Illinois: Bill to Allow More Apprentice Hunting Heads to Governor

By Chris Eger

A bill headed to Gov. Pritzker could up the numbers of youth and apprentice sportsmen in the state. Of the more than 500,000 deer licenses sold in Illinois in the last season, only 11,000 were to youth. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Illinois lawmakers have approved a measure to make it easier for aspiring hunters to learn the ropes of the sport while offering more opportunities to harvest deer.
The bill, HB 3623, passed the legislature unanimously last week and now heads to Gov. J.B Pritzker for consideration. The move makes it easier for those interested in hunting to try the sport on lower-cost apprentice licenses and expands the current 3-day, youth-only hunting season statewide.
“Youth and apprentice hunting programs have proven to increase participation and help grow the next generation of hunters,” said state Sen.Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, a sponsor of the measure. “A strong field of hunters is essential for maintaining the state deer herd at appropriate levels and is a major economic engine for Illinois.”
Current law in the Land of Lincoln allows for potential hunters to obtain a one-time apprentice hunting license for a token fee. HB 3623 would remove the one-time limitation, allowing apprentices to hit the field across several seasons before

Source: Guns.com