RE: Best times to hunt
NOV. 2 - NOV. 14 IS THE TRADITIONALLY BEST TIME TO DO DAMAGE IN ILLINOIS. BUT MY VACATION IS SET RELIGOUSLY TO THE RUTTING MOON. I BELIEVE 3 DAYS BEFORE AND UP TO 7 DAYS AFTER ARE THE BEST TIME TO HUNT. I HAVE SEEN TOO BIG BUCKS FALL DURING THIS TIME PERIOD NOT TO BELIEVE IT. I SAW TWO SHOOTERS LAST YEAR BEFORE THIS TIME HUNTING EVERYDAY. DURING THIS TIME, I SAW 10-15 DIFFERENT SHOOTERS. MY SUGGESTION IS TO HUNT ALL DAY. I HUNT PUBLIC GROUND AND I SEE LOTS OF DEER ACTIVITY FROM 10 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. AND PROBABLY WOULD SAY MAJORITY IS MATURE BUCK MOVEMENT. KILLED P&Y LAST YEAR AT 10 A.M. AND IN 2005 AT 2:20 P.M 20 MINUTES AFTER I GOT UP THE TREE.