The Illinois House has passed a bill aimed at giving farmers more effective tools to manage deer populations and reduce crop damage, sending the measure to Governor J.B. Pritzker for approval. The legislation, Senate Bill 710, responds to growing concerns among Illinois farmers about the economic impact of an expanding deer population, which reached approximately 730,000 in 2024—a 90,000 increase since 2021.

Streamlined Deer Removal Permits (DRPs)

• The bill directs the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to overhaul its Deer Removal Permit process, setting clear timelines for biologists to respond to permit requests and requiring the department to provide accessible information and application instructions online.
• Landowners who fulfill at least 50% of the deer removal allowed by their DRP will automatically qualify for additional antlerless-only permits during the regular hunting season. Those who harvest 80% will be eligible for another nuisance permit valid for five deer between June 1 and September 15 of the following year.
• The measure also allows landowners to designate others to remove deer on their behalf, provided those individuals meet Illinois hunting requirements.

Expanded Hunting Opportunities

• The bill introduces a “guest landowner permit,” allowing landowners to designate a hunter for every 240 acres they own. This guest can receive both an either-sex and an antlerless deer permit, ensuring access without relying on the state’s permit lotteries.
• Youth hunting opportunities are expanded, allowing young hunters to receive both an either-sex and an antlerless permit for the youth season, doubling the previous allocation.

The legislation broadens the definition of eligible landowners to include income beneficiaries of land-owning trusts and extends permit eligibility to immediate family members such as grandparents and grandchildren.

The bill is seen as a necessary response to the state’s rising deer numbers and the associated risks, including increased traffic collisions and the spread of chronic wasting disease among deer.

With the House’s approval, Senate Bill 710 now awaits Governor Pritzker’s signature. If enacted, the new rules will take effect in January 2026, with some permit provisions rolling out in 2027.