SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill Friday night to give landowners and farmers more flexibility to hunt deer on their property.

Farmers across the state have told Democrats and Republicans that deer have caused expensive and costly damage to their crops and farmland. 

This legislation would allow the state to issue antlerless-only deer removal permits based on the percentage of permits redeemed in the previous season. It could also expand youth hunting tags from one to two.

"It's very important to the farming community around the state, many of them who have suffered a crop damage," said Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago). "Using a survey of Illinois farmers, it's estimated that deer damage causes over $400 million to corn and soybean production alone."

Senate Bill 710 previously passed unanimously out of the Senate. The proposal now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk.

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