questions for Illinois folks...

[Buck Huntin Girl]

Okay, so after being on this site and my eyes being opened to the tremendous numbers of monsters coming out if Illinois, I thought I may ask some questions of ya'll.

First of all, I am guessing it's awfully hard to get a NR license? Second of all, do ya'll have much state land to hunt, and if so, are there still nice deer on the state land or is it so saturated with hunters that it's like Northern Michigan (**rolling eyes**)?

I wouldn't mind making a trip over there for a few days anyway, what is the price of the NR license and what are your seasons?

TIA

[t roy]

there are no big deer in Illinois, no public land, and the tags are like $5k a piece.

[Buck Huntin Girl]

Hey now, is this some kind of a sick joke!? LOL

[t roy]

yeah, seriously, i think permits sold out in 1 day this year. around $225 ea. and i cant tell you much about public land, never hunted any, i can tell you there is more in the southern half of the state especially far south.

[.:indrid_cold:.]

all hunting sucks in IL. it's actually the worst in the country. id try indiana...much, much better

[standsnblinds]

don't try IN. Small deer and not many of them, plus season's over. the tags for Ill are like 125 bucks, but I'm not sure about the second season for gun, dont know about archery. I hunt over there, but on private land.

[Don K]

Ok ill pipe in here.

NR tags are on a first come first serve basis. They open the phone lines on a certain day and allow a certain amount of tags to be sold that could be used state wide. Im not certain but i think the cap is around 15,000 now as it was raised this year. (i may be off on that number a bit). The phone system in place is by Bass Pro and im hearing that their contract is up this year and there has been alot of problems with people getting through. This year there is talk of a mail in lottery system being implemented but thats just "hear say" right now. The tags are in the 220 range but you also have to purchase a NR hunting license along with it. Our great DNR leader has also mentioned he would like to raise the tags to the 400 dollar range but this was just tossed out there. (NR tags are already to high IMO and raising them will only have other states do the same) This is all archery that im talking about im assuming thats what your looking for? Also your NR tag will get you one either sex tag and one antlerless only tag.

As far as public land we are ranked like 47th in the country for public land. There is good public land out there but pressure in some areas is high. There are some great bucks on public land you just need to do some homework and put some time in.

I would go here and start reading the information there.
http://dnr.state.il.us/

Theres information on the tag fees, public land available and anything else you might need.


Don

[joemj36]

there are big bucks, but the majority of them are around the mississippi. the public land in IL is pretty bad, there isnt much, and the land there is isn't good hunting at all. but good luck

[bolton22]

For hunting land you can also use the Access Illinois Program...

[justhuntitall]

Buck Huntin Girl
I dont like to tell my honey holes but I can hook you up with some good public ground. PM me and I will give you the low down. It might take me awhile to get back to you but I will.