North Egypt News

Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) recently announced that a bill he sponsored that cuts regulations on hunting land in the state of Illinois passed a House committee unanimously.

According to Severin’s Facebook page, HB 5042 changes the Illinois Wildlife Code's requirements for residents and nonresident landowners. He said that landowners currently need to submit a permit application and proof of land ownership to the Dept. of Natural Resource on a yearly basis, but HB 5042 changes this to every five years. He said that this bill will help ease restrictions for hunters.

“Hunting is a way of life for many people that own land in Southern Illinois,” Severin said. “The fact is, there are people that do not live in Illinois that still own hunting ground here for their own use, for their friends and family, and for the purposes of renting the land to in-state hunters. Current law requires those folks to submit to yearly reporting requirements and a mountain of paperwork that I think can be reduced to make life easier. I am working to change the law’s requirements to move from every year, to once every five years.”

The bill is sponsored by Severin and co-sponsored by Reps. Michael Marron (R-Champaign), Randy Frese (R-Quincy), C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) and Daniel Swanson (R-Woodhull). 

Severin said the idea for the bill came from one of his constituents who felt the law hampered hunters. According to the Dept. of Natural Resources hunting requirements in Illinois include having a valid hunting license, a state habitat stamp and a deer permit. 

“I am proud to have earned the unanimous support of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee for this important measure,” Severin said. “I’m looking to cut red-tape and harmful and burdensome regulations anywhere I can find them.”