Over 125 farmers, hunters, and conservationists gathered in Mt. Vernon last Thursday for a town hall meeting focused on the escalating issue of deer overpopulation and its detrimental effects on agriculture in southern central Illinois. The event was organized by State Senator Terri Bryant, State Representative Dave Severin, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Senator Bryant expressed her understanding of the community’s concerns, emphasizing her ongoing efforts to draw IDNR’s attention to the significant crop damage caused by deer herds. “This isn’t a new issue; it’s becoming increasingly urgent,” she stated. “Rep. Severin and I have brought together the IDNR and the Farm Bureau to hear your voices and explore effective strategies to manage the growing deer population, which is causing substantial financial losses for farmers.”
Rep. Severin highlighted the economic impact after visiting Frey Farms in Wayne County, a leading pumpkin producer facing severe crop losses. “Frey Farms is losing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year due to deer damage. A single doe can ruin multiple pumpkins with just a single bite, adding up to millions in losses across the region,” he explained. “Today’s meeting was essential for us to gather insights directly from farmers and conservationists, allowing IDNR and the Farm Bureau to understand the extent of the damage.”
The town hall featured a mix of presentations from IDNR and the Farm Bureau, along with an engaging Q&A session from attendees. Suggestions from the audience included extending hunting hours and the shotgun season, increasing nuisance permits, prioritizing in-state applicants for deer tags over out-of-state ones, and revising how IDNR assesses deer population numbers.
John Howard, Jefferson County Board Member and Illinois Farm Bureau District 17 Director, joined Bryant and Severin in organizing the event. He noted that the large turnout underscored the seriousness of the crop destruction issue caused by deer overpopulation.
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