I'm new to IL, having only hunted here for three years, and coming from the UP of Michigan, its like Mecca here for me. Even though i'm a releative newcomer to the state, I've felt the land access problems full force. I have yet to hunt the same piece two years in a row, having been on different ground for three straight years now.

In terms of harvests being down, hard to say what is the culprit. At least we have a check-in system, not just a free-for-all like i'm used to, since MI has NO registration of any kind. I think we may see some kind of reform in the coming years from the DNR in regards to an incentive program for farmers to host hunters, almost like a CRP program, only for people. There is no question outfitters are to blame for Western IL's problems, with doe numbers and greatly plummeting buck harvests. Just in one little area I am familiar with, Comlara Park, it is nothing to go and see 100 deer in one field, and access is limited to a very restrictive draw, doe only, and you get 1 week to hunt it. So, continue to bitch about the deer numbers DNR, but then allow it too keep perpetuating itself too. With so many parks closing, there will be areas with deer thicker than ticks on a bears ass.