Over the weekend, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed four bills into law promoting hunting among Illinois youth.

The promotion of hunting among Illinois youth emphasizes the importance of hunter safety courses and DNR Conservation Officer John Williamson indicates those classes are going to start picking up as we begin to approach the month of September.

According to Williamson, the courses can be taken online now, leaving minimal time in the classroom. He notes though, if you take the course in the traditional classroom setting, those take place all over central Illinois.

Williamson notes, if you are hunting out of state, most states require having a hunter safety course completed.

For more information on anything Department of Natural Resources, visit Illinois.dnr.gov.