back in 2006 i was hunting with a good friend in Clinton County, Illinois. He swears to this day that he saw a cougar on opening day of 06 archery season. Last year in was hunting in nashville, illinois and another buddy and i were hunting and when we met up and were walking back in we saw some unusual tracks, a little hard to make out because they were in snow and kind of melting away, but they were a little weird. So did my friend really see one? I dont know, was it a cougar track i saw in the snow, I definitely cannot confirm that, but in all honesty, i dont bull****, i would put a large wager on it that there are cougars in Illinois, especially southern illinois, somewhere in the thick woods of shawnee theres got to be something. agree to disagree, but its almost ridiculous to say theres not.