Illinois' second season
 

It looks like cold temps Thursday through Sunday. I hope this gets them up and moving.

Who else is hunting the second season, where, and with what.
Me, State Land in Oregon, with my Remington LT-20, and the GP-100in case I get one in close.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Sucks as usual. Record heat wave to screw us bowhunters for the last week! I had a good Colorado tag and missed prime rut here in IL then. It was cold of course.When I returned it was freakin 50 degree lows! For a week! What the who is that?

I will be bowhunting thursday on an archery only public land in NE Illinois. At least I got somewhere to go when the guns blaze. Willbowhunt tomorrow morning a bit, then scout for the thursday cold front.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Going down to Williamson county. Will report after the trip. Bowhunted public land yesterday morning inN.E. Illinois but didn't see anything. Talked to another bowhunter who saw a nice 8pt. trailing a doe on Thanksgiving despite the warm temps.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I won't get out until friday, but will be in Lee County with 50 cal Omega in hand. Hope the temps get em moving and thank goodness the corn is finally down.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I'll be out Saturday and Sunday mornings up here in McHenry County. Weather looks like it should be a huge help (finally!) This is my 1st year hunting here in IL, and I still haven't gotten used to the shotgun-only rule.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I'll be out Friday-Sunday in Cumberland county with my trusty old remington 870

RE: Illinois' second season
 

danscott,
I see you're in Lee Co - I live in Sterling. Got 2 deer 1st season down in McDonough Co (family farm), but want to hunt some public land up here Thurs & maybe Fri. You ever hunt Green River wildlife area or Lowden Miller park? Those are 2 areas I'm looking at hard since I can get a either sex standby tag. Haven't had any time to scout (LM about 4 hours last Sun, & drove by GR last night). I know LM had a crapload of stands up, but don't know if they are mostly archery or gun hunters. Any help would be great from anyone in the area. Thanks!

RE: Illinois' second season
 

buckmasters- I hunt a lease in Franklin Grove. Right next door is the Franklin Creek State owned property which is open to hunter's with appropriate license and tags. I've never been to Green River, but have heard that it is pretty good. Never been or heard of the Lowden Miller Park, sorry.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I will definately be out Thursday morning. I got my biggest buck ever Friday of second season last year. With the addition of my new blind I will be out of the wind as well. I am pumped!

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I'll be out with the wife as moral support in Whiteside county. Gonna have her use my muzzleloader. I get to do the grunting, dragging and dressing.
I guess i shouldnt have filled all my tags first season. :-)
Thanks
Jim

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Lowden-Miller is where I gun hunt. While there are a lot of stands hung, I think most are bow stands. In the years I have hunted there I have only seen other hunters in stands once. There are a lot of "ground hunters", mostly older guys standing next to trees 100 yards from the parking lots smoking cigarettes! I usually make a lot of noise coming and going from the lots just to keep them on their toes.

If you do decide to go, the $5 they charge is a great deal. We usually hunt the southern end. It involves more walking but like I said, I almost never see other people on stands.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Well I just got informed archery hunting is not allowed at Mazonia or Kankakee SP even though both are archery only properties. I just moved to Illinois. Can anyone tell me how these public properties work for shotgun? I know there is a draw which I could not participate in, but what about this standby thing? How does that work? Can I still get a walk-on permit if someone doesn't show up, or if a public property went undersubscribed?

RE: Illinois' second season
 

870 super mag. 3" winchester sabbots. ill be hunting friday and am waiting on a buck. who knows i may shoot a doe friday night and duck hunt saturday morning then goose hunt saturday night. we'll just have to see. i hunt peoria county private land.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Will be out Fri, Sat and Sun (maybe Thur afternoon if I can get off work early) hunting in McHenry County. Will be sitting next to my 12 year old son and we both have 2 tags. Will see what happens.


Don

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Ill be hunting Greene County with my new muzzleloader:D. Leaving wedsday night and hunting till sunday.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

anyone near Mattoon?
Bob

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I agree with you DanScott, The corn was horrible to me, only got one doe (Field dressed at 160 though). On 300 acres 7 guys only got 4 Deer, but with the corn up 300 yards away and no one hunting it, those bucks were just laughing. Was seeing rubs on trees over 18 inches and diameter and deer sign everywhere. Lets hope that this cold front coming in gets them moving again. Ill be out Thursday afternoon, Friday and Sunday. I think these deer are going to stick to the thick stuff until this weather changes and maybe friday afternoon, it will be on, I also think the food source will be the spot, Ill be over an alfalfa field. Lets hope my 870 puts one more in the freezer and if I'm luckily my first on the Wall!! Good Luck all!!

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Hey bob i go to college at lakeland and hunt outside of charleston..what about you

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I go to Lakeland as well, hmm small world:D

This year Ive got Jasper County shotgun permit, and ill be out a few times this second season

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I live in Teutopolis which is about half hr south of Mattoon

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Yeah, we had 10 guys out first season all three days and took only 2 deer. Worst year I can remember.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Hancock county, hunting with my 870 wingmaster. Hope this season is busier than 1st season was. I only saw maybe 10 deer all of 1st season!!!

RE: Illinois' second season
 

i use to bowhunt sort of close to Mattoon,,i have a buddy that lives in Gays Illinois and me and a buddy went out there in the first week of November,,i havent been there in 10 years,,i sorta miss it,,but damn surgeries left me a little stiff
Bob

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I am hunting on a relative's farm here in Ogle County. I got a nice 8 point in the first season. Now I am looking for a bigger one! That is at least until Sunday.

Today (Thursday) was slow, cold and windy in the woods. The deer weren't moving.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

I shot a Buck with his rack broken off at the bases Thursday at 1:30 at Lowden Miller State Forest. Only 8 deer checked in as of 4:00 Thursday.
Nothing was moving until around 10:00, from then on they were moving pretty good.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Does anyone know Don Higgins out of Gays Illinois??? he has a nice book out,,you should read it because it is a good one
Thank you
Bob

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Out today (friday) after the 3 hour drive from downtown Chicago to Lasalle county, I was worried I got out to late(Snow Drifts all over the roads!). Once I walked out my tree stand I saw it was covered in Ice and decided to sit on the ground. Used my "Can" call twice and heard a decent buck behind me. He never showed his face (i think the windgot me.) after a few does hit the field and nothing behind them I decided to take one of the yearlings (Critics may not like it, buta deer is a deer) Dropped her with one shot and I couldn't be happier. I would love a set of horns for the wall, but as my dad has always said, you can't eat horns!! Good luck to all this weekend, two deer in the freezer, I am calling in quits for the year, next year, I hope we all have a $500 taxidermy bill coming our way after the "BIG ONE"!! Post the Pics if you get "the big one'!!

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Hunted Williamson co. public land. Rained nonstop thursday. 40 mph gusts on Friday, Cold & calm on Sat.& Sun. Shot a 2.5 Yr. old 8 pt. 16" spreadon Thursday morning at 8am. Both brow tines& 1 pt. busted up.Believe he was pushed to me by another hunter. Not a trophy deer but I'm fortunate as the other 3 guys I was with barely seen any deer.Will post a picture when I figure out this confounded thing.

RE: Illinois' second season
 

Here he is, not the biggest but I'm glad he came along. Good luck to everyone else this season.