Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Is anyone in Illinois seeing any rubs or scrapes yet? I haven't run across anything yet.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Saw some rubs on my way to the stand on Friday evening...that's been it. The anticipation is killing me though. Within two weeks, the big boys will be getting into position...to get into position for breeding. The pre-rut (yeah obvious I know) is my favorite time to hunt...see more deer than during the rut.

What part of IL are you from, HAZCON7?

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I've hunted a farm both weekends since the season opened and both times I've had rubs near where I've sat. The other farm I've hunted so far I've seen nothing. I don't actively go around looking for rubs and scrapes this time of year. If I see any it's becuase they're near my stand. Also, I've had a camera set up near a mock scrape I made two weeks ago and no pics of bucks yet. I do have a pic of a doe smelling it. The big boys should start moving more and more in the next couple weeks.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I'm in Champaign county. I hunt Champaign, Douglas, and Piatt counties.

I don't normally walk around looking for sign either but I usually see it when I'm going to/from stand. Seems like I've usually seen more by now, but then I sort of remember hearing the same thing the last few years around this time so things are probably right where they should be LOL.

Couple more weeks and they'll be love struck!

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

havent seen any scrapes but there is some rubs here and there. but man the turkeys are EVERYWHERE!!:D

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Hey Hazcon, good to see somebody from my area. I'm from Penfield, Il, which is in the top eastern corner of Champaign county. I hunt in Vermillion, Champaign, and Ford counties. I have seen several rubs, I could hear a buck making rubs in some brush a little while back, but haven't seen any big ones from my stand. The rut is supposed to be early this year, so sign should start popping up again once it frosts again. Good luck out there!

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I got both. THere is one spot that gets a scrape every year, and it ends up being about 4' in diameter. That one was started when we got there opening day

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

You must of got busted too. Opening day I was caught. A flock of about 50 started putting and raising hell.[:@]

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

actually i did lol by 2 toms and 3 jakes. i pulled back my bow on a big tom and a little jake caught me and let out some kind of call and they took off[:@] o well thats how it goes.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I hunt in Calhoun county and the rubs are showing up in many of the normal areas I see them every year.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I hunt Putnam county along the Illinois River. Scrapes show more use this week. Velvet rubs not hit anymore though! Plenty of new rubs every night seems.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I'm seeing a few rubs across the river in Missouri but just here and there.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I live in champaign county and have seen a few rubs and 2 scrapes in vermillion county.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Are you hunting Kickapoo Rochelle?

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I was in Pope County last weekend and saw several rubs. Around when is the rut supposed to begin in Illinois?

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Saw some very good sign today finally. Every tree around my stand has recently been shredded. The sap was still dripping wet.

The next 30 days should be awesome!!!

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I still feel we're a week away in Southern Illinois... found a few small rubs this morning, but nothing major.

I don't care how many people say "the rut is going to come in early this year" (seems like it happens every year), it doesn't seem to get smokin' hot until well into the first week of November.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Over the weekend I saw one small rub near my stand...But twice I have seen bucks still hanging together...like they where best buddies...soon to be arch rivals....

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Hey samritar you know any gresses????Rubs and scraps all over in northwest indiana..

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I didnt' see any deer last evening but I had a friend out spotting in his truck a couple miles in each direction. He saw several groups with bucks, mostly around the only standing corn left up.

Its going to be very windy here for the next week or so which will force me out of using my PVC Stand/Blind combo. Hopefully by next week all of the corn will be down.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I hunt in Adams and Tazewell Counties. I have seen several rubs and scrapes in Adams county. I am yet to find any sign in Tazewell yet. The good thing is I found all the ladies. Sure cant wait for Mr. Big to start looking for them.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Yes, I hunt kickapoo and middlefork. Killed a doe the 2nd day so far at kickapoo.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

I hunt in Morgan County and i've seen a lot of rubs but no scrapes yet. In fact i was able to draw back on a 130 class 10 pointer rubbing a cedar but a small forkhorn in the brush behind spooked and they both took off!

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: bwhunter501
but man the turkeys are EVERYWHERE!!

I know what u mean! I got a shot at a huge tom but some jakes saw me and they took off to the field about 80 yards north of me and started putting.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

For you guys who said you are not currently looking for active sign, I think your making a big mistake. In my opinion now is the time when you really need to be doing some scouting. The big boys will still not be putting lots of miles on there odometers for at least a couple of more weeks. Why not take the time and find the sign, and be hunting the best areas now!!! Once they start chasing a funnel area near sign is the ticket, but right now you need to be hunting the sign even if it's isolated from the majority of doe and young buck movement patterns. Just my .02! Good luck!

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Whole lot of nothing going on in the woods around me this weekend. I only saw 3 on Sunday evening when I was walking out. I have yet to see a buck this season. These warm temps are really keeping them from moving. It needs to cool down and then things will pick up in a hurry. That first week of Nov. is looking promising.

RE: Illinois Signs Yet??
 

Well the action is certainly heating up in my area! Several GOOD bucks including a couple B&C class animals have been checked in locally and a few of my hunting buddies have already tagged P&Y class bucks. Just the other night I went and helped a buddy load up and photo this nice buck. This wide rack dude came chargin' in to the horns. He said as soon as he rattled this guy came charging down the ridge straight to his stand! Also, when we were leaving his property there were a few does accompanied by another P&Y class bucks in the hayfield. Things are starting to look good out there!