you'll get. Tough to do much about it since most all the land is private, unless you've got real deep pockets...

 

[TLC]

TLC, Just another black eye for your state government if you ask me! Maybe who ever is the highest bidder will have control of your deer herd! Illinois needs an outdoorsman in office probably more so than any other state. We finally got one!

ya know 280, I'd be LMFAO is this wasn't so damn true. and when blogo gets impeached, quinn takes over til the end of the term. think its 2010. better start checking this guy out now.

 

[280rem]

It'll be difficult to get someone who cares about what we care about. The Windy City has so much influence! Maybe you should run for office!!

 

[TLC]

more from our great state.........|oo
http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com...t_to_use_hunting_and_license_dollars_to_bala/

 

[TLC]

california taking its turn

glad to see other states are doing stupid things.

[email protected]

Published: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 | Page 2B
Fishermen and hunters are outraged about a plan tucked in the governor's proposed California budget to shift $30 million out of wildlife programs.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to borrow money from the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, which comes from hunting and fishing license fees, and use it to prop up other state programs. The funds would be repaid to wildlife programs by 2013 – with interest.

Critics, however, want the money to stay where it is and pay for wildlife programs.

"They've made some big blunders and caused problems for themselves, and it shouldn't be fishing licenses that hook them out," said Frank Hashorva, a member of the Rancho Murieta Fishing Club. "It's totally absurd."

The money represents about one-third of the fund's annual receipts from hunting and fishing license sales. It is a key operating fund for the department, supporting law enforcement, habitat and research projects.

Fish and Game spokeswoman Jordan Traverso said the loan will not affect department operations. The fund will still have a balance of about $3.1 million at the end of this fiscal year, in June.

She said budget language requires the money to be paid back sooner if the department is negatively affected.

"The severity of the (budget)situation is requiring that measures be taken across the board," Traverso said

The move is small compared with the state's budget deficit, estimated to reach $40 billion by June 2010.

H.D. Palmer, Department of Finance spokesman, said the loan must be approved as part of a legislative package to adopt the 2009-2010 budget.

Some fishermen claim the fund often runs a surplus when wildlife programs are in desperate need of money.

Brett Matzke, wild and native trout manager at the advocacy group California Trout, said fishing groups recently urged the department to spend $1 million from the fund to restore habitat for the Paiute cutthroat trout. He said the request was denied.

Some anglers, he said, are considering a "license burning" rally outside the Capitol.

Adding to their anguish is a hike in license fees this year, part of a routine inflation adjustment. A 2009 hunting license costs $37.30. A fishing license costs $41.20 – the most expensive in the nation, Matzke said.

"I would gladly pay more, and most fishermen would, if they could see results for what they're paying for," said Don Herrold of Rancho Cordova, a Central Valley angler for five decades.

 

[buckbull]

The JTF was comprised of 15 members of which
8 were members of the general assembly
IDNR Director (or appointee)
1 Conservation Police Officer
Director of State Police
1 person representing firearm hunters
1 person representing bowhunters
1 person representing insurance
1 person representing farmers

The IDNR implemented all the recommendations that came from the JTF. All stakeholders agreed to a 14% reduction of the deer herd. So, the deer herd is now managed by DVA's (deer vehicle accidents). The first big problem is that the DVA numbers that the IDNR utilizes comes from the department of transportation. They are normally behind by at least 8 months on getting the data. So, 2016 DVA's will not be known until June or August of this year and does not allow enough time for permits to be limited since many of the permits start becoming available in March. On top of this, the IDNR (under pressure from the farm and insurance lobby) wants 2 consecutive years under objective per county. It was agreed that once the 14% goal was realized, the county would be taken out of the "late season" doe only hunts but we hunters were lied too. So due to the factors above, we have counties now that are 30-40% below objective because its taking 3 years to remove them from the late season hunt and to limit the number of tags. The other issue that we face is the fact that archery permits are statewide permits, so approximately 50,000 archery kills per year and the state has no control over where these deer are being shot.