You have to treat public land here in Illinois like you do in any other state. You have to get where your typical weekend warriors aren't willing to go. The thicker and nastier and furthest from the parking the better. I see many deer every day year round and even a few really nice bucks but I'm in the Southern part of the state in Wayne county. Don't know where you go but where I live we have an extremely healthy and populous herd. But come deer season they ghost into the thick stuff and dare you to follow. I do completely agree with you about the need for experts and not political idiots being in charge but just because you aren't seeing monster bucks behind every corner doesn't mean they aren't there. They are here and in pretty solid numbers as well. If they weren't, they big hunting guide businesses in the golden triangle would be going broke instead of selling out every year and producing some of the biggest bucks in the country.