RE: Illinois Areas
 

There can be good bucks taken anywhere in Illinois that has huntable land. In reality the golden triangle is/was so good because of the amount of deer. When that many deer populate an area there are going to be more nice bucks taken accordingly. For example I believe Pike county has more deer taken during firearm season than in any other county.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

Nope, Illinois thats what it's all about, good deer, good people. When I worked on the river boats, Peoria county is were I seen the biggest bucks, HUGE.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

There are nice deer all over the state. Last year I hunted in6 different counties from the north west (Jo Daviess and Carrol) to the collar counties of Chicago (Will & Cook) then also near Effingham (Jasper) and finally down in the far south east at my families property(Hardin) All had good deer numbers and all will produce nice deer. None of them are in the "prime hunting" area of the central western part of the state.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

Here is a great article from 2002 that has a list of Illinois bucks taken. The top archery typical buck was taken very very close to my house on a property next to where I hunted. If you look there are numerous counties producing 150" plus deer. The list includes those entered into the Illinois Big Buck Recognition Program. There are several bucks missing like the Damery buck from Macon county, Mel Johnson and Jerry Bryant bucks from Peoria County.

http://www.lib.niu.edu/2002/oi020305.html