`SPORTING' LICENSE PLATES AVAILABLE IN ILL.

SPRINGFIELD -- A new license plate has been unveiled in Illinois.

The "Sporting Series" is a bit more pricey than the standard Illinois license plate, but a portion of the proceeds goes to the Illinois Wildlife Habitat Fund.

Secretary of State George H. Ryan unveiled the new series of six plates during the recent 1977 Chicagoland Fishing, Hunting, Travel & Outdoors Show.

The colorful new plates, which will be available later this year, features game animals, birds and fish native to Illinois -- a goose, mallard duck, pheasant, turkey, bass or a white-tailed deer.

The plates cost $88, said Ryan, and the annual renewal fee is $75. Of these fees, $25 is automatically dedicated to the Habitat Fund, administered by the state Department of Natural Resources for the protection, maintenance and acquisition of quality habitats for fish and game.

Currently plates and registration cost $48.

"Whatever plate you choose, you're going to be telling everyone that you enjoy wildlife," said Ryan. "Not only that, you'll be telling everyone that you care enough about the future of wildlife and our sporting heritage to make a contribution for the future."

Brent Manning, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, says the new Sporting Series comes at a time when the loss of good wildlife habitat is one of the greatest obstacles facing many Illinois species.

Illinois sportsmen have long understood that habitat development is the key to ensuring diverse fish and wildlife populations, said Manning. "They have greatly contributed to the betterment of our natural resources. '

The special plates provide further opportunities for conservationists to contribute to habitat development, Manning said.

The new plates have a white background with bands of different colors carrying the words "Sporting Series." All the plates carry the traditional "Land of Lincoln" motto.

The new series was approved by the General Assembly in 1996 as House Bill 739.

This is not the first special license plate in Illinois. A highly-successful "Environmental" plate, featuring a bright red cardinal on a blue background, first appeared in 1994. Since then, more than 79,000 sets of the E-Plate have been sold to Illinois motorists, raising more than $3 million to support state parks and recreational areas.