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Illinois farmers seeking changes to state’s deer management

The president of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) says crop damage caused by wildlife is weighing on his member’s minds.

“That’s gaining ground on estate taxes as something that our farmers want to talk about a lot.”

Brian Duncan, who also farms in Ogle County, says the impact of deer feeding is multiplied in times of lower commodity prices.

“There’s been multiple pieces of legislation introduced this session.”  He says, “I think the Department of Natural Resources is understanding of the challenges that our members are facing in these high population areas.”

He tells Brownfield the state’s hunting population continues to age, so it’s a problem that’s not going to go away.

“Based on the ages of people who get hunting licenses, that’s an aging demographic.”  He says, “And so it’s just getting all those competing agendas to come to the table and say there’s gotta be a commonsense pathway forward here.”

Duncan says changes IFB would like to see include better record keeping of the state’s deer herd, as well as changes to the nuisance permit procedure and seasons.

AUDIO: Brian Duncan – Illinois Farm Bureau