Deer Management Task Force To Hold Regional Public Meeetings

August 25, 2008

Olney, IL.…Last year State Representative David Reis and Senator John O. Jones introduced House Joint Resolution 65 to establish the Joint Deer Population Control Task Force.

The group is charged with examining and making recommendations on ways to manage the Illinois deer population, including maintaining and increasing deer hunting opportunities, reducing deer-vehicle accidents and examining how those accidents affect insurance rates, reducing crop and other property damage, and maintaining and increasing the health of the Illinois deer herd.

"Our group has met several times this year and now we want to present our findings and hear what the public has to say about this growing concern," said Reis. "The task force was very receptive to my request that we hold regional meetings so the task force can hear first hand the suggestions and opinions of interested citizens from throughout the state."

In all, six regional meetings have been scheduled including Sparta, Olney, Decatur, Rushville, LaSalle, and Rockford.

Olney Public Comment Meeting
Tuesday September 9, 2008 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Community Building in the Olney City Park.

Sparta Public Comment Meeting
Wednesday September 10, 2008 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the World Shooting Complex.

The meetings will be conducted in an open house format to allow interests parties to come and go as they wish during the evening. Staff from the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources and members of the Joint Task Force will be available to answer questions, discuss deer management, and hear comments from those attending the meeting. Following the public meetings, IDNR will also be accepting public comments through a link on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us

The open house public meetings will allow those attending to review information on the Illinois deer management program, deer-vehicle accidents, and some of the proposals the task force is reviewing for changes in hunting seasons and related issues regarding deer in Illinois," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.

Those seeking additional information or wish to RSVP for the Olney meeting are encouraged to contact Rep. Reis’ office at 618-392-0108 or keith@davidreis.org.