Illinois Rep. Jerry Costello’s House Bill 3623, which allows an apprentice hunter to apply for an apprentice hunting license for multiple years, passed the senate unanimously with the help of Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Murphysboro). The bill will head to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law.
Take Action Today! Illinois members should contact Gov. Pritzker and ask him to sign House Bill 3623 into law. Members can contact the governor either by phone at 217-782-6830 or by clicking here: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/contactus/Pages/default.aspx.
House Bill 3623 is supported by the national Families Afield effort, which is led by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. This coalition has successfully championed mentored or apprentice hunting laws in 41 states since the Families Afield program was launched in 2005, and has seen more than 2.23 million apprentice licenses sold. This bill is also supported locally by the Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources. Research compiled by the Sportsmen’s Alliance shows that the apprentice license is an effective tool for the recruitment of new hunters, especially from metropolitan areas.
“We would like to thank Representatives Costello, Zalewski, Reitz and Senator Schimpf for their hard work in passing this important piece of legislation,” said Luke Houghton, associate director of state services for Sportsmen’s Alliance. “HB 3623 will help recruit new hunters and, as a result, Illinois will see the benefits these new hunters bring as they contribute to license sales, which fund wildlife conservation.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.