I hunt around the prescott national forest and Yavapai national forest unguided all the time. If you atleast know the basics of varminting and good survival skills you could hunt on your own without any problems just besure to have a survival kit that deffinately has a good first aid kit and a snake bite kit also have a good supply of drinking water and some food incase you have to spend a night or two in the bush just to be prepared for the worst, for example a buddy and I were hunting the low lands last weekend and it began to rain not thinking about it on our way out yarber wash was flooding and there was no way to cross it untill the rain settled some so we ended up spending the night waiting for the flood water to slow enough to cross.

Heres a list of the possibles it would be wise to have with you:

1:A map of the area you are in and a good compass ( i prefer a lensatic compass) and binoculars
2: A first aid kit and a snake bite kit
3:atleast 2 gallons of bottled water per day you plan to stay in the bush
4: A few day supply of canned food or MRE's and salt and pepper
5: A whistle and glow sticks and some water proof matches ( during the dry season its not recommended and some places its illegal to make a camp fire). In that case have a propane stove and a propane space heater for heat sources but just keep matches anyway just incase.
6:A cell phone, 2 way radio and or weather radio, GPS some form of communication is always a plus. and you may want to stay up on the weather.
7: flash light and extra batteries
8: some form of shelter, tarp, tent, camper, camper shell, etc.
9: sleeping bag, blankets, bed roll, change of clothes, rain suit and a good parka or over coat. it might be warm during the day but night time can get very chilly.
10: a basic tool kit, hatchet, axe , hand saw, hammer never know when one of those may come in handy it also can be wise to have a chain saw.

those are some of the basics i keep in my truck some may think its to much but I like to be prepared for anything. Anything else you would add or think would be important you should have with you also. good luck and always have fun

where in illinois are you from?, I grew up in the midwest, kansas city,Mo to be exact. I moved to arizona a year ago.