Controlled Pheasant Hunts Under Attack in Illinois!

One of the efforts promoted by the anti-hunting “animal rights” extremists at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is calling for an end to state-run Pheasant Stocking Programs.  These programs provide game birds for hunting opportunities, but in Illinois, the program is under attack!  NRA has been told that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has been instructed by Governor Rod Blagojevich's (D) Administration, that due to budget cuts, it will have to close down pheasant propagation sites, thus putting an end to IDNR's Controlled Pheasant Hunts.  This, in spite of the fact that the program is heavily funded by fees paid by hunters, themselves.  These Hunts are often the only opportunity for hunters in Illinois to take part in harvesting pheasant.  Governor Blagojevich masquerades as a supporter of hunters and law-abiding gun owners, while consistently promoting anti-hunting and anti-gun efforts.  It is no wonder he is highly regarded by HSUS.  NRA has always held that anti-gun zealots first target certain guns, then target hunters, and this effort is more confirmation of such tactics.

While the Illinois General Assembly continues what seems to be a never-ending struggle over the Illinois budget, several Town Hall Meetings have been scheduled throughout the state to allow citizens to offer their input on budget-related issues.  Below, you will find a listing of the dates, times, and locations of events we encourage hunters to attend, to make sure their opposition to ending these Controlled Pheasant Hunts is understood.  Please make plans to attend one near you, and bring your fellow hunters and supporters of hunting along.

Northwest Suburbs: 3/17/2008 at 6:30pm
            State Representatives Crespo, Froehlich  (Hosts)
            Prairie Center for the Arts – Theatre
            201 Schaumburg Ct.
            Schaumburg, IL                           

Tazewell County: 3/17/2008 at 6:00pm

            State Representative Smith (Host)

The Festival Building
2200 E. Washington                             

East Peoria, IL

Champaign: 3/18/2008 at 6:00pm

            State Representative Jakobsson (Host)

            Parkland College

2400 West Bradley Avenue Room D244

Champaign, IL

Aurora: 3/18/2008 at 6:00pm

            State Representative Chapa LaVia (Host)

            Copley Theater                                

8 E. Galena Blvd.                                

Aurora, IL

McHenry County: 3/19/2008 at 6:30pm

            State Representative Franks (Host)

McHenry College Conference Center                                                                                        
8900 US Highway 14                                  

Crystal Lake, IL

Cicero: 3/19/08 at 6:00pm

            State Representative Hernandez (Host)

            Morton College, Building A                

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center                                      

3801 South Central Ave.                                

Cicero, IL    

Joliet:

            State Representative McGuire (Host)

            03/20/08 at 6:00pm

            Joliet Township High School                  

 West Campus                                       

401 North Larkin                                  

Joliet, IL

Rock Island:

            State Representatives Boland, Verschoore (Hosts)

            03/24/08 at 6:00pm

            County Building                         

3rd Floor, County Board Room                           

1504 3rd Avenue                                                                    

Rock Island, IL

North Suburbs:

            State Representatives Nekritz, May, Ryg, Hamos, Washington (Hosts)

            03/24/08 at 3:00pm

            Northbrook Village Hall                                             

City Council Chambers                                              

1225 Cedar Lane                                             

 Northbrook, IL                    

Kankakee:

            State Representatives Dugan, Gordon (Hosts)

            03/24/08 at 6:00pm

            Kankakee Community College-Auditorium                                         

100 College Dr.                                   

Kankakee, IL

South Suburbs:

            State Representatives Miller, W. Davis, Riley, Scully (Hosts)

            03/25/08 at 6:00pm

            South Suburban College            

Kindig Performing Arts Auditorium          

15800 State St.                                     

South Holland, IL

Chicago: South

State Representatives Golar, Howard, M. Davis, Dunkin, Colvin, Jefferies, Flowers, Patterson, Rita (Hosts)

            03/25/08 at 5:30pm

            Kennedy-King College Theatre                          

6301 S. Halsted St.               

Chicago, IL 60621

Rockford:

            State Representative Jefferson (Hosts)

            03/25/08 at 6:00pm

            Zeke Giorgi Building-Auditorium                                   

200 S. Wyman                                    

Rockford, IL

Chicago: West:

State Representatives  Arroyo, Graham, Yarbrough, Ford, Turner, Collins, Soto,

Mendoza (Hosts)

            03/26/08 at 6:00pm

            Bethel New Life Auditorium    

1150 N. Lamon St.               

Chicago, IL

Metro East:

            State Representatives Beiser, Hannig, Holbrook, Reitz, Younge (Hosts)

            03/26/08 at 6:00pm

            Belleville West High School         

Commons Area                                        

4063 Frank Scott Parkway              

Belleville, IL

Chicago: North

            State Representatives D'Amico, Lang, Lyons, Feigenholtz, Fritchey, Harris, R. Bradley (Hosts)

            03/27/08 at 6:00pm

            Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center - Olson Auditorium             

836 W. Wellington Ave.                

Chicago, IL

Chicago: Southwest

            State Representatives Brosnahan, Burke, Joyce, McCarthy, Molaro (Hosts)

            03/27/08 at 6:00pm

            Oak View Community Center    

4625 W. 110th St.
            Oak Lawn, IL