Illinois Hunting Land
 

For the last 6 months or so, I've been looking for a 40-50 acre piece of property to buy in Illinois for hunting and investment. The so-called Golden Triangle properties I've seen listings for (both private and through real-estate agencies) are listed for anywhere between $2,200 to $4,800 per acre. For me, all but the low end (cost/acre) properties are out of my ability to buy and many of those are prone to flooding or appear to be less desireable, at least by looking at pictures. I'm sure there are many good hunting counties in Illinois but other than harvest statisitcs by county, I have no way to focus my search. I know I'm treading on on sacred ground here (no pun intended) as a non-resident of Illinois from Maine, looking to buy property but I'd truly appreciate any input on other counties in Illinois that provide good deer hunting that are not as highly touted by the retail hunting media and that are possibly misrepresented by the harvest statistics due to huntable acreage, etc. Thank You!..............

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Can't help you with an affordable piece of ground. Most everything in Illinois is getting more and more expensive every year. Some real marginaly crop ground can be had and some pasture ground can be had for 1500 here and there. Not an ideal solution but you can make the property work with plantings and improvements as long as the area has the potential you are looking for.

I also wouldn't over look those not so great piece of properties that you have found. With some planning and hardwork those properties can become a lot nicer than one might think. No, they won't be turn key but there are lots of great people around who can help you with habitat enhancement to the point that you might find yourelf with a little piece of heaven to work with.

Good luck finding an area not affected by either 1) commercial hunting or 2) commerical development. The land speculators are buying land further and further out from the metro areas every year and raising prices up. Those prime looking pieces of hunting ground unfortunately are prime housing development ground too in much of the Northern part of the state.

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

right now is a bad time to buy land in illinois. currentlly alot of ground is changing hands around the chicago area. those sellers are reinvesting their money in downstate ground so they dont have to pay major capital gains taxes. they are useing alot of 10-31 exchanges. right now the market i feel we have a false market. dont get in a big hurry. jmho

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Take a look at Cass, Menard, Fulton, and Schuyler counties. They all have just as good, if not better, hunting than the "Golden Triangle" does. Problem is, property prices are going up state-wide so you'd better hurry. It won't be long before you can't find land anywhere in IL for under 5K an acre.

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Yeah, Illinois property isn't getting any cheaper these days. If you find something at a moddest price, I'd jump on it!

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

How many folks will be hunting the property?? Is this something you would have seevral guys comming back to hunt?? I might know of a tract or two but would like to know your honest opions of QDM and hunting pressure?

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Cornfed, Re. "how many hunter would be on the property ?", the answer is more than likely just me and/or my wife or 1 hunting buddy. My honest opinion about QDM is that I support it 100% as long as the surrounding landowner are of a like mind. 120-130 inches of antler minimum. Food plots are also something I'd be interested in planting in addition to any tillable acreage that may be planted. It would be a situation where I'd only be able to hunt the area a handful of days per year......20+ hr. drive for me.......

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

I've got my eye on a few pieces of land in central Illinois that I can't afford right now. How about you buy the land and I'll keep watch of it for you while you're gone? :D

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Check some of the rivere bottoms areas along the Mississippi,Rock,Illinois or Ohio rivers.Also northern Lake, Mchenry, Jo Davies ,boon and Dekalb counties ,may have some land for sale. big deer in theese areas but the land in those areas may be expensive damn developers have bought up most of the county I live in(Kane)I predicted ovger twenty years ago that the northern third of Illinois will some day be one huge metropolitan area from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river it's happening pretty quick[:@].

RE: Illinois Hunting Land
 

Check out Southern Illinois