Shabonna hot spots (IL)

hsiddall · 09-20-2008, 06:46 PM

Im a 24 year old son of a single mom. Ive bow hunting 3 years now with no kills and onlyt two spottings. Anyhow, I paln to spend the firs two or three days of the season at Shabonna state park. Looking for any specific "hot" or high activity areas. Ive got one spot on the east side of the park near the rr tracks. Any hel would be much appreciated...
thanx

salukipv1 · 09-20-2008, 08:41 PM

hunted there way back in the day, late season bow, in january, saw a ton of them all bunched up, maybe 50+ in one group.

I'd check out google earth, and see if you can try and find some areas....back in the day I used some aerial maps to help me pick out a spot or two.

Good luck to you, pressure I think is the biggest problem. I hunted an area probably about as far south as you could. there was a creek bottom, train tracks/bridge going over the creek. I believe it would be the spillway creek if you followed it down south.

Wouldn't say it was a hot spot, but I think looking from topside down you may find some areas to checkout.

I think ive seen 2 bucks in all my time out there, 1 was a big 10pt, the other a dead 6pt in the lake with an arrow in it. So take your does and help that place out!

yodeldog3 · 09-22-2008, 06:31 PM

The best thing you can do is, get camoed up use a good cover scent and just go do some scouting. Look for good feeding sign, bedding areas, and try to find a spot inbetween and go for it. If you cant find a good spot to hunt, you could be just wasting your time. The hunting season may start oct. 1st but you need to get out there and see whats going on in the woods before that. I have hunted shabs also, the one thing I would tell you is take advantage of rain days. I took two deer from shabbana, and they were both on wet, and cold days when presure was low, and the parking lot was empty.

hsiddall · 09-23-2008, 07:13 AM

Been out the last few days scouting, Ive found my choice spots but my fear is that they are too close to the lot. 200 yards or less to the feeding areas with plenty of signs of dear...

yodeldog3 · 09-24-2008, 06:24 PM

It all depends on where it is, close to the lot is ok if there wont be alot of guys going though the area to get to where they are hunting. Even if there is foot trafic sometimes that can bring deer back around to where they get jumped. If theres alot of deer sign, that means the deer want to be there, so go for it. Good luck.

hammerman · 09-24-2008, 07:23 PM

The first few days will be good but the deer will change their habits quick. I have hunted castle rock andhad good success in the first week and then wait for the rut. I now have access to a farm but I still go out to castle rock on opening day. Public land can be good but it constantly changes. Good luck!

hsiddall · 09-25-2008, 11:19 AM

I figure they will be feeding right at dusk, however opening day i will spend the whole day sunrise to sunset over the food plots...Day two will probably be only the afternoon...

hammerman · 09-25-2008, 12:13 PM

Are you hunitng public ground opening day?

hsiddall · 09-25-2008, 05:46 PM

you know it....