If you meant to write "Shawnee National Forest;" many moons ago, I strictly hunted in the "Shawnee areas (Union Cnty, Old Shawneetown area, Creal Springs area, and the Harrisburg area).

Eventually, the deer population started growing up my way ( east-central Illinois) and in time, the deer were bigger up here than I was finding in Shawnee. I am sure that has changed. I do miss hunting in the deep wilderness.

In 1983, my dog and I hiked (not hunting) across the Shawnee from the west boundary of the forest to the east boundary. I stayed off the common routes and traversed through the bad areas that were not commonly entered/used. I saw bucks (in velvet) with racks that would rival an elk's headpiece.