Joyce Help New Law Gives Farmers More Tools to Manage Deer Populations (Springfield, IL) – Illinois farmers will soon have more flexibility in controlling deer populations that damage crops, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Patrick Joyce.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 710 on Friday, a measure aimed at improving the state’s nuisance deer program and adjusting hunting tag rules.
“Legislation like this highlights the moments where government works,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “Through the Illinois Farm Bureau I was able to hear and see the issues our farmers were experiencing and from there I was able to do my job by getting this bill to the governor’s desk.”
Under current rules, property owners must prove every year that deer have caused damage — such as crop destruction — before receiving removal permits. Farmers have argued that this reactive approach makes it harder to manage deer populations before losses occur.
The new law allows the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to issue permits based on the percentage of permits redeemed by a recipient in the previous season, giving farmers a more proactive option. It also doubles the number of youth hunting tags allowed, from one to two.
“Our members know all too well the expansive and costly damage that deer can cause to crops and farmland,” said Anna McKinley, assistant director of state legislation for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “We’re pleased to see grassroots advocacy result in relief from this growing problem. Senator Joyce’s leadership has helped create a law that both protects a precious natural resource and gives landowners practical tools to protect their property and livelihood.”
Senate Bill 710 takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Joyce Help New Law Gives Farmers More Tools to Manage Deer Populations
