HJ0117 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0117 LRB095 20618 GRL 48729 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois, through its Department of Natural Resources, has provided a captive-reared pheasant hunting program since 1946; and

WHEREAS, The captive-reared pheasants are released on public lands for hunting; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Natural Resources' Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program (CPHP) is now provided at 18 public hunting areas geographically distributed throughout Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program provides an important and irreplaceable hunting experience for many hunters; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is highly urbanized, and 95% of all the land in the State is privately owned with limited hunting access; and

WHEREAS, The State's wild pheasant population has declined over the past 30 years; and

WHEREAS, The combination of limited hunting access and the decline in wild pheasant populations results in many hunters relying on public hunting areas for their sport and recreation; and

WHEREAS, With the urbanization and development of so much of Illinois, public hunting areas are the sole source for urban hunters; and

WHEREAS, Public hunting areas are the most accessible for the State's active senior and handicapped hunters; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, 46,850, or 97.7% of the pheasants harvested on public lands were captive-reared pheasants from the 18 public hunting areas; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, only 1,100 wild pheasants were harvested from the remaining 19 public hunting areas where captive-reared pheasant are not released; and

WHEREAS, Illinois realized in excess of 29,000 pheasant hunter trips under the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program; and

WHEREAS, Considerable revenues are realized from the State's vast population of pheasant hunters each and every season; and

WHEREAS, Pheasant hunters pay a $15 daily access fee for using the Department of Natural Resources' controlled pheasant hunting areas; and

WHEREAS, Pheasant hunters must also purchase an Illinois hunting license and most also purchase the $5.50 Habitat stamp; and

WHEREAS, Illinois hunters contribute to the State's $5.8 million Pitman-Roberson apportionment through the federal excise tax paid on sporting arms and ammunition; and

WHEREAS, Illinois pheasant hunters contribute significantly to the local economies surrounding State-controlled hunting areas; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Natural Resources operates 3 Wildlife Propagation Centers; and

WHEREAS, These unique pheasant production facilities were constructed at a cost of nearly $8 million; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, 65,000 mature pheasants raised at the Wildlife Propagation Centers were released on the State's controlled pheasant hunting lands; and

WHEREAS, Without the Department of Natural Resources' Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program, pheasant hunting in Illinois would virtually cease to exist; and

WHEREAS, Illinois pheasant hunters would be displaced and not have adequate access to hunting areas, especially in the State's expanding urban regions; and

WHEREAS, The revenues realized by both the State and the local economies within the State would suffer considerably without the continuation of the State's Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize the financial and professional investment committed by the State in creating its progressive and advanced propagation centers; and be it further

RESOLVED, We acknowledge and understand the significance of the State's Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program operated by the Department of Natural Resources; and be it further

RESOLVED, We encourage and expect the continuation and maintenance of the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program to insure access and availability for pheasant hunters from throughout Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Director of Natural Resources and the Governor.