Hello all,

Haven't been out but a few times this year and only hunt just outside of town. I have a new spot to hunt on a thick fence line connected to 10-15 acres over looking a corn field. This fence rowis pretty much centeredw/ sections of timber all around. Stand has been in place for a few days now. letting it settle before hunting it.

What are deer doing now? What tactics are u using to bring them in? scents, decoys, grunts,rattling, active scrape?........or is it just best to wait till them show up? When do you expect rut to hit and plan to sit all day?

Any info or tips would be appreciated!

Thanks all, Good luck and be safe!

I haven't had any luck in northern Illinois,but Monday hunted down state and shot two deer,I only had one day to hunt so I hung my stand Sunday night for a Monday hunt and connected finally after hunting 9 times up north.If they have removed the corn near you I think you'll be seeing deer for sure.Up north where I hunt the corn is still in the fields so I haven't had luck where I hunt,down south the corn has been picked.Good luck whereabouts are you hunting?

In norhtern and west-central IL the bucks are still in small groops and have not seperated yet. I think that will start to happen within the next week. I suspect we will start seeing them start chasing does as soon as that happens. As drstalker said, there isn't a lot of corn out in the northern areas and until that happens, the bucks usualy stay put and limit their movements to night around here.
Good luck and be safe

Crutch...long time no see man. How have you been doing?

About 15 miles to the east of you, the deer movement hasn't kicked up a whole lot for me. But I still have over 100 acres of corn standing within eyesite of my stands. Should be coming out in the next 3 or 4 days though. I have some vacation scheduled for the end of next week and beginning of the following anticipating some movement during the beginning of the rut.

Good luck to you man!!

I hunt in Scott county IL. I rattle and grunted this guy in on Sunday the 15th. About a minute after I rattled he came trotting in and he was pissed. Maybe I was just lucky and caught him in a bad mood I don't know. I have been rattling and grunting every time I have been out since then, and haven't had anything else pay much attention to the calls. That being said I would rattle lightly and grunt every now and then but it will be another week or two before they start really gettin at it.

I am headed down to Schuyler County tomorrow afternoon for a long weekend hunt.

Corn was taken out of the fields last Friday,

I hope to post some pictures onMonday

Nice buck Chris!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be in Brown Co. this weekend but I'll be duck hunting.

Hey,
Thanks for all the replies. Got a new hunting place just south of town. Sitting on a thick end row attached to 10 acres and big sections of timber all around. Looking over a corn field....[8D] Wanted to see what you all noticed the deer were doing.

Went out tonight for the first time. Seen two does and three small deer together. About the same time I seen a good size buck going along a fence line. Just a little to far out to see rack size.

Here's the kicker, I went out to sit, just to see if there was anything moving about. The wind was not favoring my location. Normally the wind seems toblow east and a little south (perfect for my spot).Tonight heading west. We'll I was like a kid in a candy store (new hunting spot).

The does and small ones came out. One of the does winded me and was looking around not really alarmed but headed other direction. I probably could have grunted at the buck, but didn't want him over here winding me either. He was 130-140 yrds or so away. Waited till almost dark to slip out. Got to the end of timber and those deer werein the bean fieldbetween me and my truck. I walked and waited, walked and waited finally I think I made it to truck without spooking them.

IL BOW MAN, Seems I have been helping coach kids sports most of summer and just finished with mighty mite football a couple weeks ago..
Did manage to hit shawnee Nation Forest a few weeks ago also. Ilet the airout ofa two year old doe Saw a small buck also. I also let the air out of a couple beer cans...[8D] Other than that, hoping this new locations brings me something to put on the wall.

That sure is anice deer you got there Chris..Congrats

Thanks again guys!!!