On September 8, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Bruce Rauner signed IL HB 2893 into law, which allows Illinois hunters to use crossbows to harvest wildlife during any archery seasons. The law goes into effect immediately. Previously, only certain hunters with a disability or hunters aged 62 and older or 18 years and younger were allowed to use crossbows during archery season.
Sponsored by Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Representative Jerry Costello, this bill passed both the House and the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
“Hunters are Illinois’s original conservationists,” said Rep. Costello. “Allowing the full-inclusion of crossbows in Illinois is a crucial step in expanding hunting opportunities and conservation funding in the Prairie State.”
Illinois joins 25 other states that allow the full-inclusion of crossbows during archery season. Through the American System of Conservation Funding, Illinois’s 1.3 million hunters and anglers annually contribute over $65 million dollars to conservation efforts in the state.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
