Welcome to the area. I don't live in the area any longer but I did hunt sangamon, Menard & Cass counties for over 10 years. With it being so close to open season, your best bet is to hunt the thousands of acres of public land. Go to IDNRs website & you'll find plenty of public land in the area to hunt. I've hunted Sangchris lake SP, Jim Edgar Panther Creek SP & Wildlife Area & Sangamon River Valley Preserve & they all offer great hunting & some bruiser bucks. Good luck!