Illinois Areas
 

What is the best private land areas to hunt in Illinois? (No High Fence)

Just curious. I have a niece and nephew who live there, and thinking about trying to geta hunt together.

LT

RE: Illinois Areas
 

What town and county are they in.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

You are going to get a town of responses here. A whole bunch of people are going to tell you Pike Co, or any where on the Western side of the State and it would be hard to argue with them. However, there is great deer hunting in the entire state. So, if you have access to some private land, make the trip up and give it a go. Getting the private land in this state is the hard part!!!!

RE: Illinois Areas
 

If I were going to hunt Illinois, I would say Kentucky is your best bet.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

Anywhere! Illinois is full of agriculture fields that help these deer grow large. Obviously some counties are better than others, but anywhere in the state is good.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

Do you mean outfitters on private land or actual private landowners?

RE: Illinois Areas
 

navy pier[:-]

RE: Illinois Areas
 

IL doesn't have what Id call 'high fence'. I've never seen a fence in hunting areas that any able bodied deer couldn't easily cross.

IF you're looking to go with a guide, you'd better hurry up, as any openings right now are probably going to be filling up quickly.

The IDNR website has listings/maps for all available public hunting areas.

As far as a private land owner just granting you permission over the phone: Good frickin' luck.

A good option would be to have your niece and nephew maybe ask around their area on your behalf.

RE: Illinois Areas
 

InIL. itis hard to get access to private land, but if you have access to a chunk of private groundchances are it's good regardless of where it's located. Especially if that access is some what exclusive.

Dan

RE: Illinois Areas
 

The golden triangle of course has great deer hunting. Pike, Brown, Schuyler, Fulton, etc..etc...between the IL and Mississippi.

Really any area in IL can produce big deer. I think there are probably more people managing the land and deer herd in the triangle than anywhere else in IL. Eslewhere you may get some managing, but then a neighbor may shoot anything that moves....

Good luck.

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