SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce advanced a bill that would allow for more humane hunting and an expansion of the hunting industry in Illinois.

“Many hunters I know tend to pass on using centerfire rifles,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “If we can pass this legislation, we will see a significant increase in the use of this hunting rifle.”

Senate Bill 2756 would increase the max capacity of centerfire rifles from one to three rounds. This would put Illinois on par with all other states, as Illinois is the only state that institutes a single-shot limit on centerfire rifle capacity. Joyce led previous legislation that formally legalized the use of single shot centerfire rifles for deer hunting season. Since its introduction, centerfire rifle use among youth hunters has jumped to just over 50 percent. 

Single-shot rifles increase the possibility of severely wounding a deer without giving hunters the opportunity to humanely put the deer down with a second shot. Non-resident hunters, and some Illinois hunters, either need to modify existing rifles or buy new ones to hunt in Illinois. Joyce’s legislation could increase the number of non-resident hunters visiting the state on hunting trips. Centerfire rifles are also an easier gun to handle for women and children, which could make hunting more accessible and safe.

“With this bill we can accomplish two goals at once,” said Joyce. “We can expand the number of hunters visiting our state, and we can hunt dear in a more humane way.”

Senate Bill 2756 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday with bipartisan support.