Council Postpones Hunting Ordinance Changes Amidst Confusion Over Leased Land

Litchfield City Council Meeting | Oct. 2, 2025

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council voted to postpone a proposed ordinance that would have required hunters to register and display windshield cards when using city property. The decision followed significant confusion and public concern regarding which city-owned parcels are leased to private individuals and therefore off-limits to the public.

Hunting Ordinance Key Points:

• Action Postponed: The council voted to table the proposed hunting registration ordinance until Feb. 1, 2026.

• The Proposal: The ordinance would have required hunters to register with the city and display a windshield card to assist conservation officers in identifying who is on the property.

• Lease Controversy: Residents expressed frustration over a map showing large portions of city land marked in red (leased) where public hunting is prohibited, despite being taxpayer-owned.

• Current Status: For the remainder of this season, the “map is the map,” meaning hunters must avoid leased areas (marked red) but are not yet required to register for the proposed windshield cards.

The Litchfield City Council decided on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, to tap the brakes on new hunting regulations just weeks before the start of the season, opting to postpone a vote until February to allow for further review of city land leases.

Lake Superintendent Heather Bell had proposed a system requiring hunters to register for a free permit and display a card in their windshields. The goal was to improve safety and help the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Officer identify vehicles parked on city ground.

However, the discussion was dominated by confusion regarding a map provided to the council and the public. The map highlighted areas in red that are city-owned but leased to private individuals for farming or timber programs. Hunting is prohibited on these leased parcels without the lessee’s permission.

During public participation, resident Kevin Davis questioned the transparency of these leases.

“The woods don’t turn red when you’re walking out of there,” Davis said, explaining the difficulty hunters face in knowing when they have crossed from public land onto leased land. He also questioned why the public is barred from hunting on taxpayer-owned land that is enrolled in conservation programs.

“Why are there only two sections of timber at least… around the same person’s [property]?” Davis asked.

City Attorney Michael McGinley admitted that the current administration and legal team had not yet had the opportunity to thoroughly review the legacy lease agreements, some of which date back decades.

“We need to read them and figure out what’s going on,” McGinley said. “I think we’re going to be in a much better position to answer all these questions [after review].”

Alderperson Josh Hughes and others expressed concern about implementing new rules with only weeks before hunting season, noting the difficulty in disseminating the information to the public.

“I think we need more questions answered,” Alderperson Sara Zumwalt said. “I don’t want to do something because… I want more information on why we’re doing it.”

To avoid confusion during the current season, the council voted to table the ordinance until Feb. 1, 2026. This means the proposed registration and windshield card requirement will not be in effect for this fall. However, officials emphasized that hunters must still respect the boundaries of leased land as indicated on current city maps.