? about Bowhunting ILL.

[Big G]

Well for Christmas my wife told me that she was going
to send me on a bowhunting trip. Being a avid bowhunter
and somewhat of a dreamer I have always wanted to get
a chance at a nice buck. My wife knows this..... she also
knows that it is not an easy task to do in VT. I have
taken some very nice bucks here, but we just don't have the
quallity bucks as other places do.

I have been looking at outfitters, but really don't know if
one is better than the other. I know that private land is getting
few and far between out there. How hard is it to find private
land to hunt? Is there a outfitter that could be of help, that
I could check out?

I have seen 130 - 140 class bucks before, but nothing in Vermont.
I really don't want to let this oppurtunity go by because Mrs.
Clause hasn't been this nice since she went to Vegas!!

Thanks for any help.
G




Edited by - Big G on 01/04/2003 19:48:29

[Don K]

Big G,

Sounds like a good wife there.

Getting private land to hunt on here in Illinois can be difficult. Leasing has taken a big chunk, but you can find some if you have the time to get out and knock on doors. We do have public land here but are ranked at like 47th or something like that for public land amounts and access. There is good public land (quality) though if you take the time to do the research.

There are plenty of Outfitters to choose from here. If you decide to go that route take some time and do plenty of research and checking. There seems to be outfitters popping up every time i turn around. There are some real good ones here though just do the checking before you put down your hard earned money. We do have a new outfitter regulation that is going in to effect to try to protect the hunters and help keep the outfitters on the up and up.

One thing i will say is we do have quality bucks here. They just are not around every tree like some people think. Im not sure what your expectations are.


"Im not a guide, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently"

[Big G]

Don,

I have bowhunted for around 20 years and I know that no
matter where I go, I may or may not see a deer. If I was to
spend $1500 to $2500 I would like a chance at taking a good
buck. But then just sitting in my stand staring down an old
doe gets my blood going or having a forkhorn walking around
my tree not having a clue i'm over him gets me going. So I
guess i'm trying to say is seeing deer and being out in the
woods with a chance a big boy would come by would make me
happy. If he doesn't ......he doesn't.

Thanks for the info.
G
P.S. I also know that to hunt a big buck you have to be in
a state that has such a buck.

[uncle matt]

BIG G,

Go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website and check out the ACCESS ILLINOIS program. This is what you are looking for. This site is dedicated to hooking up guys like you with outfitters here in Illinois. If you are seriously looking for a good size buck then my advice would be to bowhunt during the rut here in Illinois. Counties? I'd have to stick with the consistent big buck producers like Pike, Adams or neighboring counties out west along the Mississipi River Valley or southern counties such as Williamson, Johnson or Massac, or neighboring counties down there.

I have seen some DANDY bucks come out of public land down south where I hunt (Johnson County). To keep advantage in your favor, I would prepare yourself physically for any hunt you get to pull in Illinois, especially on the public lands where you want to get beyond the walking ranges of most of the other hunters. Let them push the deer deeper to you.

If you respond to this posting, I could set you up with names of public areas down south and you can download (print) the site info and maps from the IDNR website. You can probobly get alot of info from IDNR website yourself too. Do an evening's research and Good Luck to you. Welcome to Illinois.

NOW....."Go Get Ya One!"

[Don K]

Big G,

You should have no problem getting a quality hunt for the price your looking at. Just check out who your interested in real good.

Uncle Matt has some good suggestions on Access Illinois. The only thing is this program is for setting up private landowners (not outfitters) with hunting land to access. This can be found at:

http://www.2riversrcd.org/accessil/

Theres a good site that people review outfitters and leave input on what their hunts where like. I will try to dig that up incase you decide to go that way.

If you hunt public land on your own you could do it and save money. I would suggest taking a couple weeks if you decide to do that to allow plenty of time.

Whatever way you go, have fun and enjoy.

"Im not a guide, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently"

[hc4runner]

Big G, before you spend your hard earned money on an outfitter let me tell you that there is some excellent public hunting in Southern IL. I hunt the Shawnee National Forest in Johnson and Pope counties and have seen some HUGE bucks there. There are also several State Parks you can hunt also as well the Cache River wetlands. I am from MO. and have been hunting up there for about 10 years and have taken some decent bucks but nothing compared to the ones I have seen.
If were you I would get a map of IL. pick out which counties you would like to hunt, (the southern counties offer the best public hunting) go to the county courthouse and purchase a plat book for the county in which you would like to hunt. The Shawnee Forest is kind of chopped up a little and these plat books will help you recognize the public ground from the private ground.
Hope this helps a little.

[Don K]

HC,

I have hunted that same area a couple years. Stayed at Lake Glendale to camp. Hunted both them counties myself.

Don

"Im not a guide, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express recently"

[carpetguy]

If i were to come to Illinois,and want a good chance to take a trophy class deer.I would have to pick Pike and Pope Counties.That also seems to be where most the Outfitters are popping up.I think most us Illinoians would agree they are the top producing class sized deer.


It's not how big the Deer,But the size of the experiance that matters!!

[Big G]

Just got in from a business trip to NY. 14 1/2 hours on the road
so i'm alittle tired. I will check out the site tomorrow. I am sure
I will have ? for you guys if you don't mind.

Thanks a bunch,
G

[HOSS]

Big G the post by uncle matt is a good one have been involved with the access Ill program before the only thing i can tell you other than that is if you don't hook up with a landowner that meets your expectations contact them and let them know you need more contacts the first time i used them i had one person contact me and that was it. there is another site that i think would be perfect for you that has land for lease in ILL,WI,and IOWA when i find it I'll post it I had to do a system restoration on my puter and haven't got all my stuff put back yet