Illinois Hunters, Outdoorsmen Hope for Ally in Rauner

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois hunters and outdoors enthusiasts see Gov. Bruce Rauner as a potential new ally in Springfield as they advocate for a number of pieces of legislation this year.

The Republican often touts a love of hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Fellow hunters are hoping he brings a friendly perspective to natural resource issues and bills related to guns and hunting.

Among them are bills that would ban drones while hunting, resurrect the hunting of bobcats, allow silencers at gun ranges and open up coyote hunting to crossbows.

Outdoors enthusiasts meanwhile fear the state's budget crunch will hurt management of the Department of Natural Resources and state parks.

The budget Rauner proposed this month would reduce the DNR's budget by $8 million. Most savings would come from managing staffing levels.