back to Legislative Assistance Home Illinois Legislative Summary   In the spring of 2003 I started lobbying to change the Illinois hunting regulations to permit the use of leashed tracking dogs for the recovery of lost and wounded deer. In the winter of 2004 a bill was sponsored in the Illinois Legislature by Senator Todd Sieben and Representative Dan Reitz. With support and guidance of several key DNR employees, and a handful of dedicated hunters and trackers, the bill was signed into law in time for the 2004 deer season. The administrative rules for tracking on public land were written in the spring of 2005, marking the end of a three year process from start to finish. The following is a short summary of how the tracking law was passed.   Illinois is one of the Midwestern states famous for its trophy whitetails, and there was sure to be a lot of tracking interest and opportunity if a law could be passed. Fortunately, we weren't the first state to make the change to allow tracking dogs, and there was much information and guidance that could be used to introduce the concept. A logical first step was to put together a written information package that included letters, articles, a chapter from Richard Smith's book Tracking Wounded Deer, and advance chapters from John Jeanneney's book Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer. Each package contained about 100 pages of information, and explained in detail the usefulness of a good blood tracking dog. Throughout the process I mailed dozens of these packages to members of various boards, legislators, and DNR administrators.   As an avid bowhunter, my next step in the process was to contact the Illinois Bowhunters Society, and the United Bowhunters of Illinois, and provide each with a demonstration of a dog working an artificial bloodline. The boards of both groups eventually decided that perhaps tracking dogs might have a proper place in the deer woods, and while neither group placed dog tracking on their legislative agenda, neither group opposed the bill. Both bowhunting groups are very politically active, and I knew that unopposed positions were positive steps in the right direction.   At the same time I approached the Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources (IFOR), which represents approximately 60,000 affiliated outdoors users in the state, including both bowhunting groups, and several field trial and hound associations. IFOR has a strong voice within the DNR and the Legislature, and they came on board with a supportive position. Eventually, IFOR's Executive Director and professional lobbyist was present to support the bill at both legislative hearings.   At this point, there was sufficient public support to present a case to the Department of Natural Resources and to the Legislature. I initially made contact with the DNR though the Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB), which is tasked with advising the DNR on legislative issues. While there was support within NRAB and within several departments of the DNR, it quickly became clear that the change could not be effected by administrative rule, and that the issue would have to go to the legislature.   At this point after months of letter writing and phone calls the momentum seemed to be wearing down and frustration was setting in. Leashed dog tracking is a hunting practice that seems like an obviously good idea to many, while others approach it with skepticism. I think this frustration is likely to happen to anyone who tries to make a change in the face of politics and bureaucracy, but that is when you have to take a seat and write a few more letters. Sometimes there's something positive to be said for plain old stubbornness.   Fortunately, one of the many letters that left my office happened to land on the right guy's desk. Senator Todd Sieben, Co-Chair of the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, had been party to a long blood trail the deer season prior, and he didn't hesitate to sponsor and introduce a bill. The original bill was subsequently amended with the very knowledgeable and cooperative assistance of the DNR's Office of Law Enforcement (sometimes you find dog lovers and knowledgeable blood trackers in all the right places!). The amended bill was then passed in committee and on the Senate floor with unanimous votes. In the house, the bill was sponsored and introduced by the second Co-Chair of the Sportsmen's Caucus, Representative Dan Reitz. At this point the bill appeared to be unstoppable, and it again passed in the house with unanimous votes. The completed bill was signed into law that summer.   Looking back, I can point to several things that spelled the difference between success and failure, but most important of all, was making connections with the right people. First of all there were people like John and Jolanta Jeanneney, Larry Gohlke, Cheri Faust, Al Diehl, Darrell and Janet Friday, and Mike Lankford, who provided much support and willing ears, and who traveled great distances to attend the many meetings and hearings. On the official side, Jack Ward from IFOR, and key members from DNR Law Enforcement provided invaluable support and advice. In particular, Brenda Potts from the DNR, now IFOR's Executive Director, kept the ball rolling at a time when it appeared sure to stall. Last but not least, there are the Chairmen of the Legislative Sportsmen's that made it happen. Henry Holt can be reached through www.illinoistracker.com