Although one should note.. my spots change on a yearly and often monthly fashion.

Order of importance. None really.

I hunt (along with Justin) some of the worst properties you will ever find. I honestly have spots with only 4 or 5 acres of woods all in fencerows spread out over 100 acres. Trespassers are a normal occurence even on this land.. unleashed dogs.. Donkeys.. horse back riders.. snowmobilers.. ATVer's... thieves etc. Welcome to big city hunting.

Permission is favored most by me. So I guess access is number 1.

I do travel to hunt.. but not because of larger deer (although it plays a big role) I travel to get away from all the stuff I have to put up with on a constant basis.. and I get to see MUCH more wildlife in the country rather than outside the city.

Try being in the woods on a November morning near 1,000 roads and 4 major Chicago highways within a large sprawled out "progress" setting and then try to hear a deer walk. You almost can't.[&o]

For me the traveling is a welcome to get away from the masses and get on bigger animals.

And I'd love to travel closer to home. But in Illinois.. near Chicago.. the rich buy and lease all the good land within 2-2.5 hours of it's downtown (and thats getting larger). You simply have to go further to find land.

That's the unpublished truth about Illinois.