05-31-2009, 11:12 AM
On August 21, Illinois Governor, Rod R. Blagojevich approved legislation amending the Illinois Wildlife Code to permit the use of a crossbows by hunters age 62 and over during the state's open firearms, bow, and muzzleloader seasons. Prior to this amendment, only hunters who qualified for a handicap permit could hunt with a crossbow.
Rick Bednar, CEO of TenPoint Crossbow Technologies, was pleased with the news. "We have been waiting for nearly two months for the governor to approve this legislation. We were pretty confident of the outcome, but there is no doubt the wait added some suspense." Bednar said. .
At this point, it is unclear how well-publicized the new regulations will be for the 2007/2008 hunting seasons because the hunting regulations went to print before the governor approved the change. "We will do our best to help get the word out," Bednar added.
"Illinois is a great bow hunting state with a long bow season running from September 1 through January 31," Bednar said. "Archery Business Magazine recently reported that bow hunting license sales in Illinois grew from 83,000 in 1996 to 140,000 last year. I predict that these new regulations will strengthen their archery season even further. We're going see a good number of senior firearms hunters give archery season a try during the good weather months of September and October. More important, though, Illinois will keep its longtime bow hunters in the woods long after they no longer have the ability to draw and hold a vertical bow."
Rick Bednar, CEO of TenPoint Crossbow Technologies, was pleased with the news. "We have been waiting for nearly two months for the governor to approve this legislation. We were pretty confident of the outcome, but there is no doubt the wait added some suspense." Bednar said. .
At this point, it is unclear how well-publicized the new regulations will be for the 2007/2008 hunting seasons because the hunting regulations went to print before the governor approved the change. "We will do our best to help get the word out," Bednar added.
"Illinois is a great bow hunting state with a long bow season running from September 1 through January 31," Bednar said. "Archery Business Magazine recently reported that bow hunting license sales in Illinois grew from 83,000 in 1996 to 140,000 last year. I predict that these new regulations will strengthen their archery season even further. We're going see a good number of senior firearms hunters give archery season a try during the good weather months of September and October. More important, though, Illinois will keep its longtime bow hunters in the woods long after they no longer have the ability to draw and hold a vertical bow."