Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Was wondering if anyone on this site hunted Il. the first week of Nov.? If so what can I expect if I am drawn for the license? It will be my first time in Illinois, I am very excited hope to see a monster. I've hunted Oh, NY,Pa, SC and Canada, but for some reason I am pumped for this hunt. Please post some pics from Illinois if anyone has any.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Usually during the first week of November you'll see, on average, 2-3 shooter bucks per hunt. Most of them are in the 150-160" range, but you should see a couple180's if the weather is right. If you play your cards (and the wind) right, you might be able to get a glimpse of a 200"er, but don't be too quiet or the Yeti might mistake you for prey and it's lights out for Mr. Jim Shorts, if you know what I mean. ;)

PS - Depending on where you're hunting and what type of weather we have you should see a few decent bucks during your stay, but as with anything in the hunting world there's no guarantees. There's plenty of big deer in IL, but they're no easier to kill than they are anywhere else.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

I would be just fine if that were to happen. Even if I didn't get a shot (but that would never happen) It would still be a great trip. Really want to see a 165+ thats my shooter. Hope to learn how to post pics by then so you people can see them.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

I hunted hard last year and we had one of the best ruts we've had in a long, long time and the biggest buck I saw might have pushed 150". It's been a few years since I've layed my eyes on a 165" deer in the wild, hunting or not. They're definitely here, but there certainly not as easy so spot and to hunt as a lof of tv shows and hunting videos might lead you to believe. It still comes down to the area you're hunting (if there isn't a 165 living there, you ain't gonna see one!), the weather, and of course your skill and knowledge as a hunter. If it all plays out right you just might get a shot at a monster, but you'll have to be both good and lucky.

Good luck during your trip, I look forward to hearing how it turns out!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Would rather bow hunt then do anything else, with that being said I cosider myself to be a pretty good hunter. But above that I must admit that I am very lucky, maybe a bit to lucky.... So wish me luck. I hunt very hard though and bring the luck and odds in my favor. Will sit all day if needed.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Just out of curiosity, where are you hunting? With an outfitter? Public land? Private lease? What part of the state?

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Outfitter, I live in Charleston SC so public would be to hard. Only my 2nd time with an outfitter the last being in Canada. Mostly hunt a little private mostly public.Calhoun county is where we are hunting, under Pike. Any good????

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

I miss TDWW........

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Calhoun definitely has some big deer, and if your outfitter is on some even halfway decent ground with some good management you should at least get a look at some mature deer. Whether or not they'll hit 165" is another question....;)


Again, good luck on your trip and I want to see a full story w/photos when you return.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Respect.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

You should be hitting Illinois for my all-time favorite week of bowhunting here. In fact, check the record books and you'll find that a high percentage of our states biggest bucks have been tagged during the first week and a half in November. I know every year it seems that the biggest bucks fall between the 5th and10th, including a few of out state records! The 251 6/8" P&Y monster in my Avatar was taken onNov 8. Just hope for some cooler temps to keep 'emmovin' all day long. Good luck and good huntin'

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BE IN THE WOODS HERE IN ILLINOIS. LIKE CORNFED SAID, DEFINITELY HOPE FOR COOL TEMPS. GOOD LUCK

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

I will be there at that time you can bet! You will not go wrong in a treestand on those dates. Good time to be hunting. Good luck!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

My Favorite time to hunt in IL. is from about Nov. 4th until the first slug season. Of course that could vary depending what ground you hunt and how much pressure it gets;)

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Nov. 3 - 12 is the magical week.... with Nov. 11 being my all-time favorite day of the year!!

To go along with what Justin was first saying... ;)

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Thanks for the info, wheather is always hard to predict. The last couple of years in OH, the temps were up. Pray for cool temps.LOL

Nice buck Greg, was that in Il.?

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Not only is that beautiful buck from IL,.... but he's from PUBLIC ground as well! I believe that makes Greg/MO a certified IL monster buck slayer!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

That's wild Greg!! I think 3 of the 6 I have hanging on the wall were killed on Nov. 11th:)

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Good luck. If the weather is right, you should definately see some good deer!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

My good buddy IL-Cornfed is exactly right... Illinois... public ground. :)

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Calhoun Co. is a big sleeper in IL if you ask me. I hunt mosly in Jersey Co., just East of Calhoun. I know a lot of guys that hunt Calhoun and some real MONSTERS come out of there every year. A friend of mine is a taxi over there and I see a lot of great deer he mounts from there. Depending on exactly where you are hunting it could be some really rough terrain. Lots of steep hills on some of the ground over there. But it also has lots of fertile river bottoms too. Good luck!!

Here is my best from IL, killed him Nov. 9, 1996 in Jersey Co.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

You can bank on me being in the woods from dawn til' dusk throughout thatfirst week of november, as they all said again, pray for cool temps. If you get lows in the 20s and below and highs in the 40s and belowit should be a great week to be in the woods!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Great buck, the outfitter said to bring some lock ons that the trees can be hard to climbs. They also said there were some hills. I can't wait the only thing that can help the urge is openning day here in 2 months, and it will be so dam hot I will only hunt a morning or 2. keep the pics coming, its helping out.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Greg, Just wondering what did that monster score?

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

162 1/8, and almost perfectly symmetrical. He's only 1/2" different from side to side...

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Great time to hunt Illinois, I had seen this guythree times during theweek and finally was able to tag him on Nov. 12th.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Nov. 11th... Nov. 12th... I think I see a theme here... [:-][8D]

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

This is the buck I shot on Nov-2 2 years ago in ILL..

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Great Bucks

Man, you guys are getting so pumped!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

These three bucks were all killed on the same farm just one county over from calhoun county in Scott County. You can see the dates in the pictures.

My 06 bow buck Killed Oct. 15



My brother-in-laws 06 bow buck



Friend of mine from Florida 06 bow buck

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Nice Pics!!!:)

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Holy crap, Its getting hard now! I can't wait. Hope we can have a little snow, that would be sweet..

NICE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

This is the buck I killed last year in Illinois its on the video we decoyed him in!! Nov-3 Walt

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Been thinkn about tryn a decoy up there. Did you use a buck or doe.

Nice buck congrats

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Tator Baiter baby!!

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

I will be in Calhoun County somewhere in those dates. If everything that I have been told is even remotely true I belive that we should be extremely pumped

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

Let me know your dates, good luck. Finaly figured out how to post pics, so I can only hope to have some to post this year.

RE: Nov 1st-7th in Illinois
 

A buck decoy with only one antler on it, We had two spikehorns walk right up it and one even went nose to nose but then backed off..

You got it Germ "Tater baiter" thats his name seeing my cameraman nick name is tater!!!!That's one one of those you wish you could take back moments when you get really excited and it's captured on film and you just know Todd is going to laugh himself silly and put it in the video!!!Walt