This new law is absolutely dangerous. The way it is written, empowers the state to seize agricultural lands for the purpose of “ rewilding “.
Also calls for the protection of keystone species such as beavers and buffalo.
Apparently our super intelligent lawmakers in Chicago and the bigger cities.. think it is a good idea to turn everything back into grasslands and let buffalo frolic freely around the state.
They also are under the impression that beavers are the good guys of the ecosystems and will bring peace and harmony to all the Disney creatures of the forest.
I’m just sitting here with my head in my hands… absolute madness.
They cry and scream about problems such as increasing hunger and homelessness… and then help contribute to it by reducing crop production and places to build homes.
The green energy initiative they pushed has literally tripled our power bills here..
The ever increasing tax burden is staggering and is starting to suffocate us slowly to death.
I wish I had the means to get out of this state before a Berlin Wall stare’s getting built.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing anyone outside of Chicago can do… they are blind in those cities and can’t see it.

John, you forgot to mention the APEX PREDATORS....there is TALK about the DNR having the ability to bring back WOLVES BEARS and MT. LIONS!
All in the push to return Illinois back to its natural state.

I did fail to mention that.. my mind racing from absolute frustration… it’s literally a descent into madness!!
Too many people with this grizzly Adams pipe dream.

There is a push here in Iowa for it especially after this spring with nitrogen problems in Des Monies drinking water, we’re just fortunate enough that Ag has as much influence in this state that it does. The apex predator thing is fine just release them on lake shore drive.

They think it’s a good idea to re-wild everything but the concrete jungles they live in. Metro elitis libs don’t need Ag land ,food comes from the grocery stores. LOL

I think I'd find the means to move. In the long run it will be much cheaper for sure.

Move to Californey. They already have coyotes adjusted to go to ball games. I don't think one mother was too fond of the yote though after 20 stitches in her son !

I'd feel more torn up about it if I'd been able to get trapping permission from even one private landowner. But maybe more public lands is the best path for me to continue trapping, as the only trapping I was able to do last season was on public land.

That's odd... when we lived in IL we had private land running out our ears. Not so much here in MS. Try becoming a regular at the store or diner all the locals eat breakfast at.

If all the libtard mental midgets in the left leaning party would just move to California, the land would
revert back to it’s natural state!!

What part of the state? It might be easier in the southern part of the state.

We lived in Henderson county. Midwest side of the state.... directly across the river from Burlington, IA.

You were on the border with IA. I used to live in IA and I'll bet I could've gotten some permissions there. I live in the outskirts of Chicagoland and it wouldn't break my heart to see some of the land "rewilded" here.

Oh yuck.....yeah being near Chicago says it all. Prayers sent.

Lots of critters in the Chicago suburbs at least there was years back.

As soon as someone starts carrying on about beavers being "keystone" species, I ask them, "According to which other species?"
Ask a cool or cold water species of fish if a series of beaver dams on a trout stream does them any favors.

Yeah, lots of critters, and I don't have permission to trap any of them. Maybe if it's converted to public land...

Beavers a keystone species - maybe for the alligators to eat. As gator population increased, beaver have become a rare critter

The farm bureau is a big problem as well, any organization that can do as they please with no recourse is a drain to our country.

If you can't afford to leave then you can't afford to stay. Get out now. I don't think there is anything in Illinois that you can't find in Mo or Ky except insanity.

Let's not forget that the wonderful state of Illinois also made it ILLEGAL to kill any wolf, mountain lion, or bear. SSS.

Heard on news about a month ago some of your eastern counties wanting to become part of Indiana

Sounds good to me but we bring Chicago back to its natural state first .

Grew up in Lake County and had over 12 farms to hunt/ trap from '84 to '04
They're all strip malls and subdivisions now.

After church today, I talked with a few farmers about this issue and they had absolutely no idea… they are pretty steamed… I’m trying to locate the number of this legislation, so that I can go to the library and print out several copies and pass them around.
It’s looking like this thing was introduced And zoomed right through the statehouse… not much time to find opposition to this.

Rewilding is a National movement, conceptually it began in the early seventies and is just now coming to fruition in quite a number of states. In the1970's it was called Wilderness recovery. Being pushed big here in Colorado, and all Blue states. Just Google "rewilding".

Our ancestors worked hard to give us the easy lives we live today. Rewilding from folks who think a drive through yellowstone makes them outdoor people does not surprise me. I believe they think the world would be a better place without humans.

The first time I heard the term was in 1988 at a local US Forest Service public scoping meeting. The representative from an envronmentalist group said their long range goal is to turn what was orginally the "grass-lands" back into bison habitat that would encompass their original range.
These folks are evil; they loath humans.

BTW, the representative for the environmental group was not some crazy looking radical, he was a well dressed, older looking executive type.

I was able to locate the bill( now law)

Does anyone know how to look up the vote record?
To know what lawmakers voted for and against?

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/Bi...ID=HB&LegId=160722&SessionID=114

Yep. Not good.

I like what jalstat said,
Danny, I'm not sure what changed with our DNR. IF they ever institute a re-introduction of
APEX predators the state's livestock organizations are going to push back. Heck, the exclusive
deer organizations can't handle the coyote predation now. They will undoubtedly be outraged too.
Sounds like our Gov. has allowed the deep pocketed anti-rights folks into the state organization with
a campaign promise....Gov has his eyes on the presidency.

I could be wrong , but to my reciliation, it all started with a man in a suit, making a self-made job.
Cleveland Armory. ( SP ) Friends of animals.

Hmm, weird my post was deleted...
Almost like living in Illinois.

There are still many farms dotted around. I tried knocking on doors but was met with more hostility than I'm comfortable with. I think there's a higher level of distrust in this part of the state, and I think half of the properties are owned by doctors and lawyers who are doing it as a lifestyle choice. If they have a problem with wildlife they'd prefer to throw money at it. The most common excuse I got knocking on doors was, "We already have somebody." Much of the time I think they were saying it to blow me off but I also believe some of them just prefer to pay professionals to do it. It's really tough for a hobbyist like me to get traction here.

Can you imagine that fat turd as the POTUS?

So because YOU could not get permission to trap you think it is OK to seize land from private landowners?

You stated you live on the outskirts of Chicago, curious how much effort you put into obtaining permission. As in did you only try the 10min from your house or whatever was convenient for you? Or did you reach out to landowners state wide?

Do you own any land (more than a lot your house sits on/ subdivision plot)?

Are you OK with the government taking your possessions because the neighbor wants to enjoy it?

I am against the government forcing anyone to give up their possessions just because the neighbor would like to have/use it.

And if you think the government is going to stop at just those who hurt your feelings by not letting you use THEIR land as you wish you need to think again. They would take from the ones who let you trap also.

I hope you can find a place to trap but not at the cost of private individuals losing their right to own property and do with as they wish.

The American Prairie Reserve is now the largest landowner in Montana, somewhere around 500,000 acres. That’s a lot of old family ranches bought out to rewild bison habitat. I imagine that will all be handed to the government someday.

Your nitrogen problems is probably coming from all the irrigators. In our area they pump nitrogen through their irrigation systems for their crops.

Urban people are the majority owners of public land. That should work out well for us.

https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/Bi...Id=18&SessionId=114&LegID=160722

Voting record is on this link.

Wasn't Illinois recently talking about fining people for moving out??
Which do they want, people to stay or to turn it back to wilderness?

Here is the language for the now passed law.
You can read it for yourself how dangerous this is.
It’s a veiled land grab.. legal government theft.

I vote for this….chi town is already full of animals. Proof….they are killing each other constantly!

Well that's one way to shut up the down state farmers that keep whining about all the taxes they pay and never see again! Just kick 'em off the land.

The really crazy thing is there’s ALOT of people who are okay with the government seizing ground..
I guess it’s okay for them to take someone else’s property, as long as it’s not yours.

Your state does require just compensation for eminent domain taking, not much else positive for a LO in this situation.

Serious answer, no, I would not be okay with it. I was being facetious out of frustration for the cold and sometimes hostile reception I've gotten in this part of the state. I know that the most impacted would be those outside of Chicagoland in the more rural areas of the state and I'm not naive enough to believe that those behind the bill are the types wanting to expand trapping opportunities. I'm frustrated that most of the trapping supplies I invested in for last season went unused and I'm frustrated for the wasted time and gasoline I spent knocking on doors.

Another chapter in the Illinois saga..... Our politicians have their own best interests and it isn't us. I think Pritzker's agenda is not in line with the animal rights groups. I think he just wants to ruin things for us so we leave. Chicago people don't think the same way as the downstate Illinoisans. They think Disney and Bambi are real. We have to fight these guys all the time on everything. I joined the Peoria County Farm Bureau and have a voice right now and influence decisions. I see Dave Koehler who is in my area voted yes. He also tried to introduce bills making all Illinoisans limit the number of farm animals on peoples property and dictate how they are cared for. Fortunately is was squashed before it got out of committee. We need to hold these politicians feet to the fire.