It has affected us in Southern IL as well ( South of Mt.Vernon). The majority of the Farmers around here are stuggling to make ends meet and when someone ( usually out of state hunters)come along and offers them 10 bucks an acre to hunt it they usually accept. This inturn affects the locals as they are now not allowed to hunt on this land because it is now leased, even though it might only get hunted 10 days of the season or less. The average income around here is approx 18k per year thus not many locals can afford to pay for hunting property.

In addition this area has the well known Shawnee Natl Forrest which is open to hunting. I have not hunted in a single location where I have not encountered an out of state hunter during hunting hours. Add the locals into the mix and it gets crowded pretty quick.

My Family and I have been blessed over the years to have land available but now the land owner has passed leaving the land to his Grand children and the possability of loosing this land to hunt is very high.

This is very upsetting to me as my Father and I shotgun hunt every year together and have every year since he first took me when I was 10 ( 22yrs). If we are forced to hunt on the Shawnee I know he would loss interest as he has a prostetic leg as a result of a land mine in Viet Nam and would not be able to hike the distance needed to escape other hunters.

This is the only time other than Turkey season that we actually hang out and spend time alone and I cherish those memories of years past. Its hard to think that someting as menial as a hunting lease can affect a Father Son relationship but it is a sad possability.