RE: late ill. hunt
Anytime you can get off go for it. The gun pressure at Panther Creek is very low due to it being a special draw permit. My buddy drew last year and he said the pressure was very low and near to none.
I went there the end of December a couple years back and saw some real nice bucks back in groups. Find the food source, and look for the hillsides where they can get sun.
Any day bowhunting is better than working............