just back from Illinois
 

I just got back from a week of hunting in Illinois. All I can say is WOW! That place has a ton of deer. Although I did not fill my buck tag I did fill both tags with some nice does.
The hunt went very well. Day one started out at a cool 24 degrees and windy. After a uneventful morning hunt I moved to a stand in a fence line overlooking a bean field. I had a few scrapes and heavy trails coming into the field so I was very excited about the area. After about a hour I had a doe walk right down the fence line feeding and after about an hour of watching it I knew she was alone so I decided to fill my doe tag. The funny thing is I have been practicing for a few months at 45 yards preparing for a long shot if needed but my shot on this deer was 5 yards. My tribute did me proud with a clean pass and the deer ran about 40 yards.
The rest of the time was a little rough with a couple days of rain with temps up and down but I still hunted passing on several small bucks and other does. I waited until the last hunt and did not want to come home with a tag soI fill my other tag with another doe.Although Iwas a little disappointednotgetting a buckbut I was very happy to take some nice does.
Atleast my freezer is now full so Ican concentrate on my home land and get my buck. Iam very happy with the performance of my new tribute. Both deer had clean passes and none went over 40 yds.
I cansay thatall that practice has paid off. I fussed about practicing for a long shot but that practice made my 2 short shots seem like a chip shot.
To all you folks that live in the mid west all I can say is WOW you guys have some nice deer. I will dream about that 10 pointer that was 3 inches outside his ears and had atleast 12in g2's till next year. I am thankfull he gave me a look at forty yards in some thick brush but never a shot but I will be back.

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Bummer, I think.....that you didn't get a buck, but man....sounds like a good time to me!! Going again?

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Yes I did have a great time and I will definatley go back. Bummed about no buck thats why they call it hunting and not killing. After seeing that many deer Ican see why the locals beg you to kill all that you see. They are tired of hitting them with there cars. It was well worth the money and time.

RE: just back from Illinois
 

atleast you didnt come home empty handed. Im leavin on sunday for a week of hunting out there!! Im pumped, I'll let yall know how it goes when i get back!

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Did you hunt with a outfitter?

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Where did you go in Illinois? Im guessing southern illinois- like pike county or something....send them babies up north, my hunting land sucks!

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Couldn't of been the south. There is only about 10-15 deer per square mile. Much much less than Louisiana. There's just a lot less woods so you see more. Try flipping the ratio of woods to fields in LA. and see how many deer you see!

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Pike county is not in southern Illinois. However, I know you guys from up around Chicago consider south of Chicago southern Illinois. Paramed I'm glad you had a successfull hunt up here in IL. Hope you get a chance at that big boy next year. What county did you hunt?

RE: just back from Illinois
 

My buddy John just got back sat from a 5 day bow hunt there also. He went to the south. 3 states are right around where he went. He had an awesome time. Saw a lot of deer but none close enough. The place he went has a website. WWW.HANDSHUNTING.com

RE: just back from Illinois
 

For those of you wondering I hunted Calhoun county, we were just off the illinois river and the county just under pike. As a matter of fact from the top of a tall ridge you could see the river.

Jachunter. The ratio of woods to field is all relative to where you hunt in La. I hunt just north of Baton rouge and we have lots of woods but I have also hunted in places with lots of fields around here and not seen deer like I did up there. Because its so thick around here you are right its hard to see deer but there is no mistaking the amoount of sign I saw alond with the deer that only a few deer did not make all that.

I would recommend that anyone who gets a chance to hunt the midwest take the trip. well worth it!

RE: just back from Illinois
 

I think I told you a while back you would enjoy hunting Calhoun Co. Glad it worked out for you. Those big bucks just aren't around every tree tho like everybody thinks.

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Ain't that the truth? I hunt SOUTHERN Illinois, and when I talk about it, people are guessing as far north as Champagne-Urbana and what I would call Northern Illinois... It's like there's two states there: Chicago, and Southern Illinois! :D

RE: just back from Illinois
 

I-80 is the dividing line of Northern and Southern Illinois to most here.

Or anything south of Kankakee is in Southern Illinois.

I am going toWest Central Illinois on Thursday, for a long weekend.
Can't wait.

RE: just back from Illinois
 

Thanks for the update on your trip. Sounds like you had a great time, saw lots of deer, and even managed to fill your freezer in the process. Many hunters consider that a great tripand for good reason!

RE: just back from Illinois
 

I have lived all my life in the midwest. Illinois born & raised & now Iowa. In Ill. I was 1 hr. from Ws. & 1/2 hr. from Iowa. Now I live in Iowa & am still 1 hour from Ws. & 1/2 hr. from my home town in Ill. NORTH
Yep, we have big bucks behind most every bush-they just don't get out where you can shoot em. I have been spoiled for sure when it comes to Whitetail hunting. These are a couple of several like these. I have NOT taken a Buck in 3 years now-holding off & trying for a real big boy.
Good Luck to all the rest of the season. I have passed on 2 Bucks REAL close this year.