Hunting out of state???
 

How many of you guys dothe majorityof your hunting out of state each year?

I live in Grand Rapids,MI and I travel to Franklin Co. Illinoisto do almost all of my hunting. I only went out here in MI5 or 6times last season while I spenta total of 22 days on our lease in Illinois. We have 1000acres of bottoms on the Little Muddy just east of Benton, IL.If your looking for mature whitetails it just isnt worth it spending most of your season perched in a stand in MI. I do have a lease of 540 here in S. MI over by Portland but am keeping it more for a close place for my kids to hunt.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

This year I am seriously looking at the state of Ohio for my first out-of-state hunting adventure. I am somewhat miffed with Virginia and their crazy laws and recent hike in hunting/fishing fees - and you still can't hunt on Sundays! [:@]

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I only hunt in the state I live. I think Non-Residents are evil! He he he... Just kidding you Pass-thru!

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Will mainly hunt my same old areas here in Illinois, but am hunting in Indiana this year as well on a few weekends. My mother still owns and lives on the old family farm there and I can also hunt a few surrounding properties there too.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I'm doing the out-of-state thing for the first time this year in Illinois. A bowhunt for a full week in S. Illinois the first week of November. I keep hearing about these great Illinois bucks, so I'm taking a crack at it.

In my area in GA, I'll be lucky to see 1 deer 120 class or better annually and I'm really tired of 110 inch deer walking under me everytime I go to the woods. My best bow buck is a 115 (11 pointer - only 2.5 yrs old) and another 9 point about the same score and 7.5 yrs old. I'm convinced that except in a few pockets in the state, we just don't have the genetics or nutrition or soil quality or farming to consistantly produce quality bucks.

Will I be happy with my choice of S. Illinois? Should I get more opportunities there to see and hopefully harvest a P&Y buck (at least)?
I hope so!

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I do most of my hunting at home here in Ma. but I spend a week in Me. and a couple of weeks in CT. I wish I could go to one of the big deer states but its a lot of cash to pay and outfitter thats just not in the budget.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Mike,

I know what you mean about cost. If I would have had to do an outfitter to Illinois I don't think I could do it either (five days $2000 or more and $400 worth of licenses gets pricey).

I got a better dealthan that because we're doing private farms and I get to do my own scouting and setups too, which I prefer anyway.

The other thing is that this deer hunting thing is a passion for me and I don't mind working a little harder or extra jobs in order to pay for the passion. Still, this is the first year I've tried it and I don't know if I'll continue. We'll see!

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

formula1,

Where in S. IL are you going? The deer in IL are everywhere. Had three bedded down by my well the other night. Good luck!!!

D

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Union County, I believe on the southern end. I haven't been there yet, but I have some friends who put me on it. I will be doing a formal scouting trip later this summer and I haveseen the property via video. From that, it looks pretty awesome! Do you think it will be any good!!!

You're a lucky man to be in deer hunting heaven!

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Should gas prices continue their upward trend, for most of us "Joe Lunchbucket" guys any hunts with extended travel are in jeopardy in the coming years.