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.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I only hunt in my home state. I have private property across the state and I often don't even get a chance to go to the spots farther from where I live even though they are the better spots. With kids and a budget I can't justify (or afford) the cost of an out of state license, let alone guide fees. I don't even pay club dues (not in a club).

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I do most of my huntingat home but I take several trips to KY deer and turkey hunting and have been to Tx. bobcat hunting. I enjoy the change of terrian.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I live in Maryland and I hunt 100% in Wisconsin. I just bought a new bow and will be looking to do some hunting around my house in MD.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I also live in MD, and do all of my hunting in my home state. I'd love to go after some of those giant bucks in Ill, Iowa, or Kansas, but the gas prices are becoming as big a deterrent as some of the other costs. Heck, my spring turkey hunts make me travel about 450 miles round trip just for a chance at a "free" turkey! :D

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Well the way I see the gas price problem is this at $2.00/gal it costs me $36 dollars to fill up which take 4 tanks to S. Illinois and back costing me a total of $144 in gas per trip. If it goes to $3.00 it will cost me $72.00 more per trip. And at $4.00 would be $144 more per trip.Now devide that in 1/2 because my brother always goes with me and that brings the amount between $2.00/gal and $4.00/gal to $72 dollarsper trip for each of us.That isnt enough to make me miss out on the rut in Illinois. Some of you guys need to talk a buddy or two into heading out with you. My wife surely complains about the increase since Im also just an everyday working guy but I make up for it by packing a lunch everyday instead of eating off the aweful gut truck or going out at lunch time. I also try to cut corners elsewhere. ANYTHING to make it to IL in Nov. Where there's a will there's a way.

Jason

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I live in Pa. I hunted a total of 3 days last fall with rifle, killed a heavy 9 pt. I got a 10 pt. in mid oct. in ohio then packed up my stuff and headed to ill. hunted there about 18 days for the first time, what a place. I hunt only free places with a lot of time andresearching you will come up with more land then you can hunt. If I only hunted at home I wouldn't be able to hunt much because I'm a workaholic I have to leave down to get away from it . I'm willing to bust my butt 10 months a year to hunt2 months were I want to ,it gives me a goal in life . I'v hunted in 10 states and canada in my time I am 44 yrs old and don't make a lot of money laying carpet but I'm good saver.Good luck to all.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

formula1,
I have not hunted that far South. My boss has hunted a spot a county South of Union and they do well down there. He said the deer a very large. Are you going to be near the river or Shawnee National Forest? It looks on the map to be a great area. Let us know how you do. I live just East and North of St. Louis in Macouipin County. Good luck!!

D

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Mostly hunt local areas,my son and my self try to take a road trip every other year- ohio this year. Rich

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

My home state mostofthe time, but I do have plans to visit Iowa and Alberta again in the next couple years.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

forumula1... I'd recommend staying away from Union County; there's simply no deer around there at all...














;)


[:-]If you won't tell anyone, these two came from around that neck of the woods...




Like I said, little dinks like this is all that's around there.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Greg, Great lookin bucks. Congrats!!!! Where is Union Co. from where I hunt in Frankiln Co. Is it in that general area? East ofthe city of Benton/Franklin Co.right? I looked at some property in Hamilton I believe also. I have also hunted in Pope Co. with an outfitter down by Galconda. After that first hunt I said I would always come back. What an experiance.

Jason

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Greg/MO what broad heads are you using, hole looks nasty. Rich

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

RWK, that hole was made by a Cabela's Lazerstrike I was trying out which is basically a knock-off of Rocket Aerohead's Slammerhead... the EXACT same dimensions, weight, Pathfinder point,everything -- just $8 cheaper or something like that. They've GOT to be paying a royalty to be able to make it, or either Rocket is making it for them and allowing them to private-label it.

And you're right, it opened up an awesome hole; blood was just gushing as he bolted and ran right past my tree. I could see it just pumping out of him as he ran by. Of course, it helps when you perfectly center their heart! ;)

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Little dinks my butt! Those are "dinks" that any whitetail hunter would be proud of and few ever get.:)










;)


[:-]If you won't tell anyone, these two came from around that neck of the woods...




Like I said, little dinks like this is all that's around there.




[/quote]

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Greg/Mo:

Ouch!! After seeing those pictures, I'm going to go nuts waiting for November. I'm taking my 2003 Bowtech Extreme VFT with me and my son's Bowtech as a backup.

D Man 1,

It is near the Shawnee Forest I believe, I'll be sure to keep you informed. I so excited, especially after Greg's picture, I don't know if I can contain myself.[8D]

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Greg,

BTW, do you know what those two bucks scored?

Also, my son asks how do you become a Bowtech Pro Staffer? He says he's interested!!!

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

formula,

The top buck went a touch over 130 and the bottom was 162 5/8.

I believe there's a link on www.bowtecharchery.com to apply; he can read up on what BowTech is looking for there. Good luck.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

That bottom one has alien blood or something comming from its nose and mouth. It's yellow.[:-]

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Greg:

I know about that 'alien' blood. As you know every night the mother ship comes down to earth, drops off all the Whitetails and picks them up again at dawn. Occasionly, the ship gets here a little early or leaves a little late, so we get a few sightings as a result. This is how we answer the question that inevitably always gets asked around hunting camp every year (Where have all the deer gone?). Perhaps that explains the alien appearance of that green blood. It could happen!!![8D]

I'll write that off as a great 'quartering' shot, and I'm serious when I say that. After all, it must have been a great shot, you're posing with it aren't you.

Good hunting! I'll be doing a Union County, IL scouting trip sometime around late August.

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

Dropped dead in his tracks 35 yards after the shot sliced through him, so -- yeah, I'd say it worked. ;)

RE: Hunting out of state???
 

I do as much, maybe more, of my hunting across the state line. Since I'm from KS. and my family still farms and I own farm land back there, it's just too nice to go hunt when I want to. I do, however, do a lot of hunting in CO. where I now live. Since I can't elk hunt in KS., and I can't antelope hunt in KS., and I have good mule deer here in CO., I do a lot of hunting here too!