I only Bowhunt but your in good country. Public ground is good (bowseason) but I know everything gets pounded during shotgun.
You are the only one that can decide what you want-I have lived on the Ill./Iowa border (NE IOWA & NW ILL) "ALL MY LIFE" & have taken a ton of Deer Bowhunting-never have shotgunned. Sure-we have big Deer & yes Big Racks but collecting them is not easy-I have only 4 good Bucks over my whole lifetime (48 years of Bowhunting) BUT have had many, many chances at some tremendous Bucks. My buddy(from Maryland) hunted with me last year (I took him to a place in NW ILL) & he took a 200 pound plus 8 point on his 3rd day that would score 115-We were both happy with this Buck. Me, because I put up the stand & took him & him cause he got a decent Buck. So, if you want a 140-150 you may go home with a Doe-but you should have a decent hunt. My buddies Buck if it posts.