BARRY, IL – Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police have issued more than 50 citations and warnings for illegal deer hunting and related offenses this month. The illegal activity was discovered during enforcement details in Pike and Adams counties on Nov. 8-9.
Conservation Police officers focused on activities on deer hunting properties managed by Hadley Creek Outfitters, based in Barry, IL, including the unlawful feeding of white-tailed deer, and allowing clients to hunt deer over a baited area.
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During the enforcement detail, Conservation Police officers confirmed approximately 6,400 acres were baited and unlawful to hunt in Pike and Adams counties. Bait is defined as any material, whether liquid or solid, including food, salt, mineral, and other products that can be ingested, placed, or scattered in such a manner as to attract or lure white-tailed deer. The illegal areas were baited with trophy rocks, mineral licks, piled corn, and corn scattered among food plots.
Hadley Creek managers, guides, and clients were cited for multiple violations of feeding deer and hunting over baited areas. Officers working the detail also came across additional violations in the area which were committed by hunters who were not involved with hunting on Hadley Creek properties.
Violations discovered during the detail included: Unlawful Feeding of White-tailed Deer, Unlawfully Hunting White-tailed Deer over a Baited Area, Transportation of an Uncased Bow and Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Untagged Deer, Unlawful Possession of Another Individual’s Deer Permit, Failure to Report Deer Harvest Same Day as Kill, and Falsification of Residency to Obtain Permits. Illinois Conservation Police officers issued 46 citations and 7 written warnings during the detail.
Illinois has taken a proactive approach to prevent the further spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It is unlawful to make available food, salt, mineral blocks or other products for ingestion by wild deer or other wildlife in areas where wild deer are present at any time. CWD is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose. The disease is always fatal in deer and there is no treatment or cure. CWD is transmitted directly from one animal to another, and there is evidence that it also can be transmitted from contaminated places in the environment (for instance, a feeding area where saliva and excrement from an infected deer is present). CWD was first found in Illinois during the fall of 2002. The disease has been confirmed to be present in 17 northern Illinois counties.
