cillinoisbowman

Anybody heard of the approximate rut dates for Illinois specifically central Illinois. It seems really close about another week before it starts. By the way if the guy who stole my stand in the middle of the night on Saturday reads this I really hope you went to church on Sunday Morning. Or you might of been too tired from sneaking in and taking the stand, steps and even the rope. Absolutly Pathetic.

Good luck to all the ethical bowhunters this season.

Buckhuntn01

Ci - I know how you feel. I had mine stolen as well. Fortunately, because the farmer who owns the land is also the chief of police in the small town I hunt in, I got the stand back. I have since purchased a combo lock for the stand. I also intend to buy a climber. I figure they cant steal it if your in it. Sorry to hear about the theft of your stand.

Zingnut

Sorry about the stand as far as the rut not sure in your parts. In Southern IL we tired a little to see how the bucks responded. A friend and I had 2 ways on us and he saw a bick buck between us and I was unable to see it but it was heading out of our area. he told me to rattle a little and it scared the tar out of that buck (130 maybe) then told me to use the can. It stopped him dead in his tracks then made him turn my way but never came to me justed looked that way took a few good sniff's then went on the directio he was already going. Maybe this will help to see it is coming but pre-rut is just starting.

JUSTINL

How was the stand taken off?

Carefully or with haste?

The reason I ask is that the anti's in my area (N.ILL) take stands & such down just before either a weekend or the rut. They tend to hack the strap etc.

Whatever they can do to interrupt your hunting success they’ll do

They can no longer interrupt our active hunting, but will do other things that they think will hurt our hunts (ie Ohio’s Orange Vested Deer 2001).

Anyway - sorry to hear about your stand, hope that is wasn’t too expensive. I’ve become a fan of the Baby Gorillas (39.00) because of theft. I’d hate to hang a + $100 stand & have it gone.


&quot;It's not the kill, it's the adventure and challenge! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>&quot;

Mick41

I know how you feel about losing your stand. A tip I've read about is to use one of the cheap metal engraving tools to engrave your Driver's License Number on your stand in observable places. Put your state initials and the number on the stand so that if the police ever come across it, it can be easily returned.

I remember many years ago going in the dark to a Loc-on-lem stand I had hanging and from looking up at it in the dark wondering why it looked so funny. Turns out someone had used a shotgun to blow holes in the wooden platform.

PSE HUNTER

Well that would tick me off too. The way I was raised was if its not yours don't touch it. I mean that is just pathetic that someone has to be that desperate for a tree stand that they need to steal one to satisfy themselves.

cillinoisbowman

Yes and to top it all off we had it chained and locked so he must have used bolt cutters!!

springgobbler

Sorry about your stand.....it is pathetic....

I had one stolen a two seasons ago....it was chained and locked and they shot the lock off....hope you get it back.

Good Luck

ruttnbuck

i to am sorry about the stolen stand, man that would piss me off something fierce!!!<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle> from asking mr. TR Michels about peek breeding here in central Illinois, he responded to my e-mail and told me that biologist had predicted Nov. 10-20 as the peak. Where ya from? i am in the Monticello area.

VAhuntr

People will steal anything they can get their hands on. I lock all my fixed stands with a padlock. This does'nt make them imposiible to steal, but it sure makes it hard on them.